Political analyst and author of ‘The Umpire’s New Clothes’, Adekunle Adewumi, is worried about the impact of corruption on Nigerians: ‘When discussing corruption, there is always a lot of focus on politicians, but I think what’s more concerning is the impact corruption has had on our value system. There’s a ticking time bomb in the form of an obscenely high number of young people with no formal education and questionable values.’
First Draft is our interview column, featuring authors and other prominent figures on books, reading, and writing.
Our questions are italicized.
What books or kinds of books did you read growing up?
Growing up, I had a lot of Enid Blyton’s books lying around for reasons I can’t remember, and I read everything I could get my hands on. I was obsessed with the Malory Towers and Famous Five series, which I believe shaped my expectations for secondary school because I knew kids would be mean. For my tenth birthday, I was given a complete collection of William Shakespeare’s works. I read a few before giving up.
I also enjoyed reading books by Nigerian authors; the first one I recall reading was a play called The Trial of Jimmy Johnson by Sly Edaghese. I was introduced to a lot of Nigerian literature in secondary school, including Mother’s Choice by Agbo Areo, Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta, The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, and The Bottled Leopard by Chukwuemeka Ike. It’s interesting how some of these books taught me life lessons that I still use today.
If your life so far was a series of texts, which text (fiction or non-fiction) represents you at this moment?
I recently relocated from Nigeria and can identify with articles written about migration. A friend recently sent me Julie Beck’s ‘Disposable Friendships in a Mobile World’, which made me reflect on how I have navigated friendships as someone who has few roots in any location.
There are also limitations that my current immigration status and Nigerian passport routinely throw up, and Deepti Kapoor best captures these issues in my ‘My Indian Passport Is a Bitch’. These are old articles, but they best capture my current experiences.
What’s the last thing you read and disagreed with?
An article by Moses Ochonu titled ‘Liberal Democracy Has Failed in Nigeria’. He argues that democracy in Nigeria has been a costly experiment and espoused the need to craft something new, indigenous, and legitimate to replace it. I disagree because the author sees liberal democracy through the prism of the output of governance rather than necessarily via the development of the electoral process.
There is little doubt that Nigeria’s electoral system is getting better, and as public trust grows, elections will more accurately represent the wishes of voters. Again, no system of governance can ensure success, but liberal democracy has endured despite its flaws for a reason.
What’s the last thing you read that changed your mind about something?
Nothing immediately springs to mind, but I’ve recently become interested in the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, and there are a number of intriguing pieces about this, including an interview with futurist, Amy Webb, which claims that AI is a threat to democracy. It’s interesting to see that artificial intelligence, which has been hailed as a potential antidote to misinformation, is also a significant contributor to its quick spread.
I was introduced to a lot of Nigerian literature in secondary school, including Mother’s Choice by Agbo Areo, Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta, The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, and The Bottled Leopard by Chukwuemeka Ike.
What is your writing process: edit as you write or draft first, then edit?
I write first, then edit. I’ve discovered that getting all of my ideas about a piece out and then fine tuning it, so it reads in a structured manner, works best for me.
What was your process for writing ‘The Umpire’s New Clothes’?
A little backstory—I had always wanted to write about the new electoral act when it was passed a few months ago, especially as I had worked on reform advocacy in 2018. However, with my experience in policy drafting, I realized that writing about the act before it was implemented might have been too hurried, so this idea was put on hold until there was a test case in Osun and Ekiti. I’ve had the introduction to this piece since 2019, when I realized that the absurdity of the situation I highlighted meant that the previous electoral act had outlived its usefulness.
A key component of the first draft of this piece was researching and documenting the evolution of electoral management bodies or ‘EMBs’ from 1960 to the present. This research made me understand how helpless EMBs can be in some cases, with so much pressure to deliver and limited resources, which changed the tone of the piece.
For the second draft, I learned it was also important to speak with observers who had seen how INEC’s new innovations were implemented in real time, and this formed a significant part of the conclusion.
What do you think is missing or under-discussed in current conversations about Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election?
There is no rigorous polling or discussion about how Nigerians are deciding who to vote for. This is the longest pre-election cycle in Nigerian history, with voters well aware of the candidates months ahead. Most discussions assume that people have already decided who they will vote for. We’re seeing a new wave with a candidate outside the two major parties, but there’s no deep insight into what’s fuelling his support.
Which three books would you recommend to anyone trying to understand Nigeria today and why?
Fighting Corruption is Dangerous by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is essential reading for anyone interested in entering public service or contributing to policy making in Nigeria. It demonstrates how well-intentioned ideas can be derailed due to personal or political agendas.
Every Max Siollun book should be on this list, but if I had to choose one, it would be Soldier of Fortune: A History of Nigeria Between 1983-1993, because it provides a rich historical review of the military era as well as a play by play of how Nigeria got into the situation it is currently facing. The most interesting part of the book is that certain chapters could easily mirror challenges that Nigeria is currently facing in 2022.
Power, Politics and Death by Olusegun Adeniyi is also a good read; it provides a good context for the intrigues that take place in the presidency, which I consider to be a very opaque institution.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the impact of corruption on Nigeria’s development?
When discussing corruption, there is always a lot of focus on politicians, but I think what’s more concerning is the impact corruption has had on our value system. There’s a ticking time bomb in the form of an obscenely high number of young people with no formal education and questionable values.
When discussing corruption, there is always a lot of focus on politicians, but I think what’s more concerning is the impact corruption has had on our value system.
What significant policy change do you think would benefit Nigeria and why?
A significant policy change for Nigeria would be the promotion of local government autonomy and the devolution of more powers to local governments. There is a general consensus that Nigeria will benefit from a decentralized government and that the lop-sidedness of federal powers is detrimental to the country.
Most discussions about devolution of powers focus on moving items from the executive list to the concurrent list, but governance should be as close to the people as possible. There is no reason, for example, for a federal fire service to make decisions for the Afikpo North local government area in Ebonyi state.
The local government autonomy bill was one of the most recent constitutional amendments passed, but it appears that state legislatures are attempting to delay its passage.
As a political analyst, what’s something you wish people paid more attention to?
More people paying attention to the constitutional review process would be beneficial. The fact that the constitutional review is time-consuming is both a blessing and a curse, but the impact of these reforms is always visible in both the short and long term.
More often than not, people or groups with vested interests are usually left to follow up on bills or reform agendas they are concerned with, leaving other important reform items pending. So, for example, you have a bill passed by the National Assembly that is in danger of being killed because there is no visibility or push to ensure that the required number of state assemblies also pass their versions of the bill so that it becomes law.
What is the most meaningful piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Probably the same advice that thousands of other writers have heard, which is just put pen to paper and write a first draft. It helps because a lot of the time you have an idea and it’s difficult to get all the moving parts in your head, but it starts to come together as you write.
Who’s an author you wish you had discovered earlier?
I was recently introduced to Ebenezer Obadare’s books and articles on Pentecostalism in Nigeria, and I find them fascinating. In his book Pentecostal Republic, he provides insightful commentary on the significant influence that popular Pentecostal forms of Christianity have had on Nigerian politics since 1999. His writing becomes even more relevant when you consider that a major discussion point for the 2023 election is ensuring religious and ethnic balance on the major political parties’ presidential ticket.
Fighting Corruption is Dangerous by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is essential reading for anyone interested in entering public service or contributing to policy making in Nigeria. It demonstrates how well-intentioned ideas can be derailed due to personal or political agendas.
Who are the authors you’re most excited about today (and why?)
I’m looking forward to reading Demola Olarewaju’s work. Demola has a deep understanding and appreciation for Nigerian politics, and his historical analysis, whether through Twitter threads or written articles, usually adds new context to historical events. Despite the fact that he readily admits his views may be tainted by political bias, I eagerly await his debut work.
I particularly enjoy reading Afolabi Adekaiyaoja’s profile pieces because I think they are insightful and objective, providing previously unseen perspectives on prominent Nigerian political players.
What is your favourite topic to write or read about these days?
I’m presently interested in how previous events in Nigerian politics can provide indicators that predict future occurrences so my favourite topics to read and write about these days are books or articles on Nigeria’s political history. I’m currently reading Nigeria Returns to Civilian Rule by Okion Ojigbo, Shehu Shagari’s principal secretary, which provides an overview of the 1979 presidential election.
I’m also reading Governance and Politics in Post-Military Nigeria, edited by Said Adejumobi, which is a collection of articles assessing democracy in Nigeria following Obasanjo’s presidency.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a mini project to better understand voting preferences in the upcoming presidential election. I am also working on a piece that explores whether there are any parallels between the presidential elections of 1979 and the upcoming 2023 elections.
I find that particular election noteworthy since it featured regional heavyweights on the ballot with similar campaign rhetoric that resonates today. I also find it intriguing that religious imbalance, with some parties fielding a ‘Christian-Christian’ ticket, was not always a major political issue, and I’d like to investigate what changed.
A significant policy change for Nigeria would be the promotion of local government autonomy and the devolution of more powers to local governments. Governance should be as close to the people as possible.
Question from Aisha Salaudeen: What’s an experience where you learned that language had power?
Language plays an important role in shaping political thoughts, actions, and opinions in Nigeria. A simple contrast can be seen in previous Nigerian leaders’ statements and their impact. Before the presidential election in 2012, then-candidate Buhari stated that if the election was rigged, ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’
Jonathan, on the other hand, stated that his ambition was not worth the blood of anyone. Buhari was also very clear about how he intended to govern, with different treatment meted out to regions who gave him 97 per cent of votes and those who gave him five per cent votes. President Buhari’s statements have significantly influenced how people interact with or criticize his administration.
We are at a critical moment in Nigeria’s development, and I sincerely hope that the next president is careful with their words because that alone has the power to unite a nation that is already bitterly divided.
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