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By Sadiq Muhammed
Governance is not a one-size-fits-all model. For too long, African nations, particularly Nigeria have borrowed systems that do not reflect our history, culture, or lived realities. As we grapple with recurring failures in governance, it is time we ask ourselves hard questions: Are we using a system that truly serves us, or are we simply copying models designed for societies vastly different from ours?
Democracy, as practiced today, has failed to deliver the promises of development, accountability, and justice. On the other hand, the military era, though decisive in some respects, also fell short, often at the cost of freedom and human rights. The truth is, neither system has fully addressed our unique challenges. But perhaps the real issue lies not just in the systems themselves, but in how our leaders emerge and the powers they exercise once in office.
Our predicament calls for a complete overhaul,a bold reimagining of governance that reflects who we are. We must build a system rooted in our culture, values, and traditional institutions. This does not mean rejecting modernity, but rather blending it with indigenous principles of leadership, accountability, and community.
We, the people, live with the consequences of governance every day. We know where it hurts. “He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.” It is time to stop relying on external prescriptions and start thinking independently. Our path to good governance must be home grown, designed by us, for us.
A hybrid system, drawing from the strengths of our traditional structures and the best of modern governance, may hold the key. But for this to work, the process of leadership selection must change, and power must be decentralized and accountable.
True independence means the freedom to chart our own course. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to build a system that reflects our identity, protects our values, and delivers real progress.
Muhammed can be reached at [email protected]
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