Thanks for an interesting letter, just a couple of 'pedantic' clarifying questions: Did Museveni ever studied at and/or graduated from Makerere to make it his "alma mater"? Nyerere was in power from 1961/1962-1985, how then does he really fit into "not in power for 42, 32, 22 years"?
From: "udoguei@appstate.edu" <udoguei@appstate.edu>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sat, March 26, 2011 11:55:36 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - In Response to President Museveni on Libya and African Politics
IN RESPONSE TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT MUSEVENI, ON LIBYA AND AFRICAN POLITICS
Your Excellency, I read with infinite pleasure your reflection on the political
imbroglio in Libya. In particular, I enjoyed your balanced—even nuanced—analysis
and chronology of events leading to Gaddafi's current political tribulations.
Your putative plea as to how we should visualize this development in our
continent is incisive.
I read your brief essay on Gaddafi and Libya in a beautiful city, Boone, perched
on the beautiful blue ridge mountains of North Carolina, USA. I have alluded to
this fact only to inform Your Excellency as to the wonderful impact of our
contemporary Information Communications Technology (ICT), and especially the
power of what is commonly referred to as the social media. Today, we are well
informed of what is going on in virtually all parts of the world. And, in spite
of Africa's slow pace in embracing this dynamic medium of communication Africans
in the Diaspora remain well informed of the happenings in the motherland.
Indeed, this was how I got to read your piece.
It is in the spirit of your candid view on the above political issue, that I
briefly express my proceeding opinions on African affairs. Before I commence
with my thoughts, I would like to compliment you and your government for
encouraging brother Mahmood Mamdani to return to your alma mater and to take on
the onerous task of reviving the great reputation of Makerere University which
at one time was second to none in Southern Africa. In my mind, African
universities need a great renaissance that should surpass—and must exceed—the
imposing character of our universities in the immediate aftermath of
post-independence sub-Saharan Africa. It is paradoxical that many, if not most,
of the contemporary leaders throughout the sub-continent were beneficiaries of
these great universities—yet they have pretended not to see the infrastructures
of these magnificent institutions rot before their own eyes.
Sir, another area of my appeal to you and a priori your fellow African leaders
is in the development of first class archive/s to house your papers, memoirs,
correspondences, etc. Such archives should be made readily available to
researchers and may be situated at one of the universities or privately. In the
US, and I believe in Nigeria today, such archives are referred to as the
Presidential library. Generally, scholars, especially in history and political
science, see such a facility as a goldmine. More importantly, the study of such
carefully stored material could help researchers understand the philosophies of
our leaders—their strengths and weaknesses. Such information could help future
leaders in a country or other countries improve their leadership quality. They
may do so by avoiding the pitfall of previous leaders (such as those you
outlined for Col. Gaddafi).
Mr. President, a further area of political concern to many in the continent and
Diaspora is the proclivity for an African leader to stay in power for such a
long time. I expressed by disquiet on this matter in the book, African
Renaissance. I worry that too many African leaders are urged to stay on in
office by sycophants of the "Macbethian" hue who do not have the interest of the
country and the continent at heart but theirs. Many, as I argued, see themselves
as an embodiment of the country/state. So, Gaddafi believes that he is Libya and
Libya is Gaddafi, Biya in Cameroon and Cameroon is Biya, and so on. These
leaders tend to delude themselves that if they abdicated from power, their
society would immediately collapse. Therefore, they should be kept in power to
avoid such a calamity. Moreover, what is equally disturbing is that these
leaders groom their children (generally their son to succeed them). Your
Excellency, this kind of political philosophy is selfish and anachronistic; it
encourages "political incest" and such in-breeding can be disastrous in the
governance of society because it could promote political instability. Today, the
revelation and revolutions that we are witnessing in North Africa and the Middle
East (for example, Libya, Syria, Egypt, etc) have their roots in this outmoded
genre of politics.
To this end, I would like to plead with Your Excellency and other African
leaders to learn from the lessons of our brothers and sisters in North Africa
and the Middle East. To paraphrase Lord Aton, "absolute power corrupts—and
absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely." We have had great leaders in
Africa—President Nyerere of Tanzania and President Mandela of South Africa. They
were not in power for 42, 32, 22 years. These leaders placed the interest/s of
their countries above their narrow and altruistic interest/s. After all, leaders
are chosen to be temporary custodians of the state—a sort of benevolent
servant—and not a permanent master or president-for-life. Let me be clear on
this matter, Africa has produced some of the best and brightest professionals in
the world today—the like of which we never saw in the past. They can manage our
affairs with finesse.
Mr. President, the pledge made by many observers of African development is that
the 21st century can not and will not mimic the 20th. Please enjoin your
colleagues in the African Union to join us—and particularly the youth—in the
contemporary struggle to catapult our continent in all spheres of human
development to the zenith by opening up the political space and embracing the
good governance project.
I am, your humble Servant,
Ike Udogu
--
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