A recent article by the Africa report highlighted an interview with Obiafeli Ezekwesili, titled “Nigeria’s Obiageli Ezekwesili – ‘Get interested by politics, or be ruled by idiots’”. Great title right? It drew me straight in!
For those who don’t know, Ezekwesili was in the running for president of Nigeria in 2019. She pulled out of the race due to “differences in opinion between [her] and the party”. But prior to that, she worked as the minister of solid minerals as well as the minister of education in Nigeria and even was the vice president of the World Bank for the African Region. Needless to say, she has had quite the political career path before running for president.
At the beginning of the interview, she gave a story illustrating how parental ideals, instilled in her, pushed her to always want to stand for something. At the time when she was in school, the Nigerian government said that the youth was “indisciplined” and so sent military men to schools to put the populace in order. In a seemingly predictable storyline, a man put in power over people, led that man to abuse that power resulting in them beating kids. Ezekwesili saw this happen to her friend, and felt emboldened to stand up to the officer, telling him “he will not beat [her]”. A truly courageous act, a checkpoint in her path in standing up for what she believes. Listen to the interview here, it was pretty interesting!
The conversation went on to speak about the history of instability in Nigeria and as well as hope for the future. Here are some of the interesting points:
1. “We Became a country but we have not become a nation”
It’s not a strictly African or Nigerian problem. It is not exceptional to have violence in the formation of a nation, when you look at the history of most countries, at some point in time there was violence among the people. The question is not whether or not there should be fighting but whether the past will continue into the future?
According to Ezekwesili, the issue is that there needs to be a consensus built by the adults of today to create a future that everyone can believe in. That conversation will talk about how to engage with the diversity that exists in the country and how we as a people can move forward.
She used the term coalition of the willing, which I thought was amazing!
END SARS is an example of this, where it looked like a problem for the south; where youth in the south were grieving whilst youth in the north were saying it’s okay. The truth of the matter was that the police did more in the south because there was more economic activity, more young people making money. The police in the north had no reason to cause trouble as there was no incentive, due to the lack of opportunity for the youth there.
So rather than pitting the north against the south, “it’s a question that brings into question the governance of the entire state.” But people in the North remain silent because if you talk badly about who is currently in office it reflects poorly on the North where the current president comes from, which should not even be a discussion.
2. The Youth and the church
If there is anything the END SARS showed was that the youth have the potential to mobilize constructively.
They were able to come together, and talk. The thing for them to do now is deciding what the end game is and walk towards that.
For Ezekwesili, it’s amazing because people are now even realizing that you cannot separate private businesses from politics. In her time people used to think that government was strictly for older people and would shy away from those conversations, but now they can clearly see its impact on everyday society and how it affects one’s ability to operate even on their own endeavors.
Some issues now come in with the church however, it is important to ensure that the church should not be politicized. But it is important to ensure that religious institutions stand as a light to the populace. To show what good leadership looks like, to highlight what it means to be a model citizen.
Indeed the church should not be politicized but at the same time should not be agnostic to the happenings of the state.
It is important for us all to take some responsibility and understand that if you say you are not interested in politics then you are accepting being governed by idiots (call back their title)
2. The politically apathetic are an enemy of progress! (My words not hers but you get the gist)
This was transitioned from the last topic, as “when you are governed by idiots society pays”.
This was and is exemplified by what is happening with the Chibok girls. Where girls were abducted whilst going to school, and 2 governments were not able to do anything. “ They failed the families”, where parents are saying if they knew they would not have sent their kids to school.
“We rein under leadership where private good is prioritized over the public interest”. And the people with the power to really hold them accountable are apathetic. The middle-income class doesn’t vote and is indifferent. According to Ezekwesili Politics has 2 sides: the supply side (the political parties) and the demand side the electorate, those with the power to vote. Right now we are leading more to the supply side where the wants of those in power are held higher than the public causing what she calls a monopolistic democracy( this lady is so smart she is making up her own terms ).
At the end of the interview, Obiageli said that she wants to better empower people to be involved in politics and run to make the country better. Hence she started the school of politics and governance. Where she along with many other prominent figures aims to teach people about the issues and empower them to run for office. They have courses on economic trade, policy, climate change, and many others to fill the knowledge gap in the political class today.
It was super interesting interview and was over and hour-long so I really invite you to listen to the interview here
Regardless of whether you believe in Obiagale or not, there is one thing that I will say. Whether we like it or not, to be part of society means we are political. As it’s an integral part of how society works, laws, infrastructure, toll gates all are part of the political machine. And if you refuse to turn your knob, someone else will.
