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| Roofing |
Development
swings in when intense frustration breaks upon an age-long languor.
Until
Africans really tire of dwelling in the misty levels of backwardness, and start
harnessing force of character, unbreakable tenacity of purpose, and sheer
strength of will, supported by dint of hard work; she will never espy the
sunlit peaks of true development and advancement.
This
continent is replete with untapped potential and resources necessary for us, as
a people, to bathe ourselves in glory, so posterity will chant our achievements
with ever-increasing accents of gratitude. However, such will only translate
from being vats of velleity into crystallised results, when we closely examine
our situation, and adopt a radical approach to our issues.
The
beauty of civil discourse lends itself to agreement and disagreement. In view
of such fragrant truth, while I accept differences in other suggestions
offered, I remain firmly persuaded that the solution I have proposed, and will
continue to propose is the scintillating lodestar that will guide us out of our
present misery.
Here
is an applicable truth: we are not pushing ourselves in the thinking
department. Yes, we have failed to stretch our elastic brains to innovate
practical answers to our manifold challenges. But how will we innovate anything
of sterling significance, when we have an inferiority complex, and are used to
producing poor-quality goods? How will our creative juices flow, when it has
been encased in frozen negative thinking? How will our blazing lights of
potential shine, when it is enshrouded in the garbs of inactivity? Do we really
believe we can actually solve our problems? Do we truly aspire to get into
vital contact with our neighbours by whose products we are incessantly
enamoured?
When
I propose Jesus' teaching as a solution; some think I am going round the bend.
Nonetheless, they forget that until the nature of those at the helm is changed,
they will rather divert valuable funds and resources for personal and family
use. Perhaps, even a part will find its way to offshore accounts.
Why
is there a rancid presumption that any reference to religion as a vital path to
development must be made by someone who has unhinged their reason, or is away
with the fairies? What about the pantheon of Christians who transformed the
world? People like Newton, Copernicus, Wilberforce, Bach and several others.
Were they mad to trust Christianity, for example, and draw strength from it?
The
pristine sense this piece seeks to distil is a rallying cry for us to lay a
solid foundation before we attempt to start roofing.
Comparisons
are sometimes inappropriate. The African, without doubt is a very different
kind of species. This is the truth, and we know it! We are a unique people. And
while we may have similarities with other continents, our differences—thinking,
state, way of life etc.—are ever before us.
Channelling
our best efforts to solve our challenges through the agency of innovating
workable solutions to our issues will surely make a huge difference.
Nevertheless, we need to pause and examine a few truths. While innovation is
good, and I am one to champion that; however, other thoughts rush to the fore
which assert a pleasant order. It calls us to deal with certain root issues
before we can hope to advance. For instance, we may cry for aid to establish
research and development centres so we can innovate; but knowing the sort of
people we are, an important question rears its lump of a head: Where will most
of the aid end up? In the stated projects, or somewhere else?
We
display our enlarging ignorance, if we act as though we are not aware that
resources are siphoned for personal gratification. That only is possible
because of our nature as a people. We are inherently corrupt, and we feel no
sense of duty to our people and for the common weal.
As
an emergency, we must use the resources that we have as a continent to solve
the problems of the continent. Why are our leaders unable to do so? Why do they
find it easy to embezzle funds? Is it true that Africa does not have the money
to solve her problems? No, we do! It is our nature, and the way we live that
has to change. Thus, I shall continue hitting on my previous points, and
drumming up my suggestion of Jesus and His teachings. It is a potent
proposition to a prevailing problem.
We
have called for good governance and written copiously on ideas that have been
unable to solve our issues. Rather, in some of our countries, there is an
ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor.
In
truth, life always presents us with conflicting options for our examination.
Personally, I have seen people who did not feel a sense of duty to their own
family. However, when they experienced a transformation in a lifelong
relationship with Jesus, without any external force, they amended their ways,
and started embracing their responsibility.
If
even a few people in power will experience a similar transformation, these
leaders will demand a greater level of accountability of themselves, and ensure
that a country's resources—particularly financial—that has been bilked, and
perhaps kept in local or foreign accounts are rightly channelled to the
development of our continent.
I
personally reject the idea that Africa is broke. It is our leadership and
management failures that amplify our problems.
My
proposed solution stands firm. With urgent intent, we must work on solidifying
our foundation before attempting to build, let alone, roofing. A transparent
change of the heart of our leaders will see them manning up to the
responsibilities entrusted to them by the electorate, which they continue to
shirk with insouciant impunity.
Still
focusing on our terrain; why is politics such a big issue? Why will people kill
to get into power? Is it not a gold mine? Is politics not seen as being a
guaranteed route to wealth—a passepartout of sorts? Is it actually a way to
serve people? Now, what example should our leaders follow? Shall I offer them
Machiavelli? Or, you see the sense in offering them the Messiah as an example?
All
nations have a moral problem. It is not Africa's preserve. Nonetheless, ask
yourself: Are those nations as backward as we are? When, for instance, a
government in the West is corrupt; will they come and invest their country's
money in a place like Ghana or Togo? Yet, where do our corrupt governments take
our money?
We
must sit down and think carefully. The sort of foundation we decide to build
upon will prove pertinent to our pace of progress. And a foundation that fails
to adequately address our inherent moral problem will leave us high and dry.
As
you will see from later articles, I will stress other parts of the building
process. A student has to master basic arithmetic before tackling advanced
calculus, or attempting Fermat–Catalan conjecture. In that sense, solving our
moral problem or calling for a realistic improvement is the sensible place to
start. Once that message has received due attention, other relevant and
important suggestions will follow. Shouting for good governance, without a
corresponding change in the hearts of those who will enforce or maintain it; is
synonymous to announcing a house warming, when you are yet to lay a foundation
for a house.
My
titanic belief and resolute position is that Africa has what it takes to
develop. Unfortunately, our expected development has yet to make a resistless
appeal for us to cease our fellowship with our backward ways of living. Indeed,
the veritable dream for development must overwhelm and shatter our disposition
to maintain the status quo. A strong passion for progress must fill us with
supreme enthusiasm, concerted effort, and an overriding willingness to squarely
confront our issues. If we fail in this respect, we shall continue to be lost
in a contemplative reverie without enjoying the tantalising fruits of progress
and development.
The
call is clear: we must put our own house in order—no one is willing to bear
such responsibility. And a practical step to ameliorate our tardy development
is to work urgently on our foundations before building roofs.
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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