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27.04.2012 Feature Article

WHEN THUMBARMISM IS LOST IN AFRICAN POLITICS………….

WHEN THUMBARMISM IS LOST IN AFRICAN POLITICS.
27.04.2012 LISTEN

The term, thumbarmism has been created by Jonah Kolimba, the writer of this article, to mean a political system of overthrowing a government in a legal season with unified thumbs of legible citizens in favour of a common desirable candidate. I call a legible voter as a thumbarmer. The power of a thumbarmer in politics is his or her thumb. In this system, the best and common weapon use is the thumbs of legible citizens and not guns and bombs. . However, when this system is not correctly implemented by the authorities then, the legal backings of the system get broken hence political wars. In order to promote THUMBARMISM in Africa politics then we need to respect these conditions:

1. Avoid cheating
Cheating in general is not a good habit for we Africans. Let's avoid it. Multiple registrations and hijacking and running away with ballot boxes is bad and may give us unsatisfied results that may bring confusions hence war. Your strength as a macho man should not be geared to such immoral behaviour but should help you work for your country to develop it.

2. Have trust in the Electoral Commissions
The authority that oversees the conduction of elections should always be sincere to all political parties so that they will have trust in them during and after elections. They should always not be money conscious. We as thumbarmers should be ready to accept the results of our electoral commissions as final and genuine.

3. Respect the constitution of our states
The laws of our states should be the interest of majority and not just a small group of individuals. We as good citizens should respect the laws as such and call for amendment when necessary and the amendment should be the interest of majority. This can help the laws work for our own development.

4. Call for a runoff election when there is no winner. Lets all agree in a legal process to go for runoff when there is no winner. Don't care who leads the votes but follow the law and go for runoff.

5. Avoid using abusive languages on your opponents etc Do not use words or expressions that may make one annoy during election campaigns. I mean avoid insults and false allegations.

Why Africa Needs Thumbarmism System?

1. Africa is far behind development
Most African countries are still not developed and therefore need to channel the available resources into nation building and not into war that will destroy the few institutions that are under constructions. During war, both children and women are mostly killed, making the future too dark to our focus. Great men and women also lost their lives and therefore making it difficult to catch up with other continents. Look at Kenya, Liberia, Cote D `voire and Libya as examples of African War- suffered countries and just imagine a lot that got destroyed during their power struggles. War is not good for Africa especially Ghana, our motherland. Many African War- suffered countries take Ghana as a peaceful place for Refugees to rest and if we also go for war where shall we go to seek refuge?

2. Africa is made up of independent states
Our fight to chase away the colonial masters in the olden days was a good fight but the modern fight against our own brothers and sisters is a sinful fight and should not be encouraged in Africa. Now the colonial masters are gone leaving our freedom for us but why are we still slaves? Let us be more united and build Africa. Why do we have AFRICA UNION, ECOWAS and other African societies?

Let us know that no foreigner can be a president of any African state again. Why we are angry when our own brother or sister wants to lead us build our nation? Jealousy can not build us but will kill us.

3. Heavy weapons are not manufactured in most African countries
We don't manufacture atomic bombs and heavy weapons in most African states, why are we so dear to war in Africa. When a knife incidentally cut you how do you feel? Compare this little pain with the pains of a bullet in your muscles. Compare a blood drop of a knife with blood pouring in a war. Compare a family member's death with a massive death in a war. Compare the lost of properties when a house burns with the lost of properties of houses when they are burnt in a war. If we know how painful and deadly a war is, we won't just open our mouths and say lets go for war. Just imagine how we feel when a vehicle has an accident without a death record!

Brother, Choose peace, and not War in AFRICA.

4. Most Africans are so religious
Most of us in Africa claim to be true worshipers of God; we are either Christians or Moslems. Islamic stands for peace; why do we fight? We are true followers of CHRISTS and Christ said if someone slaps you; give to him the other cheek; why then do we fight?

Let us worship God practically and join hands to seek peace in prays for Africa. Let's allow our constitutions to work in Africa and avoid one -man made `laws that individuals make to favour him or her……………………

JONAH KOLIMBA
TATALE / SANGULI
NORTHERN REGION, GHANA
WEST AFRICA

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