ECHOS IN NATION BUILDING: Ethnic Conundrums: The Rwandan Experience
Arising from the horror and wanton devastation occasioned by the war between the Tutsis and Hutus (the two major ethnic components) of Rwanda, the country now deletes ethnic identity in its citizens’ profiles. Ethnic particularity, identity and promotion are now classified as “divisionism” and it is a criminal offence in Rwanda.
Also, “genocide ideology” – which incorporates among others, hatred for, discrimination against and intent to eliminate people of other ethnic blocs, is today a heinous crime in the East-Central Africa country. These two key elements of nation-building were introduced into Rwandan’s lawbooks only after the nation had lost between 600,000 and 800,000 citizens (mostly the Tutsis and liberal Hutus) in the war that lasted about 100 days in 1994. The nation was quick to learn from her errors and made adjustments at least in certain areas.
Nigeria had lost millions of souls to numerous ethnic clashes; farmers-herders collisions; ethnoreligious hostilities and the civil war of 1967 – 1970. All these conflicts besetting the country are offshoots of in-cohesion, ethnocentrism and tribal chauvinism. These things have been with us for decades and no government has been able to reduce or neutralize them. Their negative impacts on the socio-political space are insidious and far-reaching. No one trusts the other even in government circles as clannish and individual/selfish interest takes precedence over the public good in policy making and implementation.
The human development index in Nigeria is very low. Corruption is massive in size and spread. Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world. Facilities and infrastructure needed to lead a good life are in gross deficit. We cannot and should not continue in the same direction that never helped us. We have a way out in a homemade idea called LIBERTOCRACY.
We need not wait for another catastrophe or civil war or ethnic cleansing to fully engulf the land before choosing the right path to follow.
LIBERTOCRACY is an advance thought on the praxis of Democracy which eradicates the Political Party System in preference to Professions in a country as the right platforms for representation in government. The profession is akin to expertise, experience and competence.
With LIBERTOCRACY, citizenship is liberal, fluid & composite. For one, the concept – of “The State of Origin” which usually reveals ethnic or tribal lineage will be substituted with “place of settlement” in our constitution. Attention is shifted from where a person hails from to a place of relevance. Your Profession underscores your relevance to the system and wherever a citizen chooses to live in his/her state. No discrimination on the basis of tribe or tongue. In other words, an individual can stand for election to represent his/her Profession at any level in his/her place of settlement.
Integration of various ethnic blocs is easily achievable as goals and pursuits are unified. Every legitimate occupation produces the needs of people in other Professions in the country. This stimulates sustained mutual inter-dependency and strong affinity among members of different Professions. The harmony among members of a profession and collaborative effort across Professions serves as fertile ground for nationhood and patriotism to thrive.
Professions are clearly defined in form, nature, pursuit and aspirations. Political Parties are shadowy, amorphous and hollow in substance. They are counter-intuitive in all ramifications. Parties only exist to grab Political power and misuse it. Professions are indispensable units of productivity in every nation. No country can do away with Professions but all nations can do well without Political Party System. In fact, many nations are derailed and Professions hampered by the misrule of Politicians and Party members.
Without any doubt, the economy and polity will be better crafted with Professionals occupying the core of decision-making portals.
In reality, democracy cannot be said to be the government of the people by the people and for the people when it practically prohibits the low and average income earners from accessing political power. Party platforms are too Plutocratic and exclusive hence it circulates the same set of cabals in the corridors of power.
Political Party System has been ravaging Nigeria, sucking her glory over the years. It can only ruin and not redeem her. The growing scourges of terrorism & kidnapping in Nigeria today, are derivatives of ethnic intolerance, disharmony and dissonance. Political Party System can never unite the ethnic components of Nigeria.
LIBERTOCRACY is conceived for Nigeria in particular and humanity as a whole to access the true and real benefits of democracy by displacing Political Party System and Its deceitfulness and shortcomings.
For more on LIBERTOCRACY, kindly click the link below:
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