Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: FW: THE FUTILITY OF PRIVILEGED GREED

OPINION

Brother John



The position of economists on this dialogue approximates that of realist
scholars in my discipline of political science. Realists claim that "man" is
basically evil. Therefore, one could extrapolate from this dogma that what would
commonly flow from the actions and activities of "men" would be "evil". Also, in
my discipline, we have scholars who claim to be idealists and moralists (some of
whom are theologians and strong believers in liberation theology and its
pedagogue). They claim that "man" is basically good. If they became evil, it
must be their environment that made them become iniquitous. I think General
Buhari subscribes to this view when he once said: "The character of a society is
a reflection of those of its leaders--i.e. a moral leader "begets" good
followers. Conversely, a bad leader "begets" bad and corrupt followers.
Indisputably, if the leader is a known thief, it would be difficult to blame his
or her subordinates for being thieves. Professor (and brother) Wole Soyinka
brought this analogy to the fore during Abacha's regime. I believe he
metaphorically posed the query on corruption during that regime thus: "If the
head [of a fish] is rotten, what do you expect of the body? So, the character of
a leader matters a whole lot in our inchoate democracies.

You are absolutely correct that the problem is our leaders' "refusal" to respect
the rule of law (as enshrined in national constitutions and other legal
documents). Our leaders seldom "obeyed" the law--especially if the law works
against their interest/s. Also, they often don't implement policies that work
against their interest even when such policies are good for the society. I was
in Lagos when President Obasanjo promised the country that the problem of NEPA
was going be solved in a year. Well, we know the rest of the story. Indeed, he
was reelected and may have been reelected for a third term irrespective of his
regime's inability to implement important national policies such as providing
the country with adequate power critical for the country's economic development.

Several months ago, I expressed my opinion on this forum regarding the problems
that we face in crafting adequate policies for governing our societies and the
negative response that we often received from the powers that be in: "The
Irrational Political Academic." Even so, we can't afford to throw in the towel.

Again, how do we, as members of the informed public, cajole, urge, encourage,
compel, induce...our leaders to respect the rule of law, the constitution...and
promises that they have made to provide us with good governance? Or, should we
continue to observe and accept (as does our suffering poor) the misrule of our
societies, and say or shout in our classic Nigerian way a la the First Lady
recently: "God dey," "God dey-o" "God deyoo!"

Not very long ago, our colleagues at state-funded universities went on strike
partially because the Federal government did not implement promises made to them
and institutions. No matter how repugnant many thought of the process, the
outcome was that government responded "positively" to their requests. Moreover,
when government decided to raise the price of gas or petrol that worked against
the interests of our ordinary folks, there was a collective action by civil
society and government took care of the problem.


I was briefly in Kenya during President arap Moi's regime and was very pleased
with the activities of the Church and other civil society organizations in
bringing pressure to bear on the government that had insisted that democracy was
a terrible governance model for Kenya. Nigeria's powerful Church leaders and
civil society movements and members of the informed public (you and I) can do a
lot to change the character of Nigerian (and African) politics so that our
political chiefs would serve the needs of the ordinary people. After all, the
Holy Bible, Koran and other religious texts (including traditional texts) enjoin
us to do so.

"Sedon Look" is inadequate.

I rest my case!

Ike Udogu



----- Original Message -----
From: John Mbaku <jmbaku@weber.edu>
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 6:07 pm
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: FW: THE FUTILITY OF PRIVILEGED GREED
To: "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "Assensoh, Akwasi B." <aassenso@indiana.edu>, "anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk"
<anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk>, "ama@fahamu.org" <ama@fahamu.org>,
"iaduah66@yahoo.com" <iaduah66@yahoo.com>, "africawatch.gms@gmail.com"
<africawatch.gms@gmail.com>, "Afoaku, Osita" <osafoaku@indiana.edu>, "Osili, Una
O" <uosili@iupui.edu>, "andohs1@southernct.edu" <andohs1@southernct.edu>,
"afaugustine@yahoo.com" <afaugustine@yahoo.com>, "dmwhiteh@iupui.edu"
<dmwhiteh@iupui.edu>, "dejigiri@yahoo.com" <dejigiri@yahoo.com>,
"georgekieh@yahoo.com" <georgekieh@yahoo.com>, "kwesiattasakyi449@gmail.com"
<kwesiattasakyi449@gmail.com>, "drkieh@yahoo.com" <drkieh@yahoo.com>

> Ike:
>
> We, economists, start from the premise that most people, even
> includinggood ones, are likely to engage in the various forms of
> politicalopportunism (more appropriately referred to as political
> prostitution) to
> enrich themselves and their relatives if the opportunity arises or
> presentsitself. The more ethical among us may resist the temptation
> but with enough
> discretion and pressure from benefactors and extended families would
> eventually succumb. Hence, economists, while taking this pessimistic
> approach, argue that good and ethical leadership is a necessary but
> notsufficient condition for good governance. Sufficiency requires
> that the
> country have institutional arrangements that adequately constrain
> statecustodians (i.e., civil servants and politicians) and prevent
> them from
> behaving with impunity. Without a guarantee of the rule of law, state
> custodians, as they have done in virtually all African countries, will
> consider themselves above the law and act accordingly.
>
> Consider the fact that Julius Nyerere was one of Africa's most ethical
> leaders--he actually holds the distinction of having been a long-
> servingAfrican president who died poor and without any hidden Swiss
> bankaccounts--and yet he presided over a country that was pervaded
> withextremely high levels of corruption and other forms of
> opportunism. The
> country's weak and poor institutions allowed his subordinates to
> plunderthe country and engage in all forms of opportunism to enrich
> themselves at
> the expense of the rest of their fellow citizens.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 10, 2014 at 2:25 PM, <udoguei@appstate.edu> wrote:
>
> >
> > Opinion on this submission
> >
> > Indeed, as the good book says: "In addition to prayers, there
> must be
> > effort."
> > Consequently, it would be futile for Nigerians to continuously
> pray for
> > good
> > leaders without strong collective action to elect Mandela-like
> leaders. In
> > as
> > much as I believe that our corrupt politicos will be punished for
> their> political inequities, Nigeria's (and Africa's) civil society
> groups must
> > act
> > more--and talk less--and write less!
> > Our corrupt Nigerian (and African) leaders must be taught a
> > lesson; they must
> > be reminded that as custodians of the state, they are in power to
> serve> fellow
> > compatriots not themselves, families and lackeys.
> > Regrettably, in Nigeria's politics today all of the
> elements that
> > led to the
> > 1966 coups are simmering in the society; they are even worse than
> they> were in
> > the 1960s (that I saw with my own eyes). In fact, we are debating
> how $20
> > billion of the country's wealth can't be accounted for and those
> > responsible for
> > this possible theft continue to take their country men and women for
> > granted. In
> > the mean time, we continue to pray. This "God dey na poor man
> medicine> syndrome"
> > has to stop! The government and its resources belong to the
> people, and
> > not to
> > governor Akpabio and his ilk. So, what must we, as members of the
> informed> public, do to address this malfeasance in our polity?
> >
> > Ike Udogu
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Assensoh, Akwasi B." <aassenso@indiana.edu>
> > Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 10:48 am
> > Subject: FW: THE FUTILITY OF PRIVILEGED GREED
> > To: "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com" <
> > usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> > Cc: "anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk" <anthonyakinola@yahoo.co.uk>, "
> > ama@fahamu.org"
> > <ama@fahamu.org>, "iaduah66@yahoo.com" <iaduah66@yahoo.com>,
> > "africawatch.gms@gmail.com" <africawatch.gms@gmail.com>, "Afoaku,
> Osita"> <osafoaku@indiana.edu>, "Osili, Una O" <uosili@iupui.edu>,
> > "andohs1@southernct.edu" <andohs1@southernct.edu>,
> "afaugustine@yahoo.com"> <afaugustine@yahoo.com>,
> "dmwhiteh@iupui.edu" <dmwhiteh@iupui.edu>,
> > "dejigiri@yahoo.com" <dejigiri@yahoo.com>, "udoguei@appstate.edu"
> > <udoguei@appstate.edu>, "georgekieh@yahoo.com"
> <georgekieh@yahoo.com>,> "kwesiattasakyi449@gmail.com"
> <kwesiattasakyi449@gmail.com>, "
> > drkieh@yahoo.com"
> > <drkieh@yahoo.com>
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The futility of privileged greed
> > > by
> > > Anthony Akinola*
> > >
> > > One admirable culture of contemporary "Western"
> > > politicians is what I would describe as their sense of moderation
> > > or proportion. They are able to draw the line between those
> > > matters that are private to them and those that are public.
> > > For instance, they do not make the birthdays or
> > > weddings of their loved ones a public celebration, and they would
> > > rather prefer to be left to grieve privately if they were
> bereaved.> > The manner in which they conduct themselves ensures
> they do not
> > > offend the sensibilities of those who elected them into public
> office.> > This can hardly be said of our politicians in
> Nigeria.> > Being in a public office provides an opportunity to
> flaunt and
> > > abuse power and influence. It is when they are in office that
> they> > remember to celebrate the birthdays of their loved ones. The
> > > weddings of their sons or daughters, in particular, provide an
> > > opportunity to be acknowledged by those they have enriched at the
> > > expense of the larger society. Paid advertisements and gifts of
> > > cars and rams reciprocate their generosity. Wait until they have
> > > left office, their more than 3,000 greetings cards at Christmas
> > > could be reduced to less than 30! I know of a politician who was
> > > the darling of all while in office but now remains in abject
> > > obscurity, deserted by those he had once benefited!
> > > Maybe this is one reason why our politicians want to
> > > remain perpetually in the limelight, even when their counterparts
> > > elsewhere appreciate that there is a time to quit the stage for
> > > others and spend quality time with family as well as exploit other
> > > interests such as reading and writing.
> > > Our so-called governors believe they must continue to
> > > enjoy the full privileges of governorship even after they have
> left> > office. The post-governorship pensions they design for
> themselves> > are geared towards their anxiety to continue to be
> relevant long
> > > after they have left the political stage. They want police
> > > presence in their homes and they want their numerous servants and
> > > cooks to be paid for by their respective states. They want the
> > > states to build them retirement mansions, not only in their
> states'> > capitals but also in the nation's capital of Abuja! It
> matters not
> > > to them that there could be five or more former governors at some
> > > stage. In a nation where ostentation is celebrated, they want to
> > > be able to travel around in a convoy of cars, with sirens blazing!
> > > When some talk of the presidential system of government
> > > being expensive, I counter that argument by blaming that
> > > "expensiveness" on the celebrated recklessness of our politicians
> > > Any system that provides our politicians with liberty will be
> > > abused. Had the oil wealth been around when we practiced the
> > > parliamentary system in the First Republic, politicians of old
> > > could have been as reckless as those of today are.Major Kaduna
> > > Nzeogwu, conqueror of the First Republic, described the
> politicians> > of that era as "ten per-centers", not least because
> they cornered
> > > to themselves ten percent of every contract they awarded.
> > > The United States of America would long have been dead
> > > and buried if that nation had been unfortunate enough to have had
> > > our type of politicians. The USA is the most accomplished nation
> > > in the world today, it is home to great universities, and it is
> one> > nation many scramble to be citizens of. Has the presidential
> > > system of government not been with America since 1787?
> > > Good leaders live for the future of their societies. For
> those of
> > > them in Nigeria, today is the future! Elected politicians seek
> the> > best for themselves and their families. Even when the job of
> > > serious law making in a society as complex as ours should be
> full-
> > > time, the excesses of our politicians make ill-considered
> > > viewpoints very attractive. The salaries and allowances our
> > > elected politicians corner to themselves make the rest of society
> > > feel as if they have been fools or idiots.
> > > Our elected politicians behave as if there is no God but I say to
> > > them that there is God in everything we do! Our greedy
> politicians> > will one day answer for those shoe-less kids roaming
> the streets
> > > hungry and aimless. Those who mend our roads as well as those who
> > > clean the toilet have families who deserve to be as happy as those
> > > of our politicians.The millions of jobless Nigerians have
> families.> > Because of our selfishness we assume we are the only
> ones who
> > > matter. There is God!
> > > The first warning that our greed might come back to haunt us has
> > > been fired by the Americans. It is said that they would no longer
> > > be buying our crude oil and this suggests there could be a
> possible> > decline in funds. The time may be fast approaching
> when those who
> > > have stolen our collective wealth would lack the moral
> authority to
> > > ask the rest of us to tighten our belts.The Boko Haram insurgency
> > > could be like child's play when the "goats" our corrupt and greedy
> > > politicians have been breeding are finally driven against the
> walls> > of unbearable economic austerity. They will bite very
> hard at
> > > their oppressors.
> > >
> > > *Anthony Akinola is a writer resident in Oxford, UK. His new book,
> > > "Party Coalitions in Nigeria: History, Trends and Prospects", was
> > > recently published by Safari Books Ltd, Ibadan.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
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> Africa> Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of
> Texas at Austin.
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> --
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)Graduate
> Certificate in
> Environmental and Natural Resources Law Nonresident Senior Fellow, The
> Brookings InstitutionAttorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in
> Utah)BradyPresidential Distinguished Professor of Economics &
> Willard L. Eccles
> Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow Department of
> EconomicsWeber State University3807 University CircleOgden, UT
> 84408-3807,
> USA(801) 626-7442 Phone(801) 626-7423 Fax*
>
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