RE: "For The People" (poem) >>> The Law, For It Whom?
My friend, I spent several years in Africa, and I have a very special place in my heart for the continent and its people.
... the urge to be free from the colonial master so clouded oir judgements that the foundation was skipped and what we have is trying to build on no foundation ...
Your comments strike me as being particularly insightful.
In terms of resources, Africa is an extraordinarily rich continent and its people ought to be among the wealthiest on Earth. But, it is riddled with corruption and poor governance. The result is a cycle of creation and destruction that never ends. There are many reasons for this, not least of which is the remnants of colonialism. But such explanation has been being used as an excuse for too long. Almost all of Africa's current problems are self-inflicted.
From my observations, Africa is besought by tribalism (either ethnic, religious or both). Groups of people within a country are subject to unearned patronage, or precluded from it, based upon their membership in a preferred In-Group. This creates severe dysfunction (and unending war). A meritocracy must be established. A effective system of political checks-and-balances simply does not exist. This limitation of power was the genius of the American Constitution. Central to the beliefs of the Founding Fathers was the idea that Power Corrupts, and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely. And so, they were paranoid about building-in safeguards to ensure accountability. This was an idea they copied from the Romans who, alas, ultimately did not adhere to their own Laws.
I would be interested to hear if you have and ideas about how to go about changing things.
I personally disagree with the narative that nepotism and tribalism is the bane of african politics because if it were so then the people of a particular tribe should enjoy the fruits of democracy when the have the power, say nothern Nigeria for instance that has the presidency should be the ones that benefits the most from the government but far be it because am so sure that they are still the most neglected so i term the problem of Africa as simply "greed" which has degenerated to what we now see as coruption and until we have a value re-orientation where we will have a selfless Nelson mandela, a chaste Desmond Tutu and a nationalist in Obafemi Awolowo who will put the continent above self, another force rising up now is the cry for youth to take over but why and for what purpose when they have all been schooled by the same people that crumbled the continent? It is almost a hopless situation but am sure if we can change one, then we can change all.
@gjoehere,
There are numerous comments on THIS post from Nigerians. They seem to disagree with your assessment.
To try to be fair to your comment, I Googled ... Nigeria tribalism ... (without quotation marks). The following hyperlink was the FIRST website article that appeared:
http://www.gamji.com/article6000/news7267.htm
In the second paragraph of that article he listed three probable causes of tribalism and greed was among.
Am not saying coruption or tribalism is not an issue or that they are non existent but something led to that and i feel it is greed, i may be wrong but if there is coruption or tribalism which there are, what led to that?
Thats what think greed is responsible for.
@gjoeohere,
That's fair. Greed, I suppose, is the gasoline in the car of corruption, isn't it?
Affirmative that is why i still think we need a character and value re-orientation because even this week i heard a young man saying if he gets the opportunity he will steal his own lot not minding who it affects because he will just be one among the numerous.
I do think it is interesting, all of the hope (around the world) in the young generation. Surely there are wise and insightful young people (perhaps we, the ones passionately discussing on steemit are the ones!), but there are plenty of non-thinking get-alongers in the next generation as well.
Sure just as there is in every generation but the task before us now is, are we going to let them get ahead of us while we just sit and think our lives away? The time for thinkers and actors beckons
@gjoeohere,
The answer is not complicated. Nigeria is not special. Your country is immensely wealthy. What's crippling Nigeria is the same thing that has crippled countless others throughout history ... corruption.
It is not more complicated than that.
When you elect someone who is Yoruba, simply because you're Yoruba .. or Igbo, simply because you're Igbo ... then the problem perpetuates itself.
To compete in the modern world requires a meritocracy. A meritocracy requires that you elect the best man, or woman, for the job. The same logic applies to all jobs.
At present, is Nigeria doing this?
Bad government cannot be overcome. Great government is a pipe dream.
Good government is what any country strives for ... and must settle for.
You are 100% correct.
I believe we can be the future of the world and which country did you visit again?
@gjoeohere,
I did not 'visit' any country ... I lived there.
I was in the military and was stationed in Djibouti. We got around.
Waoh....thanks for your service!!