Aaron Ramsey had scored against Manchester United, one nil to the Arsenal...the next day, Bin Laden was declared dead, he was killed by special forces in operation neptune spear. Aaron Ramsey's on the score sheet again against Marseille, one nil to the Arsenal...this time not so special forces lynched Gaddafi to an embarrassing death.
News houses have been busy, from Sky News to Al Jazeera, each struggling to transmit videos of better resolution without success, of how the Colonel was dragged from drainage to last breath. You would never win an argument on whether it was fair or unfair treatment, but you can make a case.
Gaddafi could have been that dictator, and perhaps, also rabied as the mad dog he was advertised to be. With his humanitarian crimes definitely unforgivable, his pro-family styled leadership was surely unacceptable in 2011, it confuted the prospect of representation. The secrets of the Lockerbie Bombing, the La Belle Night Club and countless mayhems have died with him. But are these all that Gaddafi was?
Gaddafi was also a people's man, as a Northern and Arab African, he courted Libya with Black Africa and with bizarre humour, encouraged Arab Libyan Men to marry Black wives and Arab Libyan Women to marry Black husbands. On the continental stage, he was the newest and loudest voice for the United States of Africa, a proposition with a distant hearing, the dreams of Marcus Garvey (if you remember him). For his people, commodity prices have remained one of the lowest in the world, refined oil costs less than bottled water, and we do not forget the water project he christened the eighth wonder of the world. Without the need to prove outstanding intellect, Gaddafi sponsored Libyans to study in European universities, and perhaps in other parts of the developed world. Plus, healthcare was without charge...the list of his magnanimity is in volumes, and no doubt, as voluminous as his malice.
To digress a bit, he made the African Union meetings a little bit of a fashion runway with his colourful regalia...that will be a personal miss. You'd often think he shared Michael Jackson's dressing room when he adorned his military insignia...and with that golden pistol, he reserved some James Bond swagger for the last. Without a doubt, Gaddafi had a special friendship with Madiba, and I wonder what he thinks of all these.
But, the point is, are the celebrations of his ousting in order? May be in Libya, but in sub-saharan Africa, a leader of Gaddafi's stature has long been prayed for. If replicated in sub-saharan Africa, his exuberance weighed against his success would be ignored, in the same way a lousy but successful superstar is tolerated. Every icon, rapper, sportsman or activist is afforded moments of madness. Celebrations of his death in that quarter will either be a delusion or a misinformation, or both. Cost free healthcare, uninterrupted electricity, stable and clean water supply and guaranteed education have not burdened the Libyan people. Granted, the greatest plague of man is the denial of freedom, or democracy in real terms...but man must also learn to listen, to listen to a greater freedom that exceeds institutionalism. In Walter Beverragi's words, democracy and liberalism are the twin evils of modern, decadent society (that most of democratic Africa already is).
Why wasn't Gaddafi rescued by any of the Arab Nations? Could it be because of his defection subsequent to being frustrated that the Arab super power he so pushed for was never supported? Could this be why he was left alone to "shout in the desert" when he needed a friend? But what is certain is that Gaddafi was a smaller Rogue than Idi Amin, a more rabied pup embraced for 24 years in the same zone after killing 300,000, and surprisingly, was never even teased with extradition orders. Whilst the latter called himself "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular", the former preferred to be only Colonel Gaddafi, long after his peers elevated him to Major General. And while we called him that, he chose the title of "Guide of the Revolution". Simply put, it takes more than dictatorial powers to lead for 42 years and to survive 7 assassination attempts between 1969 and 1998.
Now the new Libya must show to be better without Gaddafi, free healthcare must get even better, as much as free education and an improved living standard. The Libyan people must reject templates for economic and social progress and make of that country what their enthusiasm on TV only suggests. Anything less and Gaddafi will find loud laughter, in heaven or hell. Hero or Villain? The new Libya will answer...and we are watching.
And as you dread Ramsey's next one nil to the Arsenal, I'd be dreading his first hattrick!
