Udemezue OnyiohaSolving this structural political malfeasance requires introspection. This will require an examination of traditional core principles and values engrained in our primordial core. How did our ancestors govern before the Europeans and Arabs came to our shores and introduced their values to us thru a policy wroth with blood and iron?
Before Europeans and Arabs colonized our minds with foreign religions and political systems and principles alien to us, we practiced communal democracy or Age Group system of governance which was part of our history, culture, and traditions. All political systems in their DNA consider the history of a people, their experiences and expectations and incorporates checks and balances in these political systems that ultimately seek a perfect union of its citizens where behavioral accountability is paramount. American democracy is born out of their experience with the crown of England. Since their history and political experiences are different from our own, it’s understandable why it has not worked for Nigeria. Cross-culture pollination should not include throwing the baby out with the dirty bath water.
The best defense against imperialism is the primordial religion, culture, and history of a people. Had we had an understanding of this, we would have synthesize our traditional political systems as a tool to fight imperialism and discern a political system designed to mitigate the effects of colonization and slavery.
The greatest tool in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
Boy, do they have our minds. A pity, really. Adopting American or western style democracy in Nigeria, or in any Black African country is like walking around in a desert and expecting rain.
African Age Grade system of governance or Peerism is almost incorruptible because, accountability is the burden of a specific age group responsible for the conduct of its representative in government. This is not ballot box democracy where one has to wait for the expiration of the vote (every four years or so) to get rid of a corrupt politician, or administration. Therefore, discipline of a representative falls squarely on that specific age group, and is meted out by them. In my village, a person cannot shame their age group. Such a person is disciplined on the spot, excommunicated if necessary, and a new representative from that specific age group is selected. No age group wants to be identified as corrupt or shamed. That is African culture, at least in my village of Nkporo, Nigeria. All we need to do is synthesize this political system engrained in our way of life, history, moral discipline, and environmental experience for the 21st century and beyond.
If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.
For detailed explanation of Age Group system of governance, here is a link: Ochichi nke Uke [Peerism] | Chiism
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