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.
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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.
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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
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