Tag: African National Congress

The African political desert is sprouting oasis here and there. Theeconomies of a number of countries in the continent are reportedly growing, at an average of five per cent plus. Even the widespread brutal war-fare in the past decades, as alternative to politics or brinkmanship, seems to peter out. What is, however, not certain is how long it will take the people to feel safe enough, to intuitively demand accountability in the exercise of public power as a right; instead of a rare privilege or aberrations in a continent desolate for centuries. Interestingly as Africa totters at this historic juncture, the supreme iconic brand for the continent, Nelson Mandela, is graciously bowing out.

Even more interesting is that Africa has also been able to export what it lacked most – accountable public service, to the most powerful country in the world – the United States. In the past week, that proud export of our continent, President Barak Obama, as a dutiful son should do, came home to wish our dear Madiba, a safe journey to the ancestral homestead. President Obama, however, made sure that he sent a historic warning to the wayward siblings, particularly Nigeria and Kenya; that the time for accountability has come, by ignoring their sense of entitlements, and refusing to visit them. This natural cycle of departure as epitomised by Madiba, and new birth, as represented by Barak, shows that Africa can not forever remain entirely bad news; as her time will surely come.

Madiba’s ascendency as the ultimate world hero did not come cheap. It cost him 27 years in jail. Even before that life changing journey to prison, Mandela had with his comrades in the African National Congress (ANC), devoted their whole being to the liberation of their people from the apartheid regime. While in prison, he grew in stature to become the scourge of the regime, the ultimate national sacrificial lamb, and the beacon of hope for a free country. When he regained his personal freedom, his country also gained its freedom. As the first President of a multiracial South Africa, Madiba refused to be vengeful. He did not use his executive powers to hunt down his jailers and their collaborators. He resisted the common malaise of his colleagues, to turn to an ‘African big man’, with fat bank accounts and mansions in Europe and North America that they never get to sleep in. He served for a single term in office, and went ahead to hand over to the younger generation, in a free and fair election.

Mandiba did not seek to continue to determine who gets what in his country, after leaving power. He did not organise dubious fund raising ventures for personal aggrandisement while in office; or corner for himself and his cronies’ prime national assets through fraudulent privatisation exercises. While in office, Madiba, did not appropriate the natural resources of the country through a criminal licensing process, neither did he acquire prime real estates of the people, through a dubious legislation. President Mandela resisted the company of criminals parading themselves as leaders, and was ready to call their bluff, despite that they could donate to dubious projects in his village. He rejected the temptation that power is everything, preferring always the high moral ground, whether while in power and out of political power; marking him out today and for a very long time to come, as the ultimate world moral authority.

His company and endorsement was sought after by the most powerful political, economic, religious and social leadership of the world. Entertainment icons, business moguls, presidents, kings, athletes, all sought to meet him. President Obama, equated him with Ghandi of India, as his moral mentors. To underscore their spiritual bonding, Obama’s earlier planned trip to Africa coincided with President Mandela’s final journey, to immortality. It is hoped that President Obama will also go further than peddling his huge influence, to practically help Africans. He could use his powers to design programs that will force political and economic changes in Africa. President Obama can use his intellect to convince his white cousins that Africa is not an immutable basket case; particularly as modern economic growths have confirmed.

The United States, no doubt, has the biggest influence in the world, and President Obama can use that to help Africa to fight corruption and economic underdevelopment. Obama can use his adopted country’s intelligence to track and repatriate corrupt African monies across the world. He can influence as I have previously argued on this column, the establishment of International Economic Court, to try the ‘African Big Men’ who have grown too big for their local judicial systems. He can also weigh in economically in Africa by establishing something akin to the Marshall plan that elevated the European economy after the world wars.

The political elite must also wake up on their own, even when President Obama has chosen to allow them to slumber in their mess. They must realise that it is in their self-interest to stop their doodling in corruption. It is also foolhardy on their part to think that our country will continue to exist, if they don’t stop the economic rape passed off as political leadership in the country. From the presidency to the councilors, our leaders should take a lesson in the life of the Madiba. As his life clearly shows, the stature of a leader is not measured by how much of the public wealth, such a leader has appropriated for personal benefits. Rather, it is selfless sacrifices that endear leaders to their people. As President Obama makes his preferences, the Nigeria’s political leadership for one can not blame him, for ignoring our country, which clearly is not abhorrent to corruption.