Political Godfatherism, Dirty Oil in Clean Water?

March 20, 2013 (SSNA) — My toothless and eyeless on mountainous political food is the poverty I have in my soul. It is essential to ask, who is godfather and godson? And better still, what is godfatherism? Godfather is political architect, big uncle in politics, clan’s elite while the godson is the beneficiary and political heir of legacy of godfather. In our time, godfather is an unimaginable figure, big-size clan member, heavy weight politician, tribal’s mentor and millionaire of dura saga fat cat business. And godfatherism is the relationship between godfather and godson in political business. If godfatherism doesn’t exist, then call me a liar. This practice is an individualistic work by some politicians.

It is democratically phantom and political malnutrition as an eminent politician to father individuals in the community. No wonder, if godfathers are preparing for their newly godsons for 2015 election through Electoral College. The 2010 political godsons of Rumbek, Juba, Aweil and Malakal have had offended their political godfathers. So what next after political orphanage? Call for removal of guiltless elected governors, ministers and MPs or join spearmasters or spymasters in your village for political prophesy? Democratic system is magical energetic, political beliefs to fairness. In the end, the greatness of society and its political egalitarianism are peace and pride of its citizens.

Politicians should wear human expression in pursuing political ambition. Politics has become an investment where the investors are set to make profit at all cost. The investors are the so-called godfathers. In Nigeria, the character of one of its movie is titled, Like the Father, Like the Son. This is not an illusion. The political diagnoses of our political thermometers are imperative. Once in turning up the political engine of some politicians, I browsed through their profiles and found some infected files which cannot be easily diagnosed, the corrupt nature of these files is not responding to anti-virus, the AVG in my computer; I tried and tried to scan the engine, yet the brain is neither ready for scanning nor want to collapse. Therefore, I stopped while nothing is achieved. This is to say that some of our people are not easy to change. Do we need political scientists, magicians to scan our political engines in order to change?

The perception of godfatherism is similar to mentoring and sponsoring. The idea is championed on the trust that individual seize substantial ways to freely determine who is who to him/her and for what reasons and benefits. In fact, political family is the existence of politics in the world as there is freedom of political parties and politicians as the part of the society. The amusing difference sometimes is lack of fairness in politics.

Many politicians have awelad {boys} to prepare. This does not mean these godfathers are unjust. They wish to remain doing old things because they believe that change does not roll into the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. Where are Alier’s boys? And where are your boys, uncle? This is to inform you that every boy is your boy. By writing to inform than writing to riot, better make sure that God is watching your doings. It is better to be flexible. Be good to people, all people in your daily life.

For instance, the aweladi {my boys} in politics have fashioned our diversity in today’s politics. These godsons are the winners. Yesterday, their godfather gave them {car} Hummer. They are famous, always found at every corner in the town. They are going to the village today to talk with chiefs, pay some cash for water and deliver a promise from godfather to the community. They are also going to Wau town tomorrow for their weekend. Sometimes, it is imperative to unravel the ambiguity behind power of godfathers, its influencing strategies, bribery and forceful tactics.

In Mandela’s own words as I quoted, “if there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness”. However, when man is fashioned to political evil, should he returns in his lifetime after retirement and ask for forgiveness to those he wronged? Who are forgivers and political godfathers in South Sudan?  Let’s be one man, one nation for peace and prosperity.

Deng Mangok Ayuel lives in Aweil. He can be reached at: [email protected]