"Part of the problem is also the fault of the ordinary people" - Thabo Mbeki on Nigeria’s Demobilised Civil Society

Former South African President and respected elder statesman, Thabo Mbeki, recently advanced the thesis of a “demobilised” Nigerian civil society.  

Mbeki argues in an interview published in The Guardian on Sunday that the project of reforming Nigeria and of ending impunity in governance has been slowed down by the absence of a civil society that puts the leadership on its toes and prevents it from doing “whatever it likes”.

Is Mbeki right? Who or what “demobilised” our civil society?  Read the Guardian's report below:

In as much as politicians and elected officials should be blamed for bad governance, the de-mobilised citizenry, including trade unions, civil society groups and religious organisations should take greater responsibility for leadership problems in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, according to former South African President and stalwart of the ANC, Mr. Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki, who spoke with The Guardian in an exclusive interview at his Jo’burg office, said the vibrant trade unions and civil society groups have failed to rise up to the challenge. He, however, blamed the leadership for what he referred to as “the big inequality in society,” saying that addressing “such issues” requires specific policies, interventions and understanding. He, however, noted that only an active and informed citizenry could put a stop to bad leadership. 

President Mbeki expressed regrets that the so-called liberation, and independence of African countries, including Nigeria, have to some extent, ‘de-mobilised’ the people.  He observed that the people “would be engaged in actions, struggles of one kind, or another, to bring about their independence and when it finally comes, they relax.

“ It now becomes a question of: ‘this is our own government; now, our fate is in our own hands, these are people that were elected’ and so on,” the ANC stalwart said. 

“I’m saying that, in many instances, this is what has happened as a consequence of which the leadership doesn’t feel the pressure from the people because the people, as I’m saying, are demobilised. As a result of not feeling this pressure, the leadership does whatever it likes. To that extent, you can also say that part of the problem is also the fault of the ordinary people.” 

“Before they became senators and all of that, in Nigeria, for instance, they were members of political parties… The first place to start is with the ANC, in South Africa and other parties; with the PDP, in Nigeria and other parties, to say: what are your policies, in all these things, do we all agree that this inequality is wrong? Yes, we do. All right, therefore, what are the policies that you are going to put in place? We’re going to elect you into government, then you become senators and presidents and all of that, but when you get into positions, you must carry the party policies with you. That is the starting point.”

According to Mbeki, the people have to get “the ANC to define its policies – the ANC would have its own processes, as the PDP would have its own processes, too – but that’s your starting point.”