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Freedom, development & rule of law in Africa: Not yet uhuru
 

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 Thursday, July 27, 2000
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 Wole Soyinka
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Development according to Amartya Sen, a Nobel Prize winner in his book "Development as Freedom" posits that, development includes the enhancement of freedom, which allows people to lead lives that they would have reason to value. This meaning is what I shall attempt to juxtapose with the situation in African and see if that conceptualization by Sen holds meaning there. There has been conflict in meaning of the terminology "development and under-development" this has lead to such diatribe among scholars and world leaders.

While several people take to only the economic point of view of this various terminologies, those in Amartya Sen school of thoughts gives it a much broader and an all-embracing meaning. This is the path I tend to thread along in this article. This misunderstanding may have prompted Walter Rodney in his book "How Europe under developed Africa" to assert that, contrary to wide held views, under-development is not the absence of development, but the term is conveniently used by some scholars as an indices to compare and calculate growth using the average per capital income of a country with that of other country.

GOLDEN NUGGET
In trying to find out the reasons for the weak economies of post independent African states, some scholars opine that they are a product of colonialism. While this is true to some extent, what then could possibly be the reasons for the brutish trampling of rights in Africa by their various leaders? Why are rights so difficult to guarantee?
 
Given this understanding, the world today is compartmentalized and categorized into two broad socio-economic and political divides as developed and under-developed countries. Although, the use of "developing " or Third world economies have replaced the word "under-developed" to describe African, Latin American and some Asian countries. The standard used to qualify a country, as being developed, aside from a flourishing economy, must include the respect for individual freedom and the rule of law. What this means is that all of those countries designated as developed countries do have a large measure of political stability which was necessary to precipitate socio-economic growth. In light of this awareness, it is not surprising to note why the countries of African, Latin America lags behind in socio-economic advancement simply because they lack stable political atmosphere to usher in economic growth. Amartya Sen further buttresses this fact when he surmised that economist have put in a misplaced emphasis on GDP as a golden measure of development. I think this line of argument should make sense to African leaders. Sen argues further that, if increasing incomes in a country are not accompanied by other factors that define high standard of living to wit: political freedom, availability of social goods, infrastructure, viz.: education, health care for all, protection from hunger disease, justice, fairness etc the country is said to be only getting richer. It is not truly "developing".

I have done this extensive review to show why it is necessary for African countries to provide the basic political freedom and why its absence will for ever consign them to dust bin of being under developed in the comity of nations. It should be understood now by all that, unless there is political freedom, justice and fairness and respect for the rule of law a country cannot be said to be developed. Democracy is the only clear cut alternative towards attaining this goals. Democratic government provides freedom of political process and offers a higher degree of security from the most destructive political bungling, a situation prevalent in Africa as result of military incursion in politics and even in some 'so called democracy' where there are life presidents and one party states syndrome.

In trying to find out the reasons for the weak economies of post independent African states, some scholars opine that they are a product of colonialism. While this is true to some extent, what then could possibly be the reasons for the brutish trampling of rights in Africa by their various leaders? Why are rights so difficult to guarantee? Why is fairness, equality and justice including respect for fundamental freedom an alien concept in African states inspite of postcolonial years? This is where the line is drawn between developed and under developed countries. African leaders are yet to appreciate the fact that, a stable political environment gives rise to an improved economy and this enhances the provision of basic infrastructure that will prolong and make life more comfortable for the masses

Democracy in itself is not the answer unless there is an avowed willingness to provide equality, freedom to choose, fairness, justice and respect for law and order. African countries and their leaders are yet to get to grip what the ideals of what democracy presupposes. Democracy in all respect is still alien to African and their leaders who are yet to block from their perception, the all powerful roles and over lording authority and power exercised by pre-colonial traditional kings where the kings are the lords and the masses their servant unlike the reversal which democracy sought to promote. This conflict of roles has been the greatest draw back for the lackadaisical attitude of our leaders towards ensuring freedom and respect for rights. This transcend even to the police force who sees the average citizens as their enemies and further reinforced by the government use of them to silence opposition as a tool to suppress political foes.

In a country where there is respect for the rule of law, fairness, equality, justice and security of life and property, the emergence of some jungle justice groups in Nigeria should attract severe condemnation by all. I am particularly irked by police force PRO's Sunday vanguard rambling on the activities of such notorious groups like "bakassi" in south eastern Nigeria where several innocent lives has been lost following this group "trial by ordeal' execution, where has our justice gone to? What did our so called elected legislatures do when the police raided illegally the house of the senate president in search of the golden "mace" How many OPC and religious rioters in the north and Lagos have been brought to trial? Why should the police be condoned for killing rioters or dastardly torturing them? The rule of law presupposes that you are innocent and should be treated as such until the courts thinks otherwise.

Democracy and good governance cannot be said to have been attained if life is valueless the average citizens. The recent petroleum explosions/ fire in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria should deserve national emergency and not an invitation for crack down on all environment protection campaigners or the innocent and neglected people in the region. It is usually a pitiable sight to see how the mobile police in Nigeria jump at the invitation to quell riots. The level of dehumanizing done by the makes the holocaust a child's play. Even till date the role of the Nigeria soldiers in the Ecomog in sierra Leone is something the Sierra Leonian do not wish to remember in a hurry.

I make a passionate and clarion call for the restructuring and reorientation of the police force. Nigerians everywhere should appeal to our legislature to redefine the roles, powers and duties of our police force, SSS, Armed forces etc and their relationship to the civil society. When this is done, the guarantee for a safe environment will be established. As it stands right now, telling a police officer or members of the armed forces that you know you rights, may make the person spend forever incarceration even for mere traffic violation unlike how the police in the US respect the 5TH amendment. The honorable minister of police affairs ought to know clearly by now that bail is free and has never been free in police station. Late Fela likened the Police to a bank many years ago before he died. This is obviously the best approximation of what exist in our dear country. Given this scenario, it is easy to understand why this very unsafe atmosphere does not encourage foreign investors, as it ought to.

Finally, the government should in addition to having to re educate the police, armed and allied forces on what ought to be their roles and their relationship to the civil society, they should extend same to public servants and to the general masses to educated them on their rights and the need to resist through all means peaceful any attempt to deny or trample such rights. To this end, there should be the urgent need to strengthen the judiciary at all levels through the incorporation of computer networking for quick dispensation of justice so as to reduce the congestion of inmates at police station and the popular ATM (awaiting trial men).

Once every citizen is make to appreciate their rights, and to seek every means possible through the law to safe guard and guarantee such rights, and if there is the awareness of speedy dispensation of justice and removal of fear and protection from police reprisal or vendetta then the masses are able to prevent dictatorship, and incursion of ambitious military men to power. This remedy is the beginning of what freedom, development and the flourishing of the rule of law is all about. Only democracy and an enlightened leadership and society can guarantee and bequeath to future generation as a legacy.

Ritchie Ejiofor esq.
A commentator on national and global issues







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