Olayinka
You are absolutely right to state that Nigeria is not a failed state by the classic definition of what constitutes a failed state. According to Max Weber a state is said to have failed if it loses the power to legitimately use physical force within its territory. Note that only the state has the monopoly on the use of force to guarantee security and protect its borders against outside invaders. When the state loses its monopoly on the use of force you see warlords controlling patches of the nation-state a la DRC and Somalia. One can argue that MEND at one time or the other tried to challenge the state; but we all know that it was no match for the state in the use of force, legitimate or otherwise. We can also debate whether the Nigerian nation’s use of force had been legitimate. But one cannot argue that there is a credible threat from any group of people to topple the state of Nigeria. The Nigerian army’s response is obvious!!
Other attributes of failed states can be observed in the inability of the government to provide public services. In this respect all African countries could be classified as failed states. No African nation supplies safe drinking water to more than 50percent of its citizens. I will put that number at 25 percent, almost 50 years after colonial rule. Which country supplies basic health services, electricity, primary education, etc to 50 percent of its citizens?
Corruption and uncontrolled criminal behavior are other attributes. Again, Nigeria is not alone on these metrics. I live in Chicago, and know a few things about corruption. Two of our former governors are in jail and the current one is being investigated by the feds. A bunch of our aldermen and a congressman are already in jail for corrupt behavior. The difference is that, in the US, the abuse of public office is not tolerated, no matter who you are. Those of the forum old enough will remember another great and powerful Chicagoan, congressman Dan Rostenkowski, the boss of the appropriations committee, went to jail on some stamp deal gone bad. In most African countries, including Nigeria, it is oftentimes clear that the illegitimate use of force by the governments is the norm. And elected officials use their powers to acquire wealth. If Nigeria is a failed state then ALL African countries are hanging by their fingers on all measures of a failed state. The Boko Haram problem is mainly political.
Kwaku
Chicago
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Olayinka Agbetuyi
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2014 6:32 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA IS A FAILED COUNTRY
To reply succinctly to Ken Harrows inquiry, as one of those on this forum who wears two hats as both trained social scientist and literary critic: There is indeed notionally such a thing as a failed state; Nigeria is NOT a failed state. Let me thank Ebele Onwudiwe for stating what was on my mind when the issue under discussion first broke.It is indeed rich of William Bangura to now suggest that most Nigerian are full of pomposity and that is why they could not come to terms with the fact that their nation is a failed state. But more on that later. What is a failed state? A failed state is one in which the primary institutions of governance has totally collapsed or in a state of near-collapse.
If the depredations in the North-East were happening in Abuja to the extent that governance could not take place i.e. The legislature could not meet; the president and his Cabinet could only meet in a bunker; Raging all out war went on in the federal capital in which no faction had the upper hand: neither the federal forces nor the other factions, then Nigeria would satisfy the definitions of a failed state. But what did we read in the Leadership newspaper posted on the forum instead: Senators met and deliberated on the nations fate with service chiefs appointed by the nation. Request sent by a lawfully elected Mr President was deliberated upon by legislators with a view to passing laws on them. Means of empowering the nations lawful armed forces were debated with a view to improving their efficciency. These are not hallmarks of a failed state. So what is happening in Nigeria?
For sure, Nigerians are their own worst critics. But critisms are in the main a means of galvanising government to to rise up to its responsiblilities. Why did Boko Haram find it easy to run amok in todays Nigeria? Because there are still quite a few in pockets of circles in the North who are uncomfortable with Southern leadership fearing it would end in the gradual erosion of ultimate Islamization of Nigeria-their abiding dream.. It is these elements who provide cover to a cowardly group to gain easy passage to the Nortth East first to discredit Jonathans leadership in the eyes of their group of providing effective security for them. You can bet your last kobo on the fact that if itwas MEND or OPC infiltrating the North East n the past 4 years the culprits would all have been rounded up. Tha is why Boko always managed to elude capture by the nations armed forces. Jonathans intelligence must have forbade him from visiting relatives of the victims for that reason. He (Jonathan) is the symbol of the nations sovereignty.
As for the inane logic of William Bangura, the fact that people like VC Aluko whom he was arracking could leAve the US to assume his present post contradicts his position in his original posting that the federal govt could not afford economic advancement of its citzens. his (Bangura) posotion is nothing more than inverted envy of Nigerias intellectual class whom he meets in forums. How many of 'most Nigerians' has he met in the rural areas who are 'pompous?'
Olayinka Agbetuyi
Date: Sun, 18 May 2014 21:04:45 -0100
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA IS A FAILED COUNTRY
From: ibdullah@gmail.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
These descriptive tags--failed state; collapse state; vampire state--are never helpful in understanding the complex reality of statecraft in the contemporary world. There is no such thing as a successful or a failed state. State formation or state making is always a work in progress.
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