Neo-Partyism, Post Colonialism and the Surreality of Poverty Reduction Efforts among Bette Rural Communities In Nigeria

Abstract

African nation states emerging from the burden of western colonial rule developed a propensity to heap the blame of their malfunctioning economies and political systems on the experience of colonialism. During the first few decades of the post colonial era (1950-1980), it was fashionable to devote full symposia, conferences and workshops to outlining the debilitating effects of western colonial rule, while using the same excuse to solicit political power from unsuspecting but enthusiastic voters desirable of improved conditions of living, especially in an era of self-rule. While this scenario played out, there was a gradual emergence of a bourgeois class, resplendent in perpetuating the very socio-economic/political divides that characterized the era from which the masses desire to escape. This situation was accompanied by a rising call for democratic rule, administered through the instrumentality of political parties, themselves, a collection of often strange bed-fellows, lacking in ideology and principle, and far removed from the yearnings of the masses. This paper examines the paradox of ne-partyism, post colonial fixation and the insincerity of so-called people-oriented poverty reduction efforts among the Bette people of Obudu in Cross River State of Southern Nigeria. The paper argues that poverty reduction efforts has simply become another instrument of political manipulation intended to whip the masses into perpetual servitude and subjugation. The paper concludes that the post-colonial experience of African nations is far worse than its pre-cursor, and that unless there is a revolutionary change in leadership, rural Africa will continue running round in circles, and hence remaining in abject poverty.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p603