SOUR GRAPPING
I
read an intriguing piece meticulously written by Mr. Martin David Aliker, a
former Gulu Mayoral Candidate. The article titled, “Acholi Elite Losing Identity with Voters,” was published in the Acholi Times on March 11, 2016. The
piece made a sobering recollection for many of us who have been critical of the
Elite and Elitism brands in Uganda as a whole. It also raised some fundamental
question of whether it is easy to generalize Mr. Aliker’s personal narratives
from an election gone berserk.
To
start with, it is not in my place to counter-argue the personal experiences and
perceptions of Mr. Aliker, given that his bravery and tenacity embroiled him in
the politics of elite and elitism in a post conflict Acholi where literacy is
low and poverty immense. If you have visited these places, there are two
possible decisions one could make when seeking elective office; One, and most
obvious, is to intellectualize and conceptualize the post conflict Acholi
situation – giving it a good diagnosis, analysis and presenting a plausible
campaign proposal. This would lead to articulations that reflect, and resonates
with the vast needs of this region.
The
second option is to project one’s self as elite and speak in tongues to one’s
own detriment. This, to me, is an oxymoron – a political suicide of sorts. One of the few experiences I have amassed in
the many years of participating in Uganda’s politics is that there is no elite –
however well educate, in whatever Ivy League institutions of the western
education – who is detached from the appendages of peasantry. Mr. Aliker is not an exception.
Therefore, to cut a tooth as an elite, and to run an election on the account of
being elite, only advances the alienation from the mainstream and delivers the
obvious –rejection, failures.
Already
elitism in Uganda endures a very narrow proclivity in a society where 80% of
the populations are rural based peasants intricately webbed with the 20% urban “elite”.
Further, humility is equitable to civility, and yet people who are elite and
well educated are paradoxically complex and humble from their public
presentation. In fact, their simplicity and yet complex nature may be
attributed to the alienation they endure with the majority peasants.
This
may partially explain why, at the local arena, Dr. Olara is a highly respected
brand and yet can hardly command the masses in an election, when compared to Hon.
Norbert Mao. While abroad, Dr Olara is a touring figure, despite the
contradiction of his natural size. Dr. Olara’s situation is explainable. He
lived abroad way too long and he is viewed as too sophisticated. Few people
know how to relate or socialize with Dr. Olara as a matter of fact.
That
example and synthesis may not be satisfactory enough in settling this lifelong
paradox. However, it at least points to a direction. It sets a ground for a
null hypothesis, or some development of some theory that in the end, would
allow us to critically examine Mr. Aliker’s assertions for validity on its own
merit. From the onset, and as it is presented, it is not plausible and intelligible
enough. An election where only Mr. Aliker ran a campaign as “Elite”, or claimed
to be the “voice of elite”, does not surely represent whether his fate is
definitive, and therefore generalizable of the fate Acholi Elite before
electorates.
In
addition, to state that Acholi elite are losing identity with the voters, one
needs to examine two variables - elite and identity. In Mr. Aliker’s case, his “elite” are western
educated. We are not sure what “Western Educated” means because the formal
education of Uganda as a whole is colonial structure transmitting western
education. Therefore, anyone who qualifies to run for elective politics in
Uganda is somehow, western educated. One is therefore left puzzled whether by
Western Education, Mr. Aliker is referring to his recent personal graduate education
in the USA. We need to get clarity on this matter. On the second variable, “identity”,
Mr. Aliker does not expound on what this identity is or its roots and manifestations.
Is there a distinct identity attributable to western educated elite in Gulu or
in Acholi, and what is that identity? Unless we unpack what this “elite
identity” is, one needs to read this article with a lot of prudence before
accepting the grand generalization.
In
traversing the terrain of local elections in Uganda, one learns to respect the
voters. No matter where one is educated, the voter is the start and end of
authority. Further, the locals conceptualize local government elections as
their election. Educated people are elected to go mess up Kampala. Here,
educated and qualified people are technocrats, not expected to meddle in their
politics. The language one uses in elections allows one to win an election, or fail
outright. Elections come with a lot of other drama. Money is now the mainstay
and critical in Ugandan politics. From the onset, it appears that Mr. Aliker
was outspent financially and probably outsmarted by peasantry ideology.
It
is unfair to consider Mr. Aliker’s sobering recollection as a mere sour grapping
for a loss not anticipated. It is a lesson learnt the hard way for which we
should pay keen attention. Surely, setting a campaign platform that is
divisive, setting elite against peasants, is petty and nothing short of
suicide.
Mr.
Aliker, perhaps, a little bit more explanation and analysis may be required
before we should believe that elite are losing identity with Acholi voters.
Perhaps, you have lost your identity with the Gulu voters in despising them,
setting your USA - based education as the reason for your electability?
END.
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