25 June 2017
One central reason among others that governments fail both at state and federal is Nepotism.
Government of family, by family but for the public. Nepotism essentially means you surround yourself with your family members and you feel you can only trust family with public funds and project execution.
This is very very wrong because government is bigger than private family. You cannot attempt to run government as a private business where you want every Naira to be accounted for, if you run government that way you will fail.
A successful administration, you have to give others the benefit of doubt. A successful government you bring on board even your enemies and those that disagree with you so long as they have the capacity to deliver.
If your enemy performs well in project delivery, the glory goes to the leader, but this uncomfortable truth is hard to convince most nepotistic leaders.
The kind of aides a leader surrounds himself with tells much about his reasoning and administrative managerial capacity.
Nepotistic leaders are often leaders who deep within them, they are uncomfortable with themselves. It is akin to complex and self defeatism.
They find it very difficult to trust others with project accomplishment other than family members. This explains why key responsibilities within their regime are assigned to family members.
Nepotism is worst than tribalism. At least in tribalism and ethnicity you have a larger pool of competent people to choose from, but in nepotism, it is either family or no one else.
The sad truth is that no nepotistic leader has ever succeeded in public service delivery in all human history.
Nepotism is not particular to Africa. The central reason that Donald Trump is having the problems he has today is a result of Nepotism. The difference is American Institutions which are strong will aid him succeed, but in Africa, with poor institutions, adding Nepotism is double wahala.
History is the greatest teacher. African leaders should learn and run a more inclusive government if we must get it right. Getting it right is a task that must be done. Our people deserve better, don't hold them captive because of greed and personal insecurity.
Princewill Odidi
Is an international development expert
