Ever since Somaliland re-claimed it’s in independence in 1991, some sectors of our society claims until this date that, this city belong to them even the reality is totally different as their no a particular tribe that can claim the ownership of any city or town in Somaliland reason being the entire territory which is estimated almost 37,600 km2 equivalent to 53,100 sq miles belong to all people of Somaliland on equal footing as property ownership is different than owing complete cities and towns. The past investment infrastructure in Berbera city like the port facility was gained and constructed in the name of ex-Somalia government which the Somaliland current president once upon time occupied the post of planning minister who influenced the Ex-Somali government for most of the projects built those days in Somaliland like the port facility or the cement factory and not the name of a tribe or group. Despite of this reality, at present, it is indignity that a particular clan from Somaliland all the time claims the ownership of that city like their houses a house or a cars. We should grow from this uncivilized behaviour reason being, it is immoral and divides us into tribes hostile to each other. It is unfortunately that after 23 years of independence, some portions of our society still failed growing from village or tribal politics and as result, this has influenced the creation a tribal loyalty and absences of true national identity. From the date Somaliland reclaimed and until today, quite frequently we notice tribal motivated slogans claiming the ownership of the this strategic port. The sea ports of the other countries in the world like Bombay, Karachi, Mombasa and even our neighbour flourishing in business, but regrettably our port Berbara failed to capture any investment even within the somalilanders let alone firm investment simply because the locals living in Berbera are not willing to permit any somalilander to investment Berbera. Unfortunately, tribalism was less affected during Siyad barre . In mid-seventies Berbera was metropolitan city lived by some elements of all Somali tribes and the tribalism slogan’s was rarely were noticed.
Tribalism is the deadly opponent of teamwork; it destroys careers and erodes the very foundation of successful society. The multiparty system that we have adapted years ago have has not revolutionized some elements of our society like those who claims the ownership of the capital city for a region of Somaliland (Berbera) Tribalism may be defined as the maintenance by a tribal society of its organization, ways, and autonomy in the face of change. A Tribe is positive when the complete allegiance of a collectively is geared toward the collective good nation building .Contrarily, tribalism is negative when generates to divide society who shares a common interest. The word democracy appears to be pleasant when it free from tribalism. There are individuals in Somaliland who are greed; they only get into politic because they believe that the quickest way to get rich and not to defend interest of all Somali-land people.
Human beings are used to living under laws and patterns that are dictated to us by society, but these elements lack the true characteristics of good citizen. To be a good citizen first you have to be a good person. By that I mean that you have to be full of values, principles, ethics, etc. Man lives in society. Citizen and citizenship are closely related to the state. The success of a state depends on good citizens. So it is indispensable for all to have knowledge about citizenship. It is a natural instinct of man to live together with others as a social being. He forms the society by the demand of nature and necessity. And the man of society form different types of institutions for special purposes. The state is a special type of institution. Among all the institutions of the society the most important organization is the state. Good citizens should always try to make a team-minded decision during any situation. Knowing what is right and wrong and understanding the consequences of a decision are important aspects of being a good citizen. Obeying laws and having respect for not only individuals in the community, but for the community itself, are other traits of a good citizen. There is a particular benchmark procedure to every purpose of deeds. For example in the event that learners proceeds for question paper on examination, the standard procedure is that, those who scores the top grades be granted the first prices or gifts and those who stood last be encouraged to follow suit to those who stood the top grades. Similarly there is modus operandi or approach to recognize the sincere nationalist or citizen and that is contributing constructive responsibility with regards the national development.
There are many views as to what good citizenship but it is generally labelled as those how performs a role to become a useful member of society. This involves duties and possibilities that may be expressed through laws and regulations, or implied through the recognition of right and wrong. Citizenship, in its general sense, is being part of a community, with the person acquiring the privileges and responsibilities of such citizenship. Good citizenship lies mostly in the recognition that members of his/her community and must work together to improve their lives and enhance their relationship with one another and not divides them into groups hostile to each other. we should recognize the importance of knowing and understanding what good citizenship requires and have created citizenship education programs. Education promotes good judgment, thus it is considered an essential factor for good citizenship. A good citizen is a necessary part of a progressive of his country. a good citizen should not violate the rights of other citizens as covered by the common convention theory. The government is established to manage interaction among citizens, define an individual’s rights, enforce these rights, and make sure that law and order be enforced without bowing down the pressure inserted by a group in the name of tribe or sub-clan, as there tribe or a person above the law. The tribal festivals which quite frequently we observe here and there should not be tolerated.
The government should take strong measures against those who claims the ownership of our cities and towns, as they are about to start the act of disturbance against the government to form a tribal organization that will establish a forces against the government in an effort to weaken the government and therefore, we should not be permitted to exercise their tribal ceremonies in Somali-land, as this will influences further tribal institutions which are the signs of destabilizing Somali-land. Had this will permitted eventually, this will lead total law and order deterioration. Law is made to maintain good society and order society. Anyone respect each other and do everything under the law, no one can do everything what they want. Without law, the country will become like the past, everything lose the social contract, and chaos everywhere we don’t want the power hold in one hand of tribe or group of people who did have legitimate authority . Law is a good work and practical definition should be that law is a body of rules, whether formally enacted or customary, which a state or community recognized as binding on its members or subject. It may also be said that law is a body of rules which are enforceable in a court of law. The legal system supplies an orderly means for the settlement of disputes in the state. Law is the means by which the disobedience or violence which underpins the power of the state is sublimated into recognition of the legitimacy of the state’s authority. The main purpose of law is to maintain ‘law and order’ in the country and to see the peace shall prevail in the country. It has to perform ‘police functions. Law is, generally, a system of rules which are enforced through social institution to govern behaviour. Laws can be made by legislatures through legislation the executive through decree and regulation or judges through binding precedent.
True citizens do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws. Good men must not obey the laws too much. We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the people precept that each individual or group are accountable for their actions. No man is above the law and no man is below and obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favour. . Truly we would not build towers, beautiful hotels, houses, shopping complexes and other commercial centres had there is no law and order in Somaliland, as the law is the device to serve society. Ignorance of the law excuses no man, no group or no tribe, but are obliged all of us to observe. There are other many characteristics of good citizenship, but the most basic is the moral duty to recognize the rights of others and take care not to infringe upon them. Another important characteristic is the ability to listen to the views of others, because from these views may spring solutions to problems deliberated upon by the community. A good citizen is also willing to adapt to new situations, as well as make quick decisions in matters that need immediate attention. In conclusion, a good citizen knows and obeys the laws of the land, for he or she acknowledges that laws are promulgated with his or her welfare in mind. As information to the readers of this article, Bebera is away from the coast of Yemen by 140 nautical miles which equal to of 259 kilometres in normal in ground distances. One nautical mile equals as per international agreement equivalent to 1,852 meters exactly (about 6,076 feet). Last, but not the lease, no group of people or a particular tribe have the right to claim any piece or parcel of Somaliland territory.
With regard to investment Privatization suggested to Berbera port, it is true that all agreed that private run business is much better than state monopoly business reason being the private business enterprises more effective and produce profits that state controlled business. Privatization has been a key part of forms in both developed and developing economies and the aim is to achieve higher microeconomic efficiency and foster economic growth, as well as reduce public sector spending which many times not on viable decisions and to eliminate state bureaucratic interferences which reduces efficiency profit and production. Microeconomic theory tells us the state inefficiencies due to public ownership, given that managers of state-owned enterprises pursue objectives that differ from those of private firms (political view) and face less monitoring (management view). Empirical evidence shows a robust corroboration of theoretical implications: privatization increases profitability and efficiency in both competitive and monopolistic sectors. Full privatization has a greater impact than partial privatization and monopolistic sectors show an increase in profitability that is above the component explained by increases in productivity, which reflects their market power.
China is good example of the rise for the credit to private enterprise not state control. The reality is that China’s rapid ascent is the result of the expanding role of the market and the rise of private businesses. Such companies now account for more than two-thirds of output, up from nothing when reform began in 1978, in an economy that has expanded 25 times in real terms. They account for almost all jobs growth in the same period and are leading contributors to export growth. China at present the second largest economy of the world after USA and this incredible achievement has been attained as a result of mixed economy system based on private business enterprises. Had hired our port to one of multi-billion companies, our port will be expanded to cater the largest ships of the world which will influences large business to our country and transit shipment shipments via our port to other destinations like Ethiopia with a population close to 100 million population. Had we enlarge our port facility, Then we will secure a lion share for the above large population, as Somaliland shares with Ethiopia a large border estimated hundreds of kilometres and therefore hiring our port works to our advantage. Privations in India also has made a significant strides and the country’s export and import has flourished national economy growth like china and India is the third purchasing power in the world , as the country had that has a territorial integrity which means the principle under the international law nationhood or statehood. The government should restore its image, which is not respected by big a portion of dwellers.
Ismail Lugweyne.
