Soft Revolution
Six years after the American War of Independence ended, a terrible revolution began in France. The seeds of which were sown during the reign of Louis XIV, the Grand Monarch,' and his successor, Louis XV. The reckless extravagance of the Court was so terrible that in 1774 when Louis XVI ascended the throne, France was on the threshold of bankruptcy.
For many years, France was badly governed. Taxes were not fairly imposed. The wealthy lords and ladies, the higher ranks of the clergy and other rich people contributed little to the state coffers but the poor people were heavily taxed.
Much had been written on the misery of the French peasants of the period. Carlyle in his picturesque way did say that, "one-third of them had nothing but third-rate potatoes to eat for one-third of the year.
Arthur Young, the British writer who travelled in France just prior to the Revolution was struck by the scenes of misery and destitution which he saw and this led him to write afterwards that, "the dispensation of Providence seem to have permitted the human race to exist only as the prey of corrupt' tyrants, as it has made pigeons for the prey of hawks." He further declared that, "Kings, ministers, parliaments and States, had much to answer for their prejudices seeing millions of hands that would be industrious remaining idle and starving through the execrable maxims of despotism, or the equally detestable prejudices of a feudal nobility."
Back then in France, Lords claimed and enjoyed certain feudal dues, such as the right to impose the use of certain things on their lands like ovens where all were obliged to bake bread and pay for doing so; the right of levying a toll on sheep and cattle driven past the manor house; and the privilege of hunting and preserving game etc.
Clearly, there was a strong and determined minority imposing their wills upon a majority who had been oppressed for centuries, and who were therefore in the best mood to accept changes which might improve and which, they believed, could hardly make worse their material conditions. They apprehended nothing but ultimate good from the forcible destruction of systems, which exalted dynastic or class interests at the expense of the general interests of the community.
I had to embark on this historical excursion to put in context, the commonness of corruption and relatedness of past and present situations. In essence, the experience(s) of the French prior to the Revolution, mirrors what is happening particularly in Nigeria now, until the corrupt French system was deposed by a hardy population who after many years of forbearance decided to change their fate through a popular uprising called French Revolution.
Can this happen in Nigeria? Recently Professor Ben Nwabueze and Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma disagreed over the manner in which Nigeria could be transformed.
Speaking during the occasion of the public presentation of the books he authored, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos, the erudite law professor and former Secretary-General of Ohaneze Nd'Igbo, Ben Nwabueze supported the option of a bloody Revolution as a means of clearing the rot in the country. He also recommended reading of French Revolution history.
However, Danjuma who is the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council and one of the major beneficiaries (remember his oil wells) of the corrupt Nigerian system like the French feudal lords disagreed. According to him, "revolution is costly and does not know either enemy or friend." He also stated that, "as an optimist, I believe that one right man in position of leadership can transform our society," and with these views I concur.
Such a man will be an agent of change and symbol of hope. He must be strong, firm and ruthless in dealing with the bandits and neo-feudal lords who parade as Nigerian leaders. Such a person could be the Goodluck of Nigeria opportunity beckons.
Thank God, President Barack Obama another transformative leader has shown the way by authorizing the State Department to revoke the visas of more former Nigerian government officials and their close relatives because of corruption. Also affected by the ban are former and serving government and political party officials who had been tried and convicted for corruption or abuse of office.
Now, the whole world is looking to President Goodluck Jonathan to provide the right kind of leadership that will transform this corrupt nation and take it to new great heights through what I call "Soft Revolution," which will not be bloody but still very effective.
It is a transformation process that targets the individual and which, will start with Mr President and extend to every other person in Nigeria. To put it simply, President Jonathan should set a high standard of probity, accountability, transparent and purposeful leadership that will be a template for how to serve the country in any capacity.
The anti-corruption crusade could be more proactive, unbiased, better focussed and oriented to success. People like General Danjuma should return their oil wells and accruing wealth to the federal government. Jobs should be provided for the unemployed, budgets must be implemented to the letter and timely too. Government officials, party leaders etc indicted for corruption must be severely punished through long prison sentence or even death penalty like in China.
Meanwhile Professor Akunyili, must realize that the issue is not whether corruption was imported or not but how to tackle it and save Nigerians from perennial hardship via Soft Revolution.
Soft Revolution
By: BENEDICT AHANONU
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