lessons from South Korea: Rise and Fall in Power.

The recent impeachment of a democratically elected first female president in South Korea is an interest driven topic discussion for one simple reason,the power of the people to reclaim their space-for lack of a better word. A brief summary to why she got impeached,'the suspicion she colluded with her confidante to extort money from businesses and committed other wrongdoings' (Associated Press;2017).

This discussion isn't about how/why she did it but rather about the right to hold elected officials accountable and how system works to ensure an impartial outcome when laws are flouted/despise or disregarded. In most part of the world political leaders get away with anything and everything from bankrupting the state to extrajudicial killing of citizens with no sanction or consequences,a perfect example coming to mind is the unlawful invasion of Iraq by Bush and Blair-b2 factor
The impeachment and eventual court ruling seconding such decision is to me worth highlighting as it shows strong institutional capacity,ability to respond in moment when needed most to avoid throwing the entire state into chaos- moments like these calls for immediate action across parties irrespective of the  party you support,contrast it to some countries or states where such are hard to come by. The ability to rise up to the occasion meant the state is more important than individuals and party they belong to. As a new state practicing democracy after deep long claw of dictatorship,it is worth a spot light.
To the ordinary South Korean,they showed ownership of their destiny as expressed by and through them during their election and when need arose,without abrogating their right of ownership responded accordingly to make sure they retain such ownership to the system they collectively agreed upon. Citizens rights does not cease nor end right after the election but is in continuum requiring constant vigilance at all time. In the case of south Korea, the state's various arms of government reciprocate each other  to keep the wishes of the masses alife irrespective of their divergent views. The state showed it does not depend on solely one arm of government but rather power revolves between the three arms and patronage cannot survive such system.
The right to be referred to as first citizen is everyones concern and the choice should be hotly contested reflecting the high regard such a position occupies in the masses minds as such requisites dedicated individuals who are ready to serve not to be served.
A rhetorical question may well be posed at this juncture: how have you safeguarded/reacted/shown ownership faced with similar situation? How have the other arms of government treated supposed inaction of one of their own. The actions of the presidents fellow party members may worth mentioning,some abandoned the party to vote with their conscience. We have seen situations contrary to the above mentioned example,collusion that aims to wrestle authority away from the people-rise of oppressive regime. We can at the same time draw comparism to events during the Arab spring with that of the aforementioned discussion on South Korea. Power collusion leads to oppressive outcome which back peddles democratic gains/processes and outcome, it results in a scenario of which we say"power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely". Such as highlighted before feeds on patronage which the South Koreans refused to accept.
Power not backed up by authority fades away very fast as it open rooms for challenges not imagined example Syria,Burundi and Central African Republic. Legitimacy of power must have the blessing of the people with an effective three arms working mutually together not in competition of the other. Mutuality as opposed to competition bleeds a healthy democratic process and effective institutions within governance.
Power built on convenience dries up essence of democracy and are detrimental to the people's wishes example Zimbabwe. It is an unhealthy cohabitation of some sort amongst these arms of government  that leads to one arm of government total domination of the rest leaving them as a pawn-in this case used and abused by the executive. This has remained the challenge within the continent- interrupted checks and balances giving room to uncontrolled power exercise by an individual or group of individuals. Uninterrupted investigation an effective working system saw the fall of a sitting president,which is how democracy operates. Accountability of any office is vital to rooting corrupt practices,it is a one way stretch and should apply to all and sundry inspite of their offices or position occupied. We can draw a lot from the incidence in South Korea whom like most African states have seen fair share of dictatorship before and thereafter has made strives to improve for the seek of it's own people. We need to improve on our government and governance structures by eliminating current/future lone wolfism-individual bent on setting us back-capable of impacting us negatively as we continue to master the act of clean government through the practice of democracy. We the people own the government and not the other way round.

Moving The Goal Post

The global anti-migrant/foreign sentiment sweeping the entire world is both shocking and despicable. It is shocking because the world has moved past the nationalistic past-thanks to globalization which has brought the world much closer. It is despicable because the world can't turn the clocks hand backward. Xenophobia is becoming a political populist escapism,an anthem sang to please a section of the population,mostly the marginalized at the expense of selected group,only meant to sow seeds of discord-blame our woes on them for there is none other. This does not absorb the many ills or criminality of which migrants may be complicit in but we can't pick and choose when it is convenient for us.

From taking job to drug peddling and many other ascribed sins and crimes of migrants, they are easy target for which politician are quick to exploit with no intention of ever finding roots causes and solutions to. It is obvious that nationalistic beliefs still remain political undertones that finds solace amongst political power struggle which are thrown into public arena knowingly or unknowingly with the aim of gaining support,otherwise how can it be explained that legitimate businesses also become target of such nefarious activities for which no culprit ever gets found or prosecuted. By not addressing this stereotypical action,reactions to the symptoms remains the answer for which we are meant to believe actions are being taken while in actual fact it is a postponement of latter day evil, supporting the notion we have no intention or willingness to ever tackle or show readiness to confront the root cause.

Government should endeavour to tackle growing and ever increasing high level of unemployment by creating enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive. They should stop false hope of entitlement that negates realistic appreciation of the common threat that challenges us all. In this way the locals/indigenes can channel their frustration not on migrants who constantly are made escaped goats of failed policies.

(#xenophobia must cease)

UN the Center Stage for High Diplomacy.

The United Nations is and should remain the center of high diplomacy. Many may not see the need for such based on many decimal output that the organization has over the years produced. This should not be the case going back to the purpose of it's formation- to offers an important platform for practice of multilateralism for which the league of Nations was notorious and failed to succeed. States as it's major actors should make it a point to fulfill their duties with regards to their financial responsibility.

It should be a welcomed development that the public policy of the new USA administration,as a major funder to review it's financial contributions should not be viewed, as retro-program rather gives room for all other states to take up their responsibility with both hands. Am happy that the Trump administration see the importance of multilateralism in diplomacy and the role UN plays in providing this platform.

United Nations needs to change and change it has to,both in the way it conducts it's business to achieve much better result. Such change should not be an individual state driven responsibility but rather requires an active participation of all members nation to bring in much needed life to this prestigious organization so as to avoid the short lived effect that is the driving force at the moment. At the center of this remains individual state shouldering the bulk of the duty especially the financial aspect of it. The majority 193 needs to stand up and be counted revising the idea of "the piper dictates the tone". 

The USA, UN representative-Nikki Haley-could not have spoken at the right time and much better with emphasis on active states role to revive the fortunes of the organisation. States can show they value this organization by playing vital role in it's funding. This is both a duty and an obligation and gives all states a leveraging opportunity in equal voice and action. As a proposal going forward, all states should set aside a certain mandatory percentage of their annual budget as a funding model that can give a lifeline to this organization eliminating over dependency on individual state whims and caprice.

Recent Rise in Populism: Never Imagined But A Reality

There is a popular wise saying,'when truth becomes elusive and fails,lies flies'. This is a situation of today's world, it goes without saying and reality dictates this; when people are fed up, they react. This is an emotional realism resulting from built-up outcomes. The point remains, we have long written it off and today it is real. Populism have once again arose.

The co-habitation effect between truth and lies and the failure of the vanguard of truth to speak up or to ask hard question and insist on getting the truth and right answer has resulted in current scenario-a rejection of all things mainstream/ establishment. Simply put,the rise of populism is the result of long forgone human desire of equality,justice-the bastian of everything western that might very well be eroding. The inability to revise course with the clear writing very well on the wall meant that accountability has long gone in the diction of leadership.

Am an optimist not a pessimist,I believe that after desperation comes hope- this is for those who look on the positive side of life.

The Brexit, Trump election as 45th USA president and inward looking nations-adoption of nationalism and protectionism,which stirs us right in the face, all points to our failure as a collective,the fact that we have allowed few elitists with narrow interests to lead us on the wrong part to history without any checkmate is something of regret.

Truly, when fear steps in irrational response reigns. We have to remain calm to regain control of where/what/how we hope to see things done to achieve overall desire of all. Liberalism is not dead, what is comes from capitalism without control that keeps many out-right on the margins,with no hope of a better future.

Globalization must continue, much as we lament on it's ills, much more has and can still be achieved. We must not speak less but speak truth to power for a much better world,devoid of leaders with exploitative emotional tendencies.

Hope is not lost.

Two Main Political Highlights of 2016

2016 is going to go down in history as a year filled with surprises, from the British exiting the EU,Italians rejecting constitutional reform resulting in the Prime minister's resignation,Trump's election as 54th USA president and lastly the sudden turn about of a loser president in Gambia who conceded to defeat and his sudden rejection of the entire election result. From within these list comes two main international political highlights of great interest.

Firstly, the democratic ineptitude of USA political processes contributing to what would be called democratic devaluation of this century. During the presidential debate,the entire process drifted/degenerated to personality cult without substance compounded by allegations of foreign meddling,simply put-putinization of the entire election process. The absence of substantive issue in the debate was mindbugling leaving it probably as the worst in recent history. Hillary Clinton could have won if she had disavowed the legacy of her boss- Obama's visit to England to campaign for British stay in EU was a total failure to which she should have learnt. Obama's failure was very visible in the foreign policy circle as seen in both Syria and Libya.

Secondly,the over-ratedness of political pundits who were highly shocked by the outcome of both events in Britain and USA. The mainstream establishment have always had control of the mind and thought of the ordinary man dictating how they should reason- they the media ascribed to themselves the mouthpiece of the man on the street. When the media resorted to sensationalism of important issues they lost the plot, this could be seen as all attempt to sway the result in their preferred candidate failed decimally becoming a huge hummering never seen in many years of obvious prediction. When they identified with the establishment- oppressors of the poor and suppressors of the truth they represented non other but themselves. Obama won on a ticket of change but the media are yet to interrogate and find out what changes he's achieved. Trump is the mainstream creation for as they tried to demonize him,he became more endearing to many mostly those whom the media ones spoke on behalf of. Today's rise in populism is the outcome of a symptomatic political ills which the media has helped nursed knowingly or unknowingly. 

2017 demands a retro-introspection to which the media should step back and try regain the masses trust. Globalization has played a vital part,gone are the dark age as information is readily available. Hoping for a better new year. Cheers

Can Someone Wake Me Up! An Emboldened State.

On the 28th of September,the United States senate reversed the presidential veto preventing families of 9/11 to sue the Saudi government over its complacency or thereabout on that terror attack in 2001 through the bill known as'justice against sponsors of terrorism act' or simply called JASTA. This to me is telling not just from a moral point of view but also for the political remification associted with such

All along, the Saudis had lobbied against such legislature,the reason most likely related to confirmation or affirmation of complacency of that faithful day terror related attack. Thus, the bill goes to actually confirm such fear.

But there is something confusing with United states politics and most especially on it's foreign policy making process  which leaves the rest of the world bewildered. It is complicated and very complex. Take for instance the complex relationship between Iran and United State which revolves around Iranian untowards behavior in the past. Bring it forward, if the Iranians where to be the Saudis classification as state sponsor of terror would have been swift as a snap of the finger.

Back to the bill issue and it's significants,firstly the bill highlights the failures of intelligence community with regard to Iraq invasion,it was totally flawed,in hindsight the Saudis should have taken the fall. Secondly USA foreign policy process is so complex,complicated and resulting into disaffection amongst friends and foes alike. Lets relook series of events in the past years for instance the coup in Egypt that brought Sisi into power, at no point was it pronounced as a coup by the USA leaving behind smokes of cloud hanging over the then deposed leader who was democratically elected. Should we mention the absence of a strong rebuke on the Saudis or Bahrainis on human right abuses.

The recent anti establishment campaign gripping the globe most felt in the western world comes as no surprises because politicians have long abandoned democratic process that is built on accountability to pursue their own agenda backed by so called experts advise. This has rather expanded the gap that today is filled in by nationalist propagating hate-a negation of centuries of hard won human civilization.

Today the Saudis are engaged in two prong wars,firstly in Syria where they support so called free rebels and then actively engaged in Yemen where thousands of civilians has dead. This I said wouldn't have been possible had the long working relationship between the two cold war foes had remained intact. Today both Syrian and Yemen lay in ruins as a result of these failed policy making process.

This mismatch in USA foreign policy has given rise in a highly unsecured world, where states act without any chance of being held accountable that is with no consequences. The presidential veto reversal by the senate is a moral victory not based on politics as usual. But the feeling of jittery which comes days after reversing the presidential veto may compromise further the USA leadership position in the world as they are required to show.

What then? Would cooperation with the Saudis be reconsidered or is it going to be business as usual. The fact is that the Saudis have become more emboldened through their invasion of sovereign states- Yemen and Syria,which happens right under the nose of international community with no consequence. Thanks to USA foreign policy which have given up on leadership resulting into this mismatched policy- a leadership from behind. Blame it on no one!

(This is an opinion piece,subject to individual interpretation,should you wish to oppose such view you are welcomed).

Black and Powerful (#blacknpowerful).

coming on the heels of this years heritage day 24th of September 2016, borrowing word from what the vice president of South Africa said "inclusive African identity" and also the word of Arts and culture Minister "to assert our African Identity", I felt the need to commend the Government for making it possible that the country celebrates its diversity through heritage. It is an encouraging drive at keeping unity through heritage and I evenly hope other countries through out the continent does the same. Africa is on the drive part to newer identity poised by globalization which challenges everything past and present. The hashtag black and powerful is a movement I hope would stick, aimed at encouraging Africans within and those in diaspora to work together to counter stereotype that portrays us in bad light-weak and lagging behind in developments. There is a general belief that the black nation has not fully actualized its dream of development since independence. In moments like these when a lot is going on , there is need to speak in one voice to motivate one another to think and act positive to achieve the desired growth that can uplift us from generational effect of backwardness caused by events such as colonialism and unfortunate results of underdevelopment accompanied by continued plundering of resources which feeds into poverty and consequentially mass migration inside/outside of the continent- outside the continent which is the causes of many death on the Mediterranean a scene we are all familiar with. We can blame it on leadership but still much of it is caused by our inability to appreciate our various diversity which can strengthen our unity,this results in lack of  or absence of unity, love and care which is the foundation of being and belief system-ubuntu.
Events in the states where the lives of black people are constantly under attack requires stronger solidarity from motherland from where black first migrate came from- centuries of hard labor,perseverance seems to be continually forgotten or unacknowledged.
Building stronger solidarity through heritage will assist us in appreciating one another and minimize undesirable journeys of perilous consequences. So, the #blacknpowerful brings black solidarity to the fore through heritage celebration,dispelling negative mentality that we can make it within and anywhere in the world. This help solidify ownership of our own destiny through hard work which is our fore fathers and mothers trademarks for which we are proud of. Celebration of events like these helps to open up avenues for dialogue which further promotes exchange of ideas which we strongly need. So lets make this hashtag a global movement, be an ambassador of what we hope to achieve from peace, growth with development for black is powerful.

Black and powerful I am,
black nation became not of human imagination nor forced migration,
black! It is the act of gods to whom I pay homage
homage for our fathers who laid that foundation.
it remained the strenght to our being,
hard work are sources and greatness thou export,
for from our fathers and mothers far and yonder,
we have made nations stand in awe.
faced by adversity and it's likes,
far from the Americas to the rich world of the west,
we stood yet with all its fantacies,
for proud we are of our own and strides.
Alala! To our mamas and papas of old and now,
we are of yours and still in progress,
even though hard, far and dark
thy sun shall light the part we walk,
Africa! black jewel and still powerful

lets make this trend #blacknpowerful