The Government We Need—and the Bed Turned Upside Down!

Mahjoub Fadl Badri
As soon as rumours begin circulating about an imminent government reshuffle, speculation multiplies and the praise and criticism directed at ministers intensify. People certainly have vested interests in keeping so-and-so in office or sending so-and-so packing. They deliberately stir up excitement over who will stay and who will leave their ministerial post—everyone has their price—without looking at the genuine interests of the citizen.
Yet the public interest may actually require some ministers to remain where they are, others to be removed, and still others to be appointed based on competence and integrity, without favouritism or political quotas. Nor should anyone’s patriotism be called into question unless they themselves provide grounds for doing so.
Holding ministerial office is a responsibility, not an honour—unless the ministers themselves regard it as an honour to serve the nation and its citizens. In this, they are no different from every other state employee, from the minister and director all the way down to the watchman. No one should have to prove his patriotism to anyone else.
All that is required is that their concern should be serving the country and its people, and that they devote their efforts to that purpose rather than enjoying the enormous privileges attached to office. I was particularly struck by the sight of a convoy accompanying one of the state governors, consisting of more than ten luxury vehicles—not even counting the escort vehicles—at a time when our country is going through circumstances such as these.
Come on, Your Excellency—is this really how it is?
Some of those desperately clinging to their ministerial chairs have tried every possible means of remaining in office, including seeking help from fortune-tellers and sorcerers whenever rumours of an impending reshuffle have appeared on the horizon!
I would not be surprised if a number of ministers remain in their posts if they are included in the proposed new line-up. What I find truly surprising, however, is all the commotion surrounding America’s preventing President Al-Burhan from entering its territory to attend the United Nations General Assembly, in violation of the host country’s laws.
America is used to doing this, and it has several precedents, yet the international organisation has taken no meaningful action against it. The United Nations, therefore, is left without value, vigour or influence except insofar as “Mama America” allows it.
Moreover, Al-Burhan has lost nothing more than the chance to address an auditorium empty in both appearance and substance. He should instead devote his time and energy to solving the economic crisis, having demonstrated remarkable competence in managing the Battle of Dignity.
When the ministerial reshuffle takes place—if it does—we will not resort to the joke attributed to a man from Sudan’s River Nile region whenever the same names are reappointed in a new formation:
“So what have they actually done? Nothing! They just took the same bed the child was lying on, turned it on its side, and called it a new arrangement!”
One scene in a film starring the Egyptian comedian Ismail Yassin shows this. He plays an unemployed man living in a rooftop room next to a chicken coop, unable even to afford a plate of ful.
One day, his friend arrives, delighted, and says:
“Congratulations, my friend! I hear the party is going to make you a minister!”
He purses his lips and replies:
“Oh, come on! Forget being a minister! I just want a steady job!”

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=18322