Ancestocracy

Ancestocracy reminds me of the iconic NTA slogan: “You can’t beat the reach.” So, if you can’t beat the reach, what do you do? You join them. It also reminds me of what Ayo Fayose once said, citing an Ekiti adage: he who gives you life is the father of he who gives you money (link). He wasn’t referring only to biological parents but also to your godfathers.

The Debt

Ancestocracy is a pyramid of favours, gratitude and loyalty; once you are bestowed with the favours of the ancestors, you owe a debt of loyalty and in many cases, a debt of silence. It’s just like Fashola said: may your loyalty never be tested (link). Loyalty is the lifeline of ancestocracy. What we practise in Nigeria is ancestocracy.

Ancestocracy is everywhere. It’s in business, in government and sadly in churches. It is when a president projects himself as the father of a nation; a president’s wife projects herself as the mother of a nation (na our mama be this o … eh); a governor projects himself as the father of a state; or even a pastor projects himself as the father of a church. Such projections, many a time, avoid accountability, for who will point a finger at his father in Africa? Only a bastard.

The Cost of Belonging

Ancestocracy is when a young bright mind joins a structure and intends to improve the system, only to realise his enemies are those who brought him to power. He has to choose between returning the favours of the gods or doing what’s right. It’s between biting the fingers that fed him versus ignoring and moving on. He chooses the easy path of wisdom and so he goes.

Only accountability can bring real change in Africa, and accountability is the stark enemy of ancestocracy. Both are like the “okun” and “osa”, two forces that never meet. It’s like putting Mentos sweet inside a Coke bottle. It’s like pouring palm oil in a frying pot that’s been on fire for 10 minutes. Accountability is putting a dagger to the heart of ancestocracy. Because ancestocracy believes that to err is human, and to move on is wisdom, and if you choose not to move on, you’re removed.

The Choice

I supported Peter Obi in the 2023 general elections because he has only one political debt: the people of Nigeria who voted him without receiving shishi. If his political debt increases to the point that I suspect he no longer has any significant debt to the people of Nigeria, I will not vote for him in 2027 because he will be caught up in the web of ancestocracy.

The opposite of ancestocracy is not rudeness, ingratitude, rebellion or impulsivity. Rather, it is truth; this is what is missing in different structures of our land. How to know you are in an ancestocracy circle: Seek truth and accountability. If your loyalty is tested, you’re in one.

Ancestocracy produces mediocrity, mediocrity produces a weak system, a weak system produces frustration, poverty, insecurity and lack of fulfilment.

Until ultimate loyalty is to truth and progress, every structure will continue to suffer. Indeed, righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).