African Leaders and their Puppets

Leadership roles in Africa are unfortunately bereft of leaders. Most simpletons who find themselves in positions are more enthused by the position than the roles of the position. They enjoy the fame availed by their positions, fanning their ego to oppress their peers and adversaries. It is not only a common thing at every sector of the government but also common with the so called followers who have watched their leaders squander positions for personal gains. They in turn want similar positions in order to repeat the fraudulent and opulent lifestyle their predecessor led.

This uncanny way of life has been parading the vicissitude of the African Continent and has been responsible for politicians whoring positions to satisfy their egotistical affections. This recidivist leaders have no cause to change because their followers are the mediocre that fuel their desire to remain in office amidst glaring failure.

One of the major problems in Africa is that the masses (the down trodden, the hewers of wood and drawers of water) are a complacent lot, who are not ready to exchange force for change. A good example of such is the Nigerian citizenry. I have never known any people that is so indifferent to their future. For example, If a Nigerian buys a loaf of bread today at N100 and the next day, the price of the same size and quality of loaf bread has increased to N200, a typical Nigerian will never ask question or show any signs of outward protest but willingly and grudgingly seek an immediate truce. He will simply ask the bread seller to slice him N100 worth (Half) of the same bread he bought yesterday for N100. Compromise is a common character of a Nigerian. He never asks questions. He does not want to rock the boat. He cannot confront a lingering situation inimical to him and descendants. He would rather remain at status quo than create a fuss that could possibly lead to the exoneration of his predicament.

Perhaps the Middle Class and the Elites who can be categorized as narcissistic and lunatic have had a good run at the expense of the masses or they are simply an art that the masses need to keep their hopes sturdy and alive. It is an assumption by a larger proportion of the masses that their time will come when they will overcome their wants. Their endless hope is ever suppressing.

An unknown crusader once said “Every citizen deserve its leadership”. The masses, who form more than 80% of the electorates can choose their leadership by voting their conscience and not their immediate needs. A constituency that chose its leadership on performance will do well than one who chose based on popularity or common charity. Here in Nigeria, people choose their leadership definitely not on performance but generosity and popularity. It is true that the eyes don’t see the essential but here in Nigeria, the eyes can see the non-essential, for the basic essentials are non existent. Unfortunately it is the non-essential that they endorse.

Nepotism and Racial Bigotry is another problem on another level. I partly agree with Achebe, the egalitarian prodigy, that Nigeria is not a country but a people existing with inward antagonism. A people suffering from Cultural Schizophrenia, Eurotoxification and a Lunatic Elite. The Leaders have used tribe and religion as an instrument to manipulate the emotions and sentiments of the governed, to an extent that the latter have become oblivious of the bigger picture. Every tribe in Nigeria is striving to protect a culture that has since been receding into the crevices of their memory. Morality should be the order of the day, but morality counts for nothing in the face of religion and tribe.  The Hausas who are predominantly Muslims are driven more by religion and live in a closely knit culture controlled by Islam. The Igbos, who are predominantly Christians are semi-influenced by their religion but are fiercely individualistic, materialistic and industrious. The Yorubas, a melting point for all the races and religion are tolerant in a flagrant manner and egotistically bias. We race to keep our race at the top but we forget about nation building. At the expense of race dominance, we forget to live but merely exist to keep the elites living off our puerile and gullible existence.

Education was meant to alleviate poverty but has created more confusion than enlighten Nigerians. Half bred educators teaching mindless students would only create a jejune mind. The sheer banality of setting out to school is being defeated at the end of the day, for more than many are a misfit of what they acclaimed. It is a nasty experience to butter the face of a bread that has lost its bromate to expiration. Most of the knowledge taught in school are dead. I remember back in the university; my lazy lecturer taught us exactly the same way, same examples that he taught students seven years ago; Thank heavens I was able to borrow one of the notes of a seven-year-old graduate from the same department. I need not write any notes of his, for the notes I borrowed from the alumnus was a perfect replica. The education system is recursive and not advancing, typical of the country. Education is supposed to make us better but I guess it is just an instrument too. An advance citizenry should be the target of every educational system and not make you half boiled egg. Making you a side dish, to be eaten or discarded. The system, if at all had achieved anything, had made us nothing but appendages, seeking succor from the elites or privileged, creating a corrosive cycle.

 The leaders would not encourage an advance citizenry. They will never better education in this country because they know that it is their adversary to leadership. The more naïve the people are, the better for their cusp of leadership. I cannot remember a time when military and Civilians (Politicians alike) have ever campaigned without including Building Good Roads, Power restoration, Good Schools and Hospitals. I believe at this time, our leaders should be campaigning with more advanced global issues like Global Warming, Economic diversification, urbanization of rural areas, effective depopulation of urban areas. Nuclear program for power and medicine. Scientific discoveries and technological advancement, Space exploration etc.   A citizenry that know its right and seek change is a revolutionary and advanced citizen. ‘Our sidon look’ attitude will only earn us nothing but freedom from glory and subservience to poverty.

We attack each other at election time to install crooks and brigands in positions. Many potential soldiers of freedom lose their lives, fighting on the streets in support for politicians who would soon forget them as soon as election is won. What have we done with ourselves? Only to seek improvement by groveling and ingratiating from the same set of people we queued up to elect. We need to wake up and put tribalism. Religion, status and nepotism aside and elect egalitarian leaders.

I agree. It is difficult to know a true leader. They are wolves in sheep linen. Vote for performance and track records and you will see a change in leadership. Do not vote for popularity, showmanship, group or individual success. It is only here in Nigeria that people detained for corrupt practices are declared winners of election, even while in detention. People who are wanted for international crime and have serious litigation pending against them, win elections. With our eyes opened, we pluck, wash and eat bad apples and expect not to purge. Who are we fooling? Poor choice in leadership begets poor administration. We have lived in deepening anarchy for years to support a fragile peace. It is about time we purge the anarchy and perpetuate good governance and peace.

Remember my brethren, we need to break the circuit in order to reset it.