In search of an Afrocentric ideology -By Ayodeji Ogunjobi

“The Democratic experiment” as was imported from America with its capitalist ideology is obviously not working in Nigeria. Democracy has proved in the past 16 years to be the government of the rich for the rich, especially in Nigeria and some of the other countries in Africa and the Third world.

Those that are privileged to participate in this” Demonstration of Craziness” (thanks to late Fela Anikulapo Kuti) are in most cases believed to be those who have looted Government Treasuries, when they were in one Key post or the other in Civil Services. Some of them are stooges to some “Godfather” who expect a payback from their candidates, immediately they are elected into power.

Many also use occultic means and membership of secret cults to gain power, which they then use to carry out their dastardly acts. This has led to situations where ‘round pegs’ are forced into ‘square holes’.

The aforementioned negative method of achieving elective positions in Nigeria has led to the country being bedeviled with massive corruption and spiritual wickedness in high places.

In Nigeria the unrealistic marriage of “strange bedfellows” which has continued to slow down the development of the polity, because of the emphasis on the myth of ‘one Nigeria’ regardless of God’s Divine will, has continued to create an uphill task that has led to serious setback and lack of focus by the 3 arms of Government as to the way forward. A few power brokers sit in their comfort zones to allocate the resources of the nation to their kith and kin at the expense of over 96% of the nation’s population many of who find it difficult to make ends meet.

All in the name of Quota System (in the 3 Arms of Government and in 3 tiers of Government) many mediocre adorn themselves in flowing robes and live outrageous and expensive lifestyle to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians. They sit in the legislative houses earning fat salaries passing laws which do not put food on the table of majority of Nigerians and making laws that protect themselves while the greater percentage of the people are left to their fate, with most of them wallowing in abject poverty.

What is the so-called dividend of Democracy “when it is the Government of “the few for the few”?

The erstwhile middle class of the society consisting of graduates, professionals and the intelligential, many with 15 to more than 40 years post qualification experience have been almost completely wiped out, and many of our youth are thrown into a nonexistent labour market where all they face is a bleak future. What about the children and the teenagers and those who have lived up to retirement age with their pension funds embezzled and no social welfare scheme to take care of the aged.

We have reached a stage in the development of our nation where we have to face the stark reality that democracy as it is conceived can not work in Nigeria.

This is evident in the fact that within less than ten years of it’s adoption, there are crisis in many states. These include, Rivers, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Anambra, Edo, Ondo States and more significantly in the presidency. We do not have to go thru” the details of the causes of these crisis, but we must look closely and do some introspection. There is need to address the fact that we are Africans and the Communal nature of our society does not allow us to “import” a foreign philosophy and method of suffrage that does not take cognizant of our traditional and cultural background.

Before the advent of colonialism, we had systems of Government peculiar to various parts of the African continent. Those who want to educate themselves as to these traditional forms of Government can consult jurist and historians who can fully update them.

The main concern of this discourse is to sensitize Africans on the need to search their intellects and suggest ways in which we can address the various problems that have been created through super imposition of foreign ideologies on our political system

THE WAY FORWARD

As a student of society, my suggestion is that we look closely at Naturalism, which by definition takes its origin from nature as against capitalism, and Meritocracy.

There is diversity and not equality in nature. Trees are of different heights sizes and shapes, animals, social and economic development is being suggested. Since there is diversity in nature, a suggestion of equality in terms of human ability endowment and development level, is not possible. It is in recognition of this inequality that it is being suggested that this factor should be taken into consideration in adopting a political ideology or philosophy that underlines the method by which leaders are to be appointed for the various age-group councils and councils of elders from whom the political elite will emerge. Because capitalism and Democracy worked in America does not mean we have to adopt that ideology and method of political suffrage without some “touch” of Africanism to make them suit our peculiar circumstances.

The African system of traditional government before the advent of colonialism has always been democratic. “Democracy” as imported from America is new to us but our traditional method of government had visible elements of democracy in it. We had age-groups in our traditional African Government and we also had council of elders who represent the various groups of people that make up the polity, Meritocracy suggests that we develop a method of appointing by merit our leaders from representatives of the various age groups who have distinguished themselves in various spheres of life. The council of elders too should be selected through the same method, from elders who have also shown fairly all-round success in various spheres of life and contributed in one way or the other to the progress of humanity. Corrupt money–bags and people of doubtful character should be excluded.

The merit in Meritocracy is that attaining these positions is through positive contribution to the welfare and development of humanity by the leaders who have been chosen by merit because of their honesty and forthrightness.

A situation where the democratic process as it is, does not produce leaders that meet the needs of the greater population of Africans call for a need to consider the above suggestion; or at least consider them as a basis for philosophers, sociologist and political scientists to conduct research and dialogue as to the need to evolve a social structure that can satisfy the mostly illiterate African society.

The present system whereby you need fantastic sums of money before you can aspire to leadership is totally unacceptable and does not augur well for the best interest of a society where the middle class has been totally wiped out. Besides the astronomical cost of running the Democratic Process’ (especially in Nigeria) does not justify the result we are getting. The country and by extension the Continent continues to go deeper into squalor, poverty, lack, misery, very poor standard of living and frustration while the elected leaders live in false affluence.

Our continent is one of the richest in the world in terms of natural and human resources, so why do we have this anomaly?

There is an urgent need to address the issues of a political system that is suitable of Nigeria given the diverse culture and background of her various tribal constituencies. This also applies to other parts of the continent where their pre-colonial history have to be taken into consideration in determining the ideal political system to be adopted.

It is issues raised above that should have formed the basis of discussion at the so-called sovereign national conference.

As Africans, let us determine to take our destiny in our own hands. God bless Nigeria, God Bless Africa.