Disempowering The NDLEA: Insider’s View
Disempowering The NDLEA: Insider’s View The 2019 elections have come and gone. It has produced its victors and losers, no matter how illegitimate the ballot was. We did not even…
Pirate-Captain Entities and Democracy
Pirate-Captain Entities and Democracy
There is a keen fascination among young men, most at leading schools and universities around the world, with the “captain-pirate” mode. Its germ is of rebellion or disobedience against the injustices and excesses of the status quo in society. It is not surprising. The literal meaning of a pirate and the piratical life is one of thieves and the means of thieving, respectively. Its contextual significance is in fraternal orders of young men and is consanguineous with the metaphor of Robin Hood. Stealing from the rich or powerful to give to the poor. The young or seasoned pirate, as he swears a solemn oath at his initiation, under the guidance of his captain, thus becomes an agent of social justice in society. Political means not excluded. (more…)
Courtesy Emmanuel-Ikwuegbu
Nigeria Needs Strong Social Movements
In.Nigeria Needs Strong Social Movements Voting, votes and honest election results are not enough to prevent elected officials from misbehaving or misgoverning once they get into office. Constitutional checks and…
Nigeria Decivilising: Governance by Self-Hating Leaders
The complete metamorphosis of the butterfly is a thoroughly adequate analogy for civilisation: the gradual progression from egg to slug to pupa to imago [the beautiful butterfly]. In the Nigerian context, it starts with the colonised state to the inexperienced independent nation-state to transitional nation-state to strong state. The furthest stage Nigeria ever go to was the ugly butterfly that never blossomed. However, after the initial euphoria of the return to democracy, it is now evident that Nigerian politicians and clergy are busy reversing the progress of the nation back into the stage of a slug as a consequence of their thefts and misrule; it suits them well. But does it suit the everyday citizens? (more…)
The cycle of corruption is fed by putting guilty but covered up people in power
Trapped by the Guilty Accuser Syndrome
Nations Trapped by the Guilty Accuser Syndrome
Numerous factors are acutely responsible for the persistence and worsening of the phenomenon of corruption in many democracies. These factors include regulatory capture, lack of transparency, inappropriate political systems, vertical policy transplantations, the weak rule of law, harsh economic conditions, the absence of political legitimacy, etc. All these factors are invisible to the public and require scandal to be known. Another critical factor in the growth of corruption is the much less discussed, the “guilty accuser syndrome”.
The guilty accuser syndrome is a sophisticated political selection strategy that ensures that only politicians with “dirty hands” can get into positions of power that are both strategic and lucrative. Such a syndrome is more associated with new and transition democracies than the mature liberal version. The guilty accuser syndrome is a significant weapon of corrupt political patrons since it can ruin strong institutions and render institutional reform useless. (more…)
Reflections on the May Elections
Reflections on the May Elections: The Relevance of Voters?
Never underestimate the wisdom of the old saying, “what Britain needs is another good war”. Peace, jobs, wages, NHS are boring and appear to be responsible for the national malaise in British politics. Or are they? The May 5th local elections are over, and the June 8th general election is on its way.