Thread by @iOLOTU

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey I slightly disagree that its western style that has caused our National issues as African nations but rather poor leadership, a rotting value system and greed. Our culture's in their own right has also mitigated against our own growth. I will use Nigeria to question his position

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey D title is appealing to Africans because we naturally refuse to take d blame for our own demise rather place it on other externalities other than ourselves. But many questions arise as I consider Mr Ayittey suggestions? Let's imagine #Nigeria makes d switch before 2023 elections

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey Q1. How many persons will be elected to d National council? Will it be one person per ethnic groups in Nigeria or will it be based on ethnic size.

My take is that the major ethnic groups will make claim to majority seats in the National Council as we have it today. No change

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey Q2. How would we pick the people to represent us at the National Council and what will be the total number?

My thinking is this, if we do not currently know how many ethnic groups we have in Nigeria and how many ethnic groups have lost their identity to larger ethnic groups, ..

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey like the Fulani or Hausa groups.

To represent each ethnicity we may have over 1000 persons at the National Council. This may not give us the desired cost saving of this proposed style. Our cost to funding the National Council might be greater than election & @nassnigeria cost

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria 3. Would reps be from our current political parties or from d current traditional settings?

The Umbrella or Broom in #Nigeria have their political structures ingrained into the communities and would (not may) hijack the process of selection.

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria 4. Will they need to have a minimum qualification or will our traditional qualifications suffice?

This is a big subject that today even causes a challenge. Our current minimum qualification is  a primary 6 leaving certificate...........

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria ... Thus creates a huge challenge bcos d socioeconomic & political climate globally has moved beyond high school certification but we are still stuck with d most basic certificate. Traditional leaders are not mandated to have western education but only need age & wisdom to rule.

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria Q5. Will youths be allowed to represent groups in d National council?

In d African traditional leadership settings, it was a taboo for youths to talk were elders were talking. Only hereditary monarchies or rotational monarchies had young Oba's or Sultans ruling the people.

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria .....mainly because they were seen as son's of the god's.

I have always been of the opinion that our real challenge isn't style of govt but our ability to bring every ethic group in Nigeria to function as a Nation or Nations (in the case of breaking up into Smaller nations).

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria In Conclusion

We need to build systems that are just and fair, eliminating marginalisation of smaller ethnic groups.

Our structures pre-colonialism were efficient to handle small to medium individual ethnic groups because the socio-economic and political needs of their society

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria .......were not as demanding as we have today.

Can our traditional democratic style of leadership efficiently and effectively help #Africa navigate the murky waters of modernization, technological advances, defence and globalization?

@Afrikanomics @MYANC @ayittey @nassnigeria The answer to this big question is not a Yes or No, but rather we may need to modify and tweek our African traditional democratic style of Leadership to develop a modern and dynamic style of Leadership that is responsive to the Africans socio-economic and political needs today.