In the world of politics today, Africa holds its own

In country A, the president, who was a ladies’ man before being elected, is always branded by his own people as a liar and sectarian and accused of being a spy and the payee of another country. He is regarded by his own country as an enemy. His compatriots, who are fellow travellers, fanatically support him not for what he is doing for his country, but for them and their families.
The same president is in the habit of violating and dismantling its constitution, treaties and conventions mankind has established and believes in as essential for its survival and sustenance. His supporters are drunk with political opium and thereon cheer him on, oblivious to the potential calamity that is likely to engulf all soon or later.

In country B, the leader and head of government, inebriated with self-importance and aggrandisement, is crazily misleading, misgoverning and misdirecting his people and driving them out of a pact they have belonged to and benefitted from for nearly 50 years and is driving them to unknown destination which she and that country’s people are fully aware is dangerous and full of uncertainty and will certainly impoverish them.

She and her reactionary fanatical supporters are motivated by raw tribalism and empty dreams of that country’s past glory.
On the same continent as country B, there is another oligarchical ruler in country C who, in his early years, was a common spy but is now preoccupied with schemes to rule or influence governance in other countries and is alleged to be the boss and the mentor of the autocratic leader of the country first mentioned.
In country D, which is regarded as one of the world’s richest depositories of oil, her people are so badly governed, mistreated and deprived that today they are starving and diseased with little or no money or medicine.

The rest of the world is much more concerned about this country than its military rulers. The same ruler has blocked the food, medicine and other assistance voluntarily and generously donated by the outside world while rulers of that same country brag that they have more than enough for themselves. This state of affairs reminds one of ancient Rome. When it was torched by a mad Emperor Nero and it burned, Nero played his favourite fiddle and bored listeners to death.

Lastly, there is country E that is regarded as one of the greatest democracies in the world. Its current ruler, regarded by many of his supporters as managing national and public affairs well, governs in the knowledge that his country is in a chaotic state.
Many of its citizens are the poorest on earth and live in terrible conditions. Its ancient habit of describing its own citizens as sub-human is still practised today. In some of its regions, women are not only despised but they are often subjected to ridicule, savagery, rape and assaults.

None of these countries, A to E, is African. They are part of Asia, Europe and America. At one time, a European in the company of Africans proudly stated that Europe’s methods of punishment were more civilised than those used by Africans.
He gave the example of capital punishment imposed on convicts in both Europe and Africa. He contended that in Europe, they use the gun or a lethal injection to humanely put to death, convicts which is a civilised way. The Africans hack their convicts to death which is uncivilised.
One African listener retorted that “whichever method is used; the culprit dies all the same”.

Prof Kanyeihamba is a retired Supreme Court judge.
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