Guinea's Independence Too Idealistic?

When, after centuries of colonization, European countries leave African states to fend for themselves, it is extremely difficult for the newly independent state to stand on its own two feet. This week marks the fiftieth anniversary of Guinea's independence; however, few are celebrating. In 1958, when France offered to keep Guinea under colonial rule for another fifty years, independence leader Sekou Tourre responded "We prefer poverty in freedom to riches in slavery," and the French left, "taking with them their expertise, office files and even light bulbs." Now the people of the African state live in severe poverty, without reliable electricity or drinking water.
Did the leaders of the independence movement fail to plan rationally, pragmatically? Were they too idealistic in their hopes that Guinea would prosper as an independent state? While optimistic and daring action can lead to greatness, such as America's severance with England, it must be well thought out. Sekou Toure knew that it was likely that Guinea would face poverty when the French left, but went through with the independence movement regardless. And now, 89-year-old citizen Mohammed Bashir Toure would be happy to let the French recolonize, simply because his homeland is in such a state of disaster. While Mohammed's positive view of colonialism is in no way the consensus among Guineans, everyone agrees that the country is in desperate need of aid from somewhere.