Gross-nepotism-and-ethnic-favouritism-cover-up-are-the-root-problem-of-nigeria-and-africa-developmental-strides
September 7, 2020 | News
GROSS NEPOTISM AND ETHNIC FAVOURITISM/COVER-UP ARE THE ROOT PROBLEM OF NIGERIA AND AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES
On a general scale, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the nation Nigeria, and indeed most African countries, not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit to effectively and efficiently lead their countries to great heights. But the degree and level this is evident in Nigeria and other African countries, varies in different past and recent governments. However, it appears this unhealthy situation is getting worst with each subsequent Governments in Nigeria and Africa, and this calls for concern. These issues, have ‘blinded’ both the government and the governed from making sound and good judgements in the appropriation of public resources for the good of all and sundry by those in authorities, and in demanding such, like in the area of accountability, when they are not getting it right.
Our respected Kenyan anti-corruption crusader, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, captured this unfortunate prevailing situation in Africa in one of his speeches that has gone viral online. According to Prof. Lumumba: “In Many African countries, public offices are formed on the basis of ethnic affiliations. Typical African political parties are simply an assembly of ethnicities. And in many African countries, you will discover that what we call election is simply an ETHNIC CENSUS to determine which ethnic group is larger than the other. It is Julius Nyerere of Tanzania who said that the tragedy of Africa is not the song that is being sang, but who the singer is. And what he meant was very clear, that you may have an agenda that is good for your nation. But if you do not come from a particular ethnic group, those who will not follow you will not be from your ethnic group. You may sing the best song, but when you look back, you will discover that it is only people from your ethnic group who are the ones following you. and when you have such a situation, the design is inherently conflicting.
“And that is why when you look at Africa today, you will discover that after every election, in many African countries, there is conflict. Because you go into the election, or the political parties go into an electoral process, on the basis of WE MUST WIN. And if we do not win, the elections would have been rigged. In other words, we pay so much premium on the Presidency. And you see IN MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES, ENTRY INTO GOVERNMENT IS LIKE WINNING A LOTTERY. IT IS WINNING A LOTTERY BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU ACCESS TO RESOURCES. And therefore, people claim the President. If you are in a country where one of your own, who are normally referred to as “our son” – Our son has won the Presidency, the tribe celebrates; from the handyman to the Professor. From the fisherman to the intellectual, because we have now won the presidency. We have won the lottery. We would have access to resources. We would have Ministers, we would have all these and everybody else is excluded, and that breeds and generates conflicts. We have seen it in many African countries. From Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya to Nigeria and South-Sudan. In South-Sudan for instance, if we are to ask them, what is the problem, we would discover that the contest is of an ethnic kind. They are contesting because “one of our own must occupy the State House.” And that is why therefore you see, under the guise of democracy, in a number of African countries, we create offices and officials which are sinecures. You will have a President, you’ll have a Deputy President, you’ll have a 2nd Deputy President; you’ll have a Prime Minister 1st, Prime Minister 2nd, and all the other useless offices which makes no sense because you have to appoint people to those offices and give them motorcades so that when they go to their villages, they will look important. And the people will own them as ours.”
This has been the unfortunate situation in Africa, and indeed Nigeria, where the reward for failure and gross nepotism has become the order of the day and the norm. And I am not the only one who has observed this skewed-style of leadership in Nigeria, especially in the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. A look at all the Federal Government appointments to sensitive top Government positions since its inception, as well as the ‘body language’ and disposition of the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari, are very clear and undeniable indicators of this verifiable fact – that President Muhammadu Buhari’s proclivity at pampering his ethnic stock over and above the other ethnic nationalities, is one of the highest Nigerians have witnessed in the country’s history. When people are appointed by the Presidency, and such appointments are not based on merit, expertise, established Federal Character principles that put into consideration the country’s multi-ethnicity, credibility and integrity of the persons in question; then that government should be called what it is – a government that is clothed in gross nepotism. There are countless published/unpublished interviews by relevant stakeholders, elder statemen, including letters/articles and public statements justifying this fact. Former President Goodluck Jonathan also seemed to have favoured his own tribe more than others while he was in office. So, it is not just President Buhari’s administration that this is evident. Some jobs were usually reserved for only their tribe in sensitive positions at the Centre. But in the Second Republic, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was very moderate, considerate and recognized all the other tribes outside his own, whether minority or majority tribes.
With an estimated population of over 198 million people, and being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural diversity with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects; Nigeria can be said to be one of the most complicated and complex countries in the world. While many agree with the fact that with the way Nigeria is structured, it will not be easy for anyone to successfully rule or govern the country. But we also believe strongly that it is not possible to successfully rule or govern the country as it ought to be governed. Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted. But it is no gain saying that the boundary of this former British colony called Nigeria was drawn to serve commercial interests, largely without regard for the territorial differences, uniqueness and claims of the ‘diverse indigenous’ people. As a result, we now have before us a country whose unity has been consistently come under siege. In fact, there have been eight attempts at secession that has threatened national unity between 1914 and 1977. The epic of which is the Nigerian civil war. Yet, the ‘potentiality’ in the country’s diversity as a nation, has made it still an envy by many.
In other words, it is as if our ‘multi-everything’ - have over the years, made us to be more self-serving/self-centered and not trusting one another when it comes to governance and the appropriation of our collective wealth as a people in the entity called Nigeria. This often times makes us wonder: will Nigeria ever become a great and admirable nation? Will Nigeria ever be able to overcome its diversity and complexity and become a ‘united front’ in global affairs to reckon with? Or has Nigeria gone beyond being redeemed?
In a country where every tribe and language has its own culture and internal custom, and where every Nigerian, no matter his/her profession and status – be it a Police Officer, INEC Official, Lawyer, Judge, Activist, Politicians or what have; all have one (often self-centered) vested interest or the other, and as such, policies and laws, no matter how good they are, are tailored not to work for the good of all. Apart from the major tribes of Hausa/fulani, Yoruba and Ibo, the minority tribes don't even agree with each other. Even the major tribes have their own internal wrangling and conflicts of interest. Every tribe feel they are superior to the other. Every village, town and city are different in nature from one another. No trust between themselves. In fact, within every State, there are a lot of differences in the tribes, languages and the people themselves.
In fact, we can attribute all the unhealthy and anti-development prevailing circumstances around the polity to the root factor of our diversity and multiplicity of cultures, ethnicity, languages and religious backgrounds, which translates in our political processes. We believe that is why every ‘action’ and ‘inaction’, every ‘decision’ and indecision’ – be it of the government of the day or at any level of the public and private sector space - are viewed through the lens of ‘distrust’. Nobody seems to trust anybody that is not of their own stock. The said distrust is even amongst those of the same tribe and religion. This brings us back to the issue of ‘No Patriotism’ and ‘No Commitment to serve the interest of others’ – every man/woman for his/her selfish-self and those around them. But even with people ‘not being content with what they have’, it is still a huge problem.
Every tribe/ethnic group wants his/her own kinsmen to be in power so that he or she will favour his/her own people only. As such, tribalism and favouritism have become the norm in governance. People are no longer selected, appointed, elected or picked based on merit and their ability to deliver and bring about the dividends of democracy for the good of all. That is why, all we have seen is a widening great divide between the government and the governed; the poor and the rich; the haves and the have not. The enrichment of the few in government circles have made going to politics to seek for elective positions as a career; to be the surest and quickest way to instant wealth. Hence, the issue of ‘SERVICE’ does not come to mind by our ‘professional politicians.’ They are too busy filling their pockets and satisfying the interests of those, often of their ethnic stock, that put them in power. And until this narrative is reversed, Nigeria, and indeed most African countries will remain backward and underdeveloped.
Zik Gbemre.
July 9, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
On a general scale, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the nation Nigeria, and indeed most African countries, not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit to effectively and efficiently lead their countries to great heights. But the degree and level this is evident in Nigeria and other African countries, varies in different past and recent governments. However, it appears this unhealthy situation is getting worst with each subsequent Governments in Nigeria and Africa, and this calls for concern. These issues, have ‘blinded’ both the government and the governed from making sound and good judgements in the appropriation of public resources for the good of all and sundry by those in authorities, and in demanding such, like in the area of accountability, when they are not getting it right.
Our respected Kenyan anti-corruption crusader, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, captured this unfortunate prevailing situation in Africa in one of his speeches that has gone viral online. According to Prof. Lumumba: “In Many African countries, public offices are formed on the basis of ethnic affiliations. Typical African political parties are simply an assembly of ethnicities. And in many African countries, you will discover that what we call election is simply an ETHNIC CENSUS to determine which ethnic group is larger than the other. It is Julius Nyerere of Tanzania who said that the tragedy of Africa is not the song that is being sang, but who the singer is. And what he meant was very clear, that you may have an agenda that is good for your nation. But if you do not come from a particular ethnic group, those who will not follow you will not be from your ethnic group. You may sing the best song, but when you look back, you will discover that it is only people from your ethnic group who are the ones following you. and when you have such a situation, the design is inherently conflicting.
“And that is why when you look at Africa today, you will discover that after every election, in many African countries, there is conflict. Because you go into the election, or the political parties go into an electoral process, on the basis of WE MUST WIN. And if we do not win, the elections would have been rigged. In other words, we pay so much premium on the Presidency. And you see IN MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES, ENTRY INTO GOVERNMENT IS LIKE WINNING A LOTTERY. IT IS WINNING A LOTTERY BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU ACCESS TO RESOURCES. And therefore, people claim the President. If you are in a country where one of your own, who are normally referred to as “our son” – Our son has won the Presidency, the tribe celebrates; from the handyman to the Professor. From the fisherman to the intellectual, because we have now won the presidency. We have won the lottery. We would have access to resources. We would have Ministers, we would have all these and everybody else is excluded, and that breeds and generates conflicts. We have seen it in many African countries. From Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya to Nigeria and South-Sudan. In South-Sudan for instance, if we are to ask them, what is the problem, we would discover that the contest is of an ethnic kind. They are contesting because “one of our own must occupy the State House.” And that is why therefore you see, under the guise of democracy, in a number of African countries, we create offices and officials which are sinecures. You will have a President, you’ll have a Deputy President, you’ll have a 2nd Deputy President; you’ll have a Prime Minister 1st, Prime Minister 2nd, and all the other useless offices which makes no sense because you have to appoint people to those offices and give them motorcades so that when they go to their villages, they will look important. And the people will own them as ours.”
This has been the unfortunate situation in Africa, and indeed Nigeria, where the reward for failure and gross nepotism has become the order of the day and the norm. And I am not the only one who has observed this skewed-style of leadership in Nigeria, especially in the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. A look at all the Federal Government appointments to sensitive top Government positions since its inception, as well as the ‘body language’ and disposition of the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari, are very clear and undeniable indicators of this verifiable fact – that President Muhammadu Buhari’s proclivity at pampering his ethnic stock over and above the other ethnic nationalities, is one of the highest Nigerians have witnessed in the country’s history. When people are appointed by the Presidency, and such appointments are not based on merit, expertise, established Federal Character principles that put into consideration the country’s multi-ethnicity, credibility and integrity of the persons in question; then that government should be called what it is – a government that is clothed in gross nepotism. There are countless published/unpublished interviews by relevant stakeholders, elder statemen, including letters/articles and public statements justifying this fact. Former President Goodluck Jonathan also seemed to have favoured his own tribe more than others while he was in office. So, it is not just President Buhari’s administration that this is evident. Some jobs were usually reserved for only their tribe in sensitive positions at the Centre. But in the Second Republic, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was very moderate, considerate and recognized all the other tribes outside his own, whether minority or majority tribes.
With an estimated population of over 198 million people, and being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural diversity with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects; Nigeria can be said to be one of the most complicated and complex countries in the world. While many agree with the fact that with the way Nigeria is structured, it will not be easy for anyone to successfully rule or govern the country. But we also believe strongly that it is not possible to successfully rule or govern the country as it ought to be governed. Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted. But it is no gain saying that the boundary of this former British colony called Nigeria was drawn to serve commercial interests, largely without regard for the territorial differences, uniqueness and claims of the ‘diverse indigenous’ people. As a result, we now have before us a country whose unity has been consistently come under siege. In fact, there have been eight attempts at secession that has threatened national unity between 1914 and 1977. The epic of which is the Nigerian civil war. Yet, the ‘potentiality’ in the country’s diversity as a nation, has made it still an envy by many.
In other words, it is as if our ‘multi-everything’ - have over the years, made us to be more self-serving/self-centered and not trusting one another when it comes to governance and the appropriation of our collective wealth as a people in the entity called Nigeria. This often times makes us wonder: will Nigeria ever become a great and admirable nation? Will Nigeria ever be able to overcome its diversity and complexity and become a ‘united front’ in global affairs to reckon with? Or has Nigeria gone beyond being redeemed?
In a country where every tribe and language has its own culture and internal custom, and where every Nigerian, no matter his/her profession and status – be it a Police Officer, INEC Official, Lawyer, Judge, Activist, Politicians or what have; all have one (often self-centered) vested interest or the other, and as such, policies and laws, no matter how good they are, are tailored not to work for the good of all. Apart from the major tribes of Hausa/fulani, Yoruba and Ibo, the minority tribes don't even agree with each other. Even the major tribes have their own internal wrangling and conflicts of interest. Every tribe feel they are superior to the other. Every village, town and city are different in nature from one another. No trust between themselves. In fact, within every State, there are a lot of differences in the tribes, languages and the people themselves.
In fact, we can attribute all the unhealthy and anti-development prevailing circumstances around the polity to the root factor of our diversity and multiplicity of cultures, ethnicity, languages and religious backgrounds, which translates in our political processes. We believe that is why every ‘action’ and ‘inaction’, every ‘decision’ and indecision’ – be it of the government of the day or at any level of the public and private sector space - are viewed through the lens of ‘distrust’. Nobody seems to trust anybody that is not of their own stock. The said distrust is even amongst those of the same tribe and religion. This brings us back to the issue of ‘No Patriotism’ and ‘No Commitment to serve the interest of others’ – every man/woman for his/her selfish-self and those around them. But even with people ‘not being content with what they have’, it is still a huge problem.
Every tribe/ethnic group wants his/her own kinsmen to be in power so that he or she will favour his/her own people only. As such, tribalism and favouritism have become the norm in governance. People are no longer selected, appointed, elected or picked based on merit and their ability to deliver and bring about the dividends of democracy for the good of all. That is why, all we have seen is a widening great divide between the government and the governed; the poor and the rich; the haves and the have not. The enrichment of the few in government circles have made going to politics to seek for elective positions as a career; to be the surest and quickest way to instant wealth. Hence, the issue of ‘SERVICE’ does not come to mind by our ‘professional politicians.’ They are too busy filling their pockets and satisfying the interests of those, often of their ethnic stock, that put them in power. And until this narrative is reversed, Nigeria, and indeed most African countries will remain backward and underdeveloped.
Zik Gbemre.
July 9, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes