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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
The novel from which I drew this question which is invariably the title of today’s discourse is titled, ‘The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born,’ A literary masterpiece by Africa’s foremost writer and literary idol, Ayi Kwei Armah of Ghana. The literary piece, published in 1968, was the author’s first novel. However, the central theme of the novel and other ones of its kind by Nigerian writers, like ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe and ‘The Gods Are Not To Blame’ by Ola Rotimi centred on subjects of corruption, injustice and oppression in our societies.
The authors of these literary works which were written in the post-independence era of Ghana and Nigeria, having travelled to the UK and the US for education and other academic services, returned to their different countries to meet a political scenario different from the ones they saw in those foreign countries.
In Ghana and Nigeria, the entire political scene, which was the livewire and engine room of the newly entrenched democratic government, was wrapped round with corruption and injustice.
In public offices, especially government ministries and agencies, corruption was the order of the day. As a civil servant or a political appointee, whether you like it or not, you must put on the garment of corruption for you to work peacefully in such public offices.
At this time being described by these writers, the judiciary, which was seen as the last hope of the common man, had suddenly joined the bandwagon of corrupt officers. Judgements were no longer based on justice and fair hearings by judges and other court workers any more. Judgements were delivered in favour of the highest bribe giver or bidder.
This was how corrupt and rotten the pro-independence societies of both Ghana and Nigeria were.
This sudden metamorphosis (social change) from Africanism, which was a society of love, brotherliness and forgiveness, to British colonialism, which now dwelt on civilization, modernization, acculturation, science and technology, prompted the African writers of that time to write such novels to reflect the ills and rot in the society, which they came to meet in their countries.
Obviously, ‘The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born’ by Armah is a satire describing the political climate of not only Ghana but also Nigeria.
In Nigeria, after sixty years of independence bequeathed to us by the British government, the beautiful ones are not yet born.
My question here is, when will the beautiful ones be born in Nigeria, and also in Delta State, my home state?
If after sixty years, we are still looking for when the beautiful ones would be born, then our dream for a better society is in oblivion. We are like a people pursuing our own shadows.
In this case, the gods are not to blame. What should we blame them for; for placing us in this geographical location or for blessing us with abundant natural resources?
In fact, in actual sense, things will continue to fall apart if after sixty years of existence as an independent country, we are still searching for the beautiful ones to govern us aright.
Recently, as a result of challenges confronting the Buhari administration, especially this year (2020), ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic, #EndSARS protests and high risk of insecurity in every part of the country, many Nigerian elder statesmen and past leaders have been advising Muhammadu Buhari to resign the office of president of the country.
Some were clamouring for restructuring of the country. Restructuring in another word is decentralizing the country into sections or regions as was the practice before 1960.
However, my question is this, if President Buhari should consider it right to resign now, have we seen the right man to govern this country in the right way?
Many of my esteemed readers will say, they are many that can mount the throne.
Mounting the throne however is not enough to give the populace or the subjects the right leadership that would satisfy their daily needs. This is why, so many kings are being dethroned and exiled to distant lands for not meeting up with the expectations of the people.
Therefore, my answer to the question of having a better person to take over from President Buhari at the moment is a capital ‘No’. Such a person has not yet been born in Nigeria. Even the woman that will give birth to that child is nowhere to be found around the globe.
Prior to 1999 when this new democratic dispensation came into being, almost all Nigerians, both at home and abroad prophetically “foresaw” the good leadership of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Immediately he was moved from the prison to the palace, all our prophecies bounced back on us. Today, the same people that clapped for Obasanjo in his two-term administration are the ones rating him and his government as the worst in the history of Nigeria.
Obasanjo came with the electioneering promise that he would remove corruption from both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian society. Yet, in his time, corruption gained enough strength to climb to the pinnacle of destruction.
Obasanjo came out of government without EFCC and ICPC, the anti-graft agencies he established, probing him.
My great Nigerians, where is the beautiful one to take over from Muhammadu Buhari in 2023? Has he or she been born? Like in the days of Ayi Kwei Armah when he was shouting with the power of the ink and paper over the rot in the political system in Ghana, the same way I’m shouting that the beautiful ones we are all hoping for have not been born Nigeria.
This means, all the would-be contestants for the position of president of the country by 2023, are people who had led or are still leading this country one way or another.
In other words, they are people who have been initiated and completely baptized in the pool of corruption. There is no newly born in this country or a foreigner that could come to rule this country in 2023 except these same old folks that had drunk enough of the intoxicating power of politics.
Be that as it may, an African wise saying has it that, “In a community of the blind, a one eyed man among them is always crowned the king”.
From this wise saying, Nigerians must be cautious over the unity and integration of the country, and see it as one indivisible nation.
This can only be achieved when we realize the power in our voter’s card. We can use our votes to choose the best among equal.
Politically, Nigeria is not far from the community of the blind. Therefore, we should use our votes to find that one-eyed man to take the place or position of the beautiful ones that are yet to be born.
Many of such ones are already indicating their interest in the exalted position of president of the country.
In the same way too, by the zoning arrangement entrenched in the political system of Delta State by the PDP, which is allegedly agreed to by other smaller political parties in the state, it’s certain that 2023 is the turn of Delta central senatorial district, which majorly comprise the Urhobo people, to produce the governor of the state.
However, since the beautiful ones are not yet also born in the state, Deltans should equally use their votes to find that one-eyed man that can mount the exalted political throne of the state.
Such a man or woman that would be on top of the ripe orange tree, and would remember to share the ripe orange fruits to all that are under the orange tree. That one eyed man that would take over from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2023 must not be the type that would create electoral wards, sideline some local government areas and favour his own areas. He must be an advocate of peace, justice and fair play. Therefore, if we can have this type of man amongst the community of the blind, then he’s practically fit to take over the kingship of the land.
Conclusively, it was reported recently in the social media that the beautiful ones, as Ayi Kwei Armah envisaged in his popular and first novel are already born in Ghana, unlike in Nigeria where they are still yet to be born. Without doubt, Nigeria has declared herself as the giant of Africa, because of her population and territorial lands and waters. This concept of ‘Nigerian giant’ unfortunately does not extend to political and economic advantage over other countries in the continent.
In this case, many of us will agree with me that Ghana is far ahead of Nigeria politically and economically. Politically and otherwise, the beautiful ones are truly born in Ghana. Their political class has learnt much from the said novel. But here in Nigeria, we always blame the gods and past leaders of the country for her present situation.
Henceforth, if we refuse to stop this blame game and accusation, things will definitely fall apart in times to come.
Young Erhiurhoro;Kjc is a reporter and member of the Urhobo Historical Society.
