Thread by @ayosogunro

Social indiscipline starts with leadership indiscipline. If a minister or commissioner does not have to queue in line or wait in traffic like everyone else, why would anyone else? Nigerian leaders are not indisciplined because society is indisciplined, it is the other way round.

The next question then is: why are Nigerian leaders indisciplined? Because the political system allows them to be. It confers so much powers, privileges, and discretions on our leadership that, by law, they can act anyhow without accountability or consequences. And they do.

Well, the next question is: why does our political system confer such powers?

Because that was the only way the British could exploit Nigeria from the 1860s until 1960. The laws made by the British gave Governor Generals, Governors, and District Officers wide executive powers.

And since 1960, when Nigerians started self-governance, we have not examined these laws and the administrative systems to reduce these reckless powers and put our leadership under control. Instead, the military expanded these powers even more.

The next question is: But why are the British not a dysfunctional society too since they had these powers?

No, the British home govt didn't have such powers at home. They only used such powers in the colonies and they left them intact for the independence govts without reform.

Next question: But why is it that social indiscipline is now worse than ever if leadership indiscipline was always there?

Because British home political culture influenced our leaders at first. But as years passed, our govt became more and more absorbed with their own powers.

Next question: what are we going to do about it?

1. Stop preaching at ordinary Nigerians: we mostly follow where the jungle leads.

2. It's not just about changing our leaders: a born again pastor president with the same powers and no accountability will also be indisciplined.

3. We need to re-examine our political system and its accountability structures. This means a renewed constitutional framework that transforms the structure of existing society and a new legal system that prioritises the civil, political, social, and economic rights of citizens.

Next question: with the current state of the national assembly, the presidency, the judiciary and the political party system, how are we going to achieve this?

Through a sustained and organised mass agitation that demands for this until the existing systems give in.

Next question: Is a mass agitation a revolution? Won't that lead to violence?

No. A revolution as typically used is just about changing the people in power. A mass agitation is a a movement to make changes to the system used by the people in power.

Next question: How will this movement arise?

Movements arise through organised actions. Organised actions result from social consciousness. Social consciousness develops from increased awareness of a systemic issue. Awareness increases with education. This thread is education.

Next question: Will the current political elite just sit and watch while we educate people and raise awareness?

Of course not. They will ignore it at first. Then they will dismiss its potential for change; they will suggest other short-term fixes that serve their own interests.

If the movement keeps growing, the elite will next try to manipulate the agenda and suggest ideas for restructuring that works for them. However, as more people become aware and conscious, the political elite become less able to ignore, dismiss, or manipulate the true movement.

Question: But, isn't all these a lot of work?

YES. True social change that works for the people takes work. It takes education, engagement, and organising. It won't happen just by getting a voters card and voting every 4 years for the 'choices' the system throws on the ballot.

For more, read the following threads.

1. What is the Nigerian political system and why is it a problem?

2. Who benefits from the current Nigerian political system? Can it somehow be made to work for ordinary Nigerians?

3. Can a conscientious Nigerian - who desires true change - join the current political system and 'change it from the inside'?

4. Should we be patient? What about the 'wilderness years' argument that it takes time for democracy to grow or evolve?

5. What about the argument that we just need smarter people in government; change the current ones for an intelligent political elite?

6. What about ordinary Nigerians - is it that they are not pulling their share of the weight?

7. What of the arguments that other developed countries are also facing similar problems as Nigeria? "But America..." "Even in France...." "UK too..."

8. What if we forget APC and PDP? Can we start a new movement through a shiny brand new "good people only" party?

9. What if we forget about taking power from the federal government? Can start by contesting in 'local politics'?

10. Again, how is an organised mass agitation - a national movement - different from a political party?

11. Why can't we just agitate for and support 'the right person' at the next elections?

Because the system will corrupt even angels from heaven! 🤦🏾‍♂️

14. Meanwhile, what can you and I do?

Finally:

@henroy7 Once our elite led the way in this style, the rest of us have followed since. Read historical novels like The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, Chief the Honourable Minister, Man of the People, etc that document how the first generation of educated Africans triggered indiscipline.

@henroy7

@henroy7 So any society that is looking for individuals to all come together and do the work is accepting that it is incapable of organising itself functionally to have a govt and institutions that takes care of these on behalf of all. Is that what we are now resigned to in Nigeria?

For those who are still sceptics about how leadership and the political system can radically alter social attitudes over time: here's a thread on how, with the state of their leadership today, the US/Europe may end up on the path of social indiscipline:

I should have added this question: how bad are the discretionary powers conferred by law on Nigeria's leaders?

Here's a small sample:

@fachonlerum When Awolowo was running western Nigeria, social attitudes were very different from what they are now. If the people are rottten, you have to ask yourself: how did they become rotten? And the answer will always go back to: someone in power created that rot.