The colonists designed Nigeria to be RULED with military help. The army perfected this idea. Anyone can rule Nigeria, no one can govern it.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Seeking a 'good' president for Nigeria is like seeking a peace-loving 'Don' to head a violent gang. The system just isn't designed for that.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
So, we either get a weak 'Don' who cannot control corruption/misbehaviour or a strong 'Don' who rewards loyalists and kills or jails others.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
This Nigerian political system, like any gang, has its principles too: a Don cannot get TOO nasty or he's booted. Thus Buhari 84/Abacha 98.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Also, our hypothetical Don has to respect the established 'traditions'. You cannot stay long in power if you go about upsetting systems.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
But whether weak or strong Don, we the people always suffer the effects. We alternate between being robbed blind or being beaten to pulp.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Some prefer weak Dons because they get to be freely corrupt. Some prefer strong Dons because they get to 'show power'. The masses suffer.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
This is why, ultimately, from 1960 – 2015, it still doesn't matter who runs Nigeria as long as the patronage political system is the same.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Governance is not the same as ruling. Ruling is when a president travels for medical care and doesn't disclose his ailment to voters.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Ruling is when a president calls executive meetings when likes, or doesn't visit victims of disasters, or approves massacres by the army.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Governance is a dialogue between govt and the people. Governance is policy formulation based on the demands of voters. Governance is work.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Ruling is changing monetary policies arbitrarily. Ruling is displacing 20,000 people from their homes to build a luxury estate for 500.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Ruling is easy. You can rule anywhere when you have guns and an army. That's why one tiny armed robber can command everyone in a bank.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
But the ability to command people does not make an armed robber a bank manager. Take the army away from Aso Rock: can they still perform?
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
We need to build a society where leaders are part of the people; where high walls do not separate the state house from public view.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
SEEK YE FIRST A STRUCTURAL CHANGE, and then all other things will be added: light, health, education, jobs, welfare, accountability.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Or ignore this as we've ignored others. Let's keep talking about Atikus and El Rufais. We'll be back here in 2023 wondering why no progress.
— AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) September 7, 2017
Follow @ayosogunro on twitter for more engagement, buy his books, and—if you really like stimulating, if sometimes annoying thoughts on socio-legal philosophy—enter your email in the right sidebar to get notifications of fresh talk on this fine blog.
Ever wondered about the class structure of Nigerian society? Read the mini-series on the Hierarchy of Nigerian Policy.
Ayo Sogunro 
Prophet Isaiah. Better charrap there before the people do to you what they did to … even Jesus. Brymo kuku talk say black man too like to suffer ehn, the whole thing taya pesin.
LikeLike
Great post. All well said and meticulously noted. I’m particularly fascinated about your thought on seeking a STRUCTURAL CHANGE. I beg to ask, how can that come to be– structural change??
I believe it’d be profoundly enlightening and thought provoking if you’d upload an article on ‘NIGERIA and STRUCTURAL CHANGE’.
Your Post are always timely.
Thanks Ayo
LikeLike