Rethinking Democratic Governance in African Politics

Introduction

Most African nations got their independence in the 1960s and one would have thought that by now, these African nations would have put things in the right perspectives but the reverse is the case. What seems to be the problem? Is it systemic? Is it a lack of patriotism as Chinua Achebe and others have claimed? Or lack of vision as Karl Maier and others would say? What of the issue of dysfunctional institutions as other scholars have laid claim to? Thus, hardly can one find a country without a political structure! The political structure of a nation has an impact on the other structures of the same nation. That is to say, failure in the political life of a nation is tantamount to failure in the other aspects of the same nation.

Presently, African politics is majorly democratic where elected representatives are at the helm of affairs and they are controlled by constitutional laws. But how true is this when some individuals see themselves as untouchable, people above the law as their interests precede the interest of the common good? The Constitution is legitimate, and on no account should it be compromised for selfish reasons by an individual, group of individuals, or political parties. Little wonder, the father of political Science, Aristotle sees the Constitution as the way of life the state has chosen for itself. He identified the constitution with government and argued that the best government is one that has the interest of its citizens (Politics, Book III, section 1279b; Barker 1962). The United States of America, for instance, has had several political leaders, presidents, and senators who returned to their private lives upon the completion of their tenure in office. But in Africa, the reverse is the case as political leaders prefer to die while in office. Even after they had reluctantly left office, they still wanted to receive government allowance (funds) for their past services. They have a sit-tight syndrome, which is an aberration of the highest order.

Furthermore, African people see politics as a profession or a career, a self-enriching business, “politics of the belly” (Bayart, 1993). At this point, one cannot but ask, is democracy in Africa genuine or pseudo? How can the interest of the governed be well represented? In response, several works have been done on good governance in African politics. The problems beclouding African politics as well as insightful recommendations in tackling the said problems have also been proffered by several scholars. Thus, lending our voice to the discourse, we spotted attitudinal crises as the root cause of the anomalies in African politics, which are intimately connected to the African person (be it the leader or the leader). And to liberate the African person caught in the web of attitudinal crises, the way out is the right perception, right mentality, and right attitude to politics. This will eventually ensure good governance in Africa.