History and analysis of Nigerian politics
Chris Kuberski, who teaches in Chicago, sent me a link to a source I didn't even know existed. He was pointing out a good, clear op-ed explanation and analysis of the presidential situation in Nigeria.This little essay from The Root would be a great update to what's in your textbook even though none of the specifics will appear on the AP exam. Details from this situation could be used as examples when answering FRQs if they're appropriate.
Nigeria and Democracy Inaction
How did we get here? In 1999, after years of military rule which followed Nigeria’s independence from Britain and failed experiments in democracy, the country finally embraced civilian rule and the democratic process. However, the self-serving attitude and actions of a supposedly democratic leadership, which often seems to be no different from that of the former military rulers, continues to prohibit Nigerians from fully reaping the fruits of democracy and from having the country run at full capacity.
Let’s be clear what “not running at full capacity” means. It means that Nigerians are now used to power outages that can last months. They have become used to sitting for hours in traffic on roads with gigantic pot holes and no road signs in which innumerable vehicles, people and perhaps even a random animal jostle for space. They have become used to the corruption that has become a part of the fabric of everyday life, and the incredible gap between the poor—who can live on top of each other in shacks—and the rich—who live close to them in compounds and mansions. They have become used to substandard education and universities that spend half of the year on strike. They’ve become used to their leaders enriching themselves out of the pockets of the people who they are supposed to serve...
If there is indeed anything to be gained from what has been going on, it is that Yar’Adua’s absence has sparked an outrage in Nigerians. For the first time in years, people have not just been talking about what’s going on, but taking action. Protests and newspaper articles are part of that. Many organizations dedicated to change have sprung up, including the nonprofit Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), of which I am a member. NLI is made up of Nigerians, both inside and outside of Nigeria, who are dedicated to transforming leadership and values for the benefit of the Nigerian society...
The author, Lola Adesioye, is a black British sociopolitical writer of Nigerian descent. The Root, published by Washington Post.Newsweek Interactive, is a daily online magazine that provides thought-provoking commentary on today's news from a variety of black perspectives. The publlisher is Donna Byrd and the editor-in-chief is Henry Louis Gates.
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Labels: leadership, Nigeria, participation, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 5:31 AM
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