People’s Spirit vs Hardened Mubarak

Posted by admin Articles, Columnists, Hakeem Babalola Friday, February 11th, 2011

By Hakeem Babalola, Budapest, Hungary – Feb. 11, 2011 – President Hosni Mubarak has refused to quit or resign in his anticipated speech to the nation on Thursday. Instead Mr. Mubarak who has been ruling Egypt for 30 years was adamant saying he will not yield to foreign influence or dictate which has been calling for his resignation.

While I agree with the embattled president that under no circumstance should the Western countries poke nose into African affairs, I urge Mr. President to respect his people who have been calling for a change.

Today Friday February 11 2011 is the 20th day that Egyptians have been marching on the street demanding that the 82-year-old president should leave office. Many protesters were seeing removing their shoes in derision to Mubarak’s disappointing speech last night.

Though fearing bloodbath, the protesters have said that Friday’s protest would be the biggest since it started on 25 January 2011.

Again I am not asking him to listen to foreign intervention or dictation. What I am saying however is for Mubarak to understand the language of his people who have determined to oust him.

The protest which started as a social networking was organized by the Egyptian youths most of whom are young enough to be Mr. Mubarak’s grand children.

Wael Ghonim 30, the leader of the protest who was arrested but later released, said that he was ready to give up his plum job as Google executive even his family and his life in order to see that a change takes place.

The frustrated youths have been complaining about unemployment, corruption and the fact that the regime does not understand Egyptian youths, hence the time for a change.

Nour Ayman, 29, told CNN that Egyptian people will not accept the speech made by Mubarak unless he eventually resigns. “We are angry, frustrated and disappointed.”

Sarah said that she had expected the president to concentrate his speech on his final exist but again it was the usual rhetoric. “I’d like to be at the forefront even if the army is ready to shoot”.

Mr. Mubarak should look inward instead of blaming the satellite TVs for exaggerating the uprising. There was nothing these foreign media could do if protesters were not determined in the first instance.

Meanwhile this uprising as far as I am concerned, has exposed American hypocrisy among other things. Superpower America has been backing Mubarak since he assumed office on October 14 1981. So, is America’s call for Mubarak to resign a way to save its own face? On the other hand, the uprising once again proves that people’s spirit is much more powerful than that of any brutal and malevolent regime.

After 30 years of ruling, I expect Mubarak to have thanked his God for giving him such a rare opportunity to serve his people. 30 years I believe is enough for a leader to achieve something tangible for his country and people.

There’s no doubting the fact that Mubarak might have done good things during this long period of ruling. However, in order to protect his dignity which obviously is at stake, he must listen to the cries of his people even if he would not listen to that of foreign intervention.

Clinging on to power after people have spoken in plain language is disrespectful – to the people; even to Mr. Mubarak himself.

Now that Mubarak has refused to leave office, I call on the Egyptian military to stop sitting on the fence and help the people to achieve the desired change. The opposition in person of Mohamed El Baradei, 2005 Noble Peace Prize Winner, has declared that “Egypt will explode”.

In view of this pronouncement, I therefore call upon the current government to do everything in its power to prevent such explosion by whatever means, including the resignation of Mr. President.

Apparently, Egypt is currently facing a tough time. Mr. Mubarak should act like a grandpa and, or statesman by listening to the people’s voice.

And most importantly, I am in love with Egyptian people who have demonstrated that the masses can come together to confront a brutal and malevolent regime.wp_posts