Native Politics: Thieves and Treasures
At the heart of Nigerian politics and the thinking something drives it. It is the pervasive ‘nativity’ that we cannot ignore or dismiss. Musing about corruption without it is impossible. Imagine a polity in which the “high and mighty” as well as the “hungry and insignificant” have a common belief. The belief is “The best way to protect a treasure is to have it guarded by a competent thief”? Nonetheless, such a belief, though so ‘native.’ For it assumes that the thief has a strong sense of shame or a sensitive conscience. And the limits of such thinking is to one’s local environs. Furthermore, I diverse nation like Nigeria abhors cross cultural beliefs.
In modern societies, thieves abscond with huge fortunes and great valuables to distant lands. Often, they return to cart off more. Most of Nigeria’s valuable riches are “stashed” overseas, and most of it is forever. Notwithstanding, the treasures will never return. Nigerians and non-Nigerians know so much about the enormity and life-cycles of Nigerian loot stashed away in foreign lands. However, Nigeria’s case is peculiar. Because the money most thieves steal they bank, invest and hoard overseas. Well, while the thieves themselves live with grand impunity in Nigeria. Big thieves run free!
“The best way to protect a treasure is to have it guarded by a competent thief”? Why not? “A king never rejects a gift no matter how trifling”? Or “The hand that washes the other makes both hands clean”? These are uninteresting and disabling concepts for fostering the basis of the profound thinking for many Nigerian politicians and their supporters, and for moving the country forward. What a shame! It’s so gbinikakuous.
When people glorify ancient African sense and superstitions over western modern thought, you can only but laugh at them. Mercedes Benz, private jets, town houses, mobile phones, study in foreign universities are the most desirable things to such persons. Their ambition for western-style profession is inestimable. Or they love their command of English and living/travelling overseas is a privilege they cherish.
Nevertheless, when it comes to money, the stolen kind, African sense, is the best sense. No wonder there are countless rouges among them.
Native politics and thieves, eh! He who protects the most treasures wins.
All Guys Dey