Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 2015: Time to debate policy issues

I would like to add a few comments to the excellent work being done by Nigerian and other intellectuals on the future of the country. It is important for us to keep in mind that intellectuals are not the only ones with ideas about governance, economic growth, and development, as well as peaceful coexistence. Provided with the facilities, even the most uneducated citizen can provide significant input into the process of political and economic governance, as well as entrepreneurship and the creation of the wealth that Nigeria needs to deal fully with poverty and significantly improve national living standards. Nevertheless, it is important to note that intellectuals, through their training and education, have a comparative advantage in the articulation of ideas--they may not have a monopoly on ideas, but they can articulate them and make them part of the national discourse/dialogue. If that dialogue is robust enough, it can provide the raw materials for developing the types of institutional arrangements that would provide all of the country's diverse population groups--ethnic, religious, and nationality--with the tools to live together peacefully; organize their private lives, including engaging in those activities that maximize their values (getting married and having children; engaging in business to create wealth for themselves and their families; practicing their religions, traditions, and cultures,  etc.), and do so in a way that does not unnecessarily interfere with the ability of other groups to do similarly.

Take the Nigerian lawyer, for example. While the village goat herder is quite aware of what it means to lose his goat to theft and hence, is interested in making certain that the law provides adequate protection for his property rights, he may not be able to fully and effectively put his ideas about the protection of one's property into nationally accepted/acceptable legal language.  Now, comes the lawyer. She can help the goat herder more effectively craft a law that will fully protect the goat herder's property rights in his goat and minimize the chances that opportunists (i.e., thieves) will redistribute his goat in their favor. Here, the outcome of the cooperation between the lawyer and the goat herder would be a law that reflects the goat herder's values, his worldview, etc. 

On Sat, Jan 10, 2015 at 6:44 AM, 'Adeshina Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Prof., 

I just finished reading your article, and I have just two points to add.

First, you are spot on about the dearth of great policy ideas in the minds of the politicians, but shouldn't we blame the intellectuals? I don't think the issue is that of politicians not surrounding themselves with intellectuals, but rather that of the intellectuals denigrating their intellect within the confines of power. I have Abati and the rest of them in mind.

Second, if we wait for politicians who are intellectually bereft of ideas to initiate debates around policy issues, we will really be waiting for Godot. Again, the responsibility rests squarely in the court of the intellectuals, like you sir, not only to outline what is at stake but to also find some means of forcing the politicians to engage these issues. I will, for instance, be happy to see your next column piece dedicated to a summation of the key issues around which Nigeria can be transformed. I will like to see Lead City University inviting GEJ or GMB to sime kind of forum around this issues. I will be happy to see some kind of collaborative effort invikving you, Utomi and other at this time to force these politicians at the federal, state and local levels to some forums. We will be shocked at what will unfold. 

The task of transforming Nigeria is too important to be left to the politicians alone. Or even to intellectuals who are afraid to speak to the issues squarely.

I salute you sir!

Adeshina Afolayan

Sent from Samsung Mobile

-------- Original message --------
From: ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date:
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 2015: Time to debate policy issues



http://www.punchng.com/opinion/viewpoint/2015-time-to-debate-policy-issues/

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

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JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
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Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
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Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & Willard L. Eccles Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow
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