Professor Ali Mazurui wrote it all in his seminal work titled: “The African
Bigman”. And by this, I think he meant to refer to those Africans who inherited
the elite dynamics and dialectics of the departing Colonial Masters, and who
always want to act similarly in their colonial-mentalities and ways of doing
things. Also, methinks he was also referring to those emerging and emerged
African elites in their countries after independence, who lack humility in all
they do, especially because of their belief that they have attained high
societal positions that gives them the leverage to flaunt their kind of
attitudes (and therein knowingly and unknowingly trample on the less
privileged).
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| *Perpetual Victims |
Yes! There is what could be regarded as “African Bigman
Syndrome”; which emanates truly from “Colonial Mentality”; whose roots is
surely, as we earlier said, from “Colonial Mental Attitude”. Indeed, Africans
who became elites after the departure of the white Colonial Masters, and indeed
those who replaced the departing Colonial Bourgeoisies in commercial and
administrative positions of authority (inheriting and living in their then big
houses, segregated Government Reserved Areas, using their types of big cars,
joining their segregated clubs, wearing their kind of clothing, eating their
kinds of food and drinking their kind of wine, etc) developed a syndrome of bigmanism
that “sickens” them all the time; making them to want to separate and
discriminate other down-trodden Africans (their less privileged brothers and
sisters). And this sickness has lingered from the days of our political flag
independence (we are yet to be economically independent), and have now,
dove-tailed-into what could be called/posited and asserted affirmatively today
as “Chronic Elite Conspiracy” against the masses of Nigeria
What is this endemic elite-disease? What are its operative
methodologies? How has it affected the socio-political and economic aspects of
our society (country, nation, nation-state or call it whatever name you like!)?
Let’s attempt an answer! But before we do this, please permit us to first of
all define the three key words that are entrenched-in and encapsulates this
topic: Chronic; Elite and Conspiracy.
According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary, Chronic means:
Lingering; lasting; bad; intense; severe; acute; constant. Elite means: Best
(of a group); Select group or class. Conspiracy means: Act of conspiracy;
combination for unlawful purpose; plot; agreement to say nothing concerning a
matter.
Therefore, having all these definitions in mind, and having
observed the obvious display of the kind of mannerism (attitude) and actions of
Nigerian elites since her independence in 1960, can it not be rightly said
then, that a lingering/long lasting plot (which is definitely unlawful in
purposes) has been unleashed by a select group or class of Nigerians (who
through their high intellectual, administrative and commercial-enterprise
positions); have denied a vast majority/generality of Nigerians (through
discreet and open operating methods) their rights to their basic needs of life
(like food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care, employment, water,
electricity, transportation facilities, security and other social
amenities/utilities and services) and freedom; and also used the people’s
resources and wealth (commonwealth actually) to better themselves (which they
consciously and unconsciously concretized through their high-conspiratorial
high-life)?
