Nigerian Academic Pens Controversial Guide to Politics - PART 1 of 5 | Voice of America - English
    /*-->*/  /*-->*/  /*-->*/ Nigerian author Ehi Agboaye says "true democracy" will be possible in Africa only when most of its people have a basic education. He's written a book he says explains politics in "simple terms," in an attempt to "empower poor people" in Nigeria. Its title is Wakaman Politiks ? or "Politics for the Common Man" ? and it's written in Pidgin English, which is commonly used in West Africa. Agboaye argues that most Nigerians are excluded from their country's political processes, simply because they lack education. This, he says, makes it easy for corrupt leaders to exploit them.
Agboayesays is a "kind of everyman figure" that one finds "all over"West Africa. But, according to the Nigerian writer, is also a figure who's increasingly being abused by"clever" and "unscrupulous" politicians. Inhis book, which makes liberal use of illustrations, the associate professor ofgovernment studies and political science at Tarrant County Community College in Arlington, Texas sets out to explainNigeria's constitution and citizens' basic rights and the structure of itsgovernment in language he hopes will be understood by the masses. Agboaye'swritings and pictures reveal the "machinations" he says Nigeria's politicalclasses use to "trick" citizens into voting for them. In one illustration, apotbellied man in a suit and tie is depicted delivering bags of rice and beansto a thin villager in tattered clothes. The well-dressed man tells his poorcompatriot: "If my boss reaches parliament, you get the rest!" Agboayeexplains: "The reason for is to educate the poor peoplein Nigeria about what politics is not: politics is not about bribery andassassinating people; politics is not rigging elections; politics is (supposedto be) a clean power struggle, to find out who would do the best for thepeople." Heremains disappointed by his country's 2007 election, after which Umaru Yar'Adua of the People's Democratic Party succeeded Olusegun Obasanjo as president.International observers maintain the polls were not free and fair and weremarred by violence. Yet President Yar'Adua remains in power. Despitethe serious undercurrent of his writings, Agboaye often uses humor to exposethe corruption of modern-day Nigeria and what he sees as the failings of itsleaders. He urges the "common people" to become more enlightened about politicsand not to be "bamboozled" by "fancy speechmakers in fancy dress." Inhis teachings in the United States, Agboaye teaches his students about theresponsibilities of elected officials. He says he was inspired to write after a recent visit to Nigeria. "I was sad at the rate of poverty. You see peopleso lean and gaunt, and you think they have AIDS. They tell you: 'I don't haveAIDS; I'm just hungry.' You see the rate of armed robbery ? young universitystudents with arms killing people; stealing and ravaging. It's that bad," helaments. Upon his return home to Denton, Texas, Agboayesays he "couldn't stop thinking" about Nigeria. "I was ? and still am ? caught between my life in Americaand a longing to return to the country of my birth," he reflects. Agboaye says he was sitting in his armchaircomplaining to one of his daughters one evening, when the girl - clearlyirritated by her father's "depression" - snapped at him, "If you are so sad atthe state of Nigeria, do something about it." That's when he says he put pen to paper and "came flowing" out. "My inspiration comes from the fact that theeducated people, the rich people, the military in Nigeria ? and a few otherAfrican countries ? have taken the common man for granted?. Many of our leadershave stolen the wealth and hidden (it) overseas. Many of our leaders have liedto the people consistently. And poverty has devastated Nigerians. I mean, youcan imagine a country that sells oil to the rich countries of the world, yetyou go to Nigeria and you have abject poverty ? people eating from trash cans,"he tells VOA. Agboaye says his book explains how "the oligarchsand the military" control Nigeria, using the common people as "pawns on thepolitical chessboard." "What I have done (by means of my book) is to say:'We want a revolution, an intellectual revolution.' I'm not asking people tocarry guns or sticks or bows and arrows; no. We are saying, 'Educate the commonpeople so they know exactly what is going wrong so when you lie to them, theyknow'?. Education is a key to democracy, which most of our leaders have notrealized." Agboayesays it's in the interests of those in power in Nigeria to keep the peopleignorant but maintains that it's up to the citizens, no matter how poor theyare, to educate themselves and to become "politically aware" so they can't beexploited. He's convinced that his book is a good beginning towardspolitical enlightenment for Nigerians, especially because it's written inPidgin English. A passage from reads as follows: 'Youthink say Niger Delta man go carry ogbunigwe (a weapon) if we leader them dowetinn them suppose to do for them? Man weh get light, water and work go happy!Naija man go happy if hospital weh get doctor, nurse and plenty medicine deyhim village.' Agboaye says a rough translation of the above is asfollows: "Do you think a man from the Niger Delta is going to resort toviolence if the politicians do what they're supposed to? A man who has water,electricity and a job is happy! A Nigerian is satisfied if he or she getsmedical attention in the village." He reasons that poverty in Nigeria will ease significantlyif the country's leaders distribute income from resources, especially oil,fairly. Militants in the impoverished but oil-rich Niger Delta continue tofight government forces for a share in oil revenues. Agboaye, with his mantra of "knowledge is power," expects"resistance" to his book in Nigeria, especially from those who are currently incontrol of the country's wealth. "Iam sure they fear that my book will awaken the masses to demand better behaviorfrom those in government," he says. "There's always a danger forsomeone who is a pathfinder. Mahatma Gandhi faced danger. Nelson Mandela faceddanger. All these individuals spoke the truth. All these individuals wantedhelp for the poor people." Agboayesays he would love to visit his homeland to promote ,but his family fears it would open him to attack by what he calls the assortedpoliticians, warlords and magnates who control Nigeria's resources. "(I)address them here in the book. We are telling them:'Look, Nigeria belongs to everybody not just to you alone, and the wealth inNigeria is sufficient for each and every one of us. Let us maximize it so thatyou will still be rich, but the poor people will have something to eat (aswell). What we want is for everybody to taste of the oil wealth in Nigeria one wayor the other ? not just a few people,'" he explains. Agboaye empahsizes that he's not "preachingCommunism" or asking wealthy Nigerians to surrender their riches. "Just giveNigerians the crumbs," he says. Agboaye acknowledges, "Maybe I'm a dreamer. But Icouldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try to do something to helpNigerians out of their mess." In anothersection of the book expected to cause controversy he urges his compatriots tochallenge their elders when the older people are "in the wrong." Theauthor explains: "In Nigeria [as in much of Africa] custom dictates that onealways obeys an older person. It's unusual to see a younger person challenge anolder person, even if the older person is wrong. In theAfrican tradition, I'm going to respect my elders simply because they're myelders. But when it comes to politics, this doesn't work. You shouldn't respectbad politicians just because they are your elders," he emphasizes. Agboayeagrees that "respect for one's elders is generally a good thing." But hemaintains that respect is earned, and shouldn't be granted to people justbecause they're older. "For me to respect you, you have to do what thelaw says. You are not above the law, no matter who you are. If the law says:'Don't steal,' it means no one must steal, even if they are old." Despite his strong opinions, Agboaye remainsconcerned about the way in which and its author aregoing to be received in Nigeria. He acknowledges that some Nigerians will say:"Here's a man living in warmth and safety in America, telling us to questioncorruption, when he does not have to deal with the (potentially) fatalconsequences thereof." When that happens, Agboaye says, his answer toskeptics will be: "Judge me not on where I live, or who I am, but judge thewords and messages of the book. Decide for yourselves if there is somethingworthwhile therein."