Government is not the giver of rights to the people. It is the people who are the source of the government’s legitimacy. Sadly, people at the grassroots in Africa do not believe that they are the source of the government’s legitimacy.

They are suffering from spiritual poverty, sustained by a psychological feeling of inferiority, that does not allow them to participate fully in the governance of Africa.

Similarly, those in government and leadership, in general, in Africa do not believe that the source of their legitimacy is the people or that they are answerable to the people of Africa. By “leaders in general,” I mean all of us:

• Extension workers
• Members of parliament
• Non-government (NGO) staff
• Anybody in a leadership position.

We govern with an attitude of superiority that encourages us to believe that we are doing the people at the grassroots a favour.