Its going against the grain or fall into the peril
Since the introduction of the new dispensation that initiated
a devolve government. Politics in North Eastern province changed, a system that
is bandaged with the way of tradition of the Somali community, a democracy
based on clan selection- it opened up a Pandora-box that created dishonesty,
blackmail, division, hatred and revenge among the long existing clans in Wajir,
Garissa and Mandera. The so called formation of line-up is a selective channel
that is squarely determined the winner of the poll in a given elective post.
This democracy has shattered the dreams of the voters in this
region, we ask ourselves where did the rain beat us no doubt it’s the initial
stage of formation of the leadership slot literally how the system was choreographed
in the beginning it creates worries.
One of the oft-repeated clichés
about NEP is the role of the clan [qabiil/qolo] in the underdevelopment
of the region. The clan-based identity was not as pronounced in pre-colonial or
in the Holy Quran.
Somalis use qabiil and qabyaalad [Clannism]
interchangeably. The noun qabiil is linked with the verb haybso (to
ask someone his/her clan identity). Despite its salience and presence in the
Somali collective consciousness, Clannism remains an ill-defined scourge.
Why has Clannism permeated the Somali body politic? To answer this
question I will propose a definition of Clannism: It is an illegal and amoral
process to use political power to help close or distant relatives to gain an
unwarranted economic benefit, evade justice or marginalize a segment of the
community.
The developmental aspect of the region has greatly been
compromised by the factor of the clan politics thus dwindling the realization
of the equity, progress and empowering of the residents. Today majority of the
people in the North Eastern province are subjected into hopelessness, living in
limbo, hunger and despair.
Negotiated democracy juxtapose with clan oriented consideration
weaken the democracy in the region – despite the new constitutions in place
that favour a lot the marginalized communities
living in this area they are heavenly
facing the brunt of tribalism.
The Degodia, the Ogaden, the Ajuran and the minority are the
tribes residing in this region. On election year each tribe with its sub-clans
makes delegates to reach an agreement on how the power will be shared. Through the
sultans, ugasins the political seduction begin they make a choice that all
parties who belong to each of its clans endorse a line-up that will automatically
settle the leadership formula – This gives the secretariats of each sub-clan to
make campaigns for their kilns, sons and daughters before the elephant in the
room is led out, with unanimous vote is made.
On the eve of the election all the set-up structure that compose
the line-up will enjoy the fruits of the winning format if they win but if they
won’t they continue to sabotage their opponent who now is either the governor,
Mca, MP or women rep. Here the issue of accountability, performance; development
has gone into the drain. These Counties little has changed. Favourism, nepotism,
corruption, kick-back political awards take center stage leaving loopholes.
Unemployment, poor health service, poverty, social injustice, poor
services delivery is the only key negative achievement witnessed.
In Wajir County a governor was
impeached with setting grounds raised by Members of the County Assembly still
today remain unsettled take a case of no oxygen plant in the hospital or power grid that would have
reduce chances of death.
This conundrum Somali politics will continue to haunt forever if
things won’t be overturned by a politics of transparency, free from tribal associated
set up, keeping at bay the negotiated power deal, zipping the betrayal syndrome
and the will of the people be accepted – the political bargaining has for long
left shred of tear, regrets in the Somali community.
It does kind of plunder that discriminate many masses reasons the
negotiated democracy is for individuals who brokered the triumphant result. For
sanity to remain the politicians will cater the demands of his mighty forgetting
the voters and that is the case for ten years of devolution- a section of the community
were left marginalized – divide rule politics were used against those who never
voted for the system.
Embezzlement of funds through creating fake companies, misuse of
power to siphon the resources of the citizens – undertaking white elephant
projects to enrich tribal cocoons and political brokers- a very simplified
version in NEP – this left minorities to suffer. Clans that pride themselves on
numerical superiority attach importance to clannism.
In the current
power-sharing structure many Somali clans have been reduced to status of
second-class citizens in their own Counties. Since major clans parceled out regions
into dynasty, minority clans lack genuine representation privileges at the
local level. This mismatch between political progress made so far and political
marginalization of some clans had had severe impact on life chances of people
from minority clans.
We are on the verge of falling into 4.5 systems a bureaucratic that
tainted Somalia into bloodshed- Clannism is a form of political extremism. It
is more destructive than religious extremism in North Eastern province (NEP). The
politics of early 80, 90s was a bit exemplary way of bringing Somalis together –
In glance the Mlolongo system had no red taped people were left to make their decision
thus giving a free will to settle, rekindle the harmony within unlike today the
negotiate democracy versus tribal endorsement all in all for the sake of our
unity, peace, progress, equality, uniformity we must come together to shun the radicalized
4.5 system that is taking our political structure as residents of North Eastern
province.- leaders should be elected based on performance, developmental
tracks, righteousness and integrity.
Ahmed Salat Ali, a
freelance journalist & Inspiring Wajir West Member of Parliament
Twitter. @WaWajir
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