Date Published: 12/19/09

THE CONCEPT OF “ME-TOO-ISM” IN NIGERIAN POLITICS By Yakubu Ahmed BK 

“Me too” has always connoted a tendency towards personal aggrandisement. Self preservation, after all, is the first law of nature. The individual interest has always superseded the group interest, but history has taught us that in other climes, group interests are seen as inviolable, non-negotiable and jealously well protected. Even today, instances abound where citizens of some countries ditched the temptation to put self above all other considerations, even when faced with the option to preserve self and damn all other things. The motto, to such people is “one for all, all for one”. 

Politics in such environment has always been a means to improve the lot of the entire country and the selfless service which everyone renders ultimately becomes indispensable in the overall context within which the country is made great and better for all. Social classes do exist everywhere no doubt; the world is largely capitalistic which supports class distinction, but overall, every class feels aligned and indebted to the interest of the entire country that no single class feels so alienated to feel unconcerned about the economic, social and political future of the country. Leaders of all hue in those climes play the game of governance by the rules, while the led who see apparent justice in the system, or just imbued by patriotic instincts, also play their part by being more nationalistic,  patriotic and vigilant to the cause of their country. The very few unfortunate members of the society who could not ascend the social ladder are given respite by workable and practical social welfare intervention schemes...and are thus embraced and assimilated into the larger family of stakeholders. 

In Nigeria, we have a set of leaders who are grossly selfish, irresponsible, criminally minded and unpatriotic. The moment they find themselves in a position to steal, they just help themselves to it that you will think that there will be no tomorrow. The poor who looked on helplessly as the thieves shamelessly flaunt their ill-gotten wealth become disillusioned, docile, uncaring and completely askance about any call for patriotism. Not that the poor are any better; in fact, the only Nigerian that mouth patriotic lines is the one that has not seen the opportunity to take his turn. Everyone gird his loins and await the chance to have a go at the common patrimony. 

The first generation set of leaders had been above board as none of them has left anything worth the mention after several years at the helm and the chance to have behaved so irresponsibly. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and their ilk who bestrode the political landscape had all the ample chance to help themselves to the public till, but elected not to, because it looked deeply criminal to them. In any case, these set of leaders didn’t need it because there was no need for it in the first place. Today, there are only very few... a negligible number of leaders who hold unto this creed. That is what I hear some people say, but if you ask me, I will generalise and say that no one can cast the first stone. It is only in Nigeria that an opposition politician can publicly join the victory celebration of another party even when it was clear that that victory was obtained through questionable means. It is also only here that a man elected as Senator would lobby for a cabinet appointment simply because it offers him access to public funds. Again, it is only in this clime that a governor will fritter away public funds to fly in a group of foreign prostitutes cum musicians to join his wife to celebrate her birthday or to dance semi-nakedly for the pleasure of top government functionaries. 

Every potential political or public officer is a potential thief, who sees public service as the surest ticket to affluence. Everyone else believes more in his suitability for the job regardless of the fact that his motive for it is self serving. 

The subject of our discussion – Me-Too-Ism – therefore has many meanings depending on how one looks at it. To me, it is a characteristic of a specified belief in outright and chronic self consciousness far above any other consideration. It is sort of a condition which some people suffer from and through which they see a prism of self actualisation using the sweat and blood of others and which condemn the rest to a condition of perpetual want and despondency. When I discussed the topic of this piece with a mass communication lecturer friend of mine, he described me-too-ism as a “condition that promotes discrimination or prejudice on the altar of criminality and usurpation.”

We tend to be in a rat race to outwit one another to the goldmine. The first person to reaches it takes everything away, regardless of the fact that it is just too much for him. He does not care that it will be enough for just everyone’s primitive desire. The cliché or the vogue is to accumulate it all. Yet, we have an Information Minister that has the audacity to mouth branding Nigeria. We know what the problems are and we know their location. What we lack is the will power to open our eyes to them so that we can holistically address them squarely. No one is blind to our collective sickness for primitive accumulation tendencies, no one is oblivious of our penchant to take what is not ours and no Nigerian is unaware of our craze to become rich over night. 

No one is insulated. Perhaps, the way we structure this society is responsible for our irresponsibility. Look at it, every potential graduate look forward to landing a job, first at the Customs, then at the ports, the petroleum or the maritime sectors. Whoever you see take a job at the Immigration Service, the Police Force, the Prison Service,  NIPOST and the likes, does so because he had no alternative. The motivation is to amass the wealth to go into politics to corner power and make the ultimate kill. Me-to-ism is in all of us and until we purge ourselves of it, this country will hardly know peace or security or development or even clean air to breath.

Ahmed BK, a consultant writer contributed this piece from 114 Kashim Ibrahim Road Maiduguri and can be reached on beekyyaks@gmail.com