African countries do not seem able to govern themselves and they do not appear to have made much progress since independence.
First, in most of the African countries, the political climate is chaotic. Though majority of the nations attained independence from the colonial masters several decades ago, they still record spates of political crisis. In Nigeria for instance, the political atmosphere is acrimonious, where impunity reigns; violence and violation of rights, to mention but a few. The political situation in Ghana is not any better either by now. The political quagmire in countries like, Somalia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and a host of others is better described than experienced.
One is therefore justified to assert that African countries have not matured to deliver good governance and proportionally have not made the expected progress since independence; more to it is because they have the worst of leadership crises. Surprisingly, most African countries have not been fortunate to produce faithful, selfless and patriotic leaders, instead, they have leaders who are not really people-oriented, not result-oriented but selfish to the core. They have had leaders who promulgate diabolical and draconian decrees and amend the constitution to suit their self-centred drive. It is saddening that these leaders have no regard for the fundamental human rights and the freedom of the people. Most of them hang on to office, they keep recycling themselves.
Also, the absence of unity among the African people is a considerable point to reckon, rather than promoting peaceful co-existence, they practice tribalism/ethnicity, segregation, nepotism, etc. In each of the African countries, there are perennial and perpetual disagreements, fights and wide differences among the tribes. In Nigeria, being a multi-ethnic country, for instance the different tribes such as Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ibibio, Efik,Tiv, Ogoni, Igala, Egbira, Idoma, Berom, Fulani, Tarok, and others, daily engage in inter-communal clashes. Like in other countries in Africa, they fight and kill themselves over land, or the appropriate formula for sharing resources.
Equally important is the high level of corruption, misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds in Africa, more than it happens in any other continent. African leaders mismanage money and misplace their priorities. They siphon and divert the money meant for welfare of the people to their private bank accounts overseas and buy mansions and venture into huge investment. Ironically, they are leaders who claim to be the richest, yet from the poorest countries, eventually they retire to the Western world after their elongated years of sit-tight rule to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth.
In view of this, it is therefore correct to accept that African countries don’t have good governance and have not been progressive. We must give it a constructive re-think with posterity and eternity in view.
Dr Joshua Godspower James,
Otukpa, Ogbadibo, Benue State
