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it was common for powerful
church leaders to convert some
of the church funds to private
personal use, as a matter of illicit
entitlement. These holy people
sat in special places during the
church service. They were called
prebendaries, sitting in prebandal
stalls, usually behind the choir. The
benefice paid to them was called
a prebend. Hence the notion of
prebendalism as institutionalized
corruption.
In social science, the prebandalist
State understands clearly that
its primary objective is to bleed
government of as much money as it
possibly could do during its tenure.
To do this effectively, the State
must fill up all strategic positions
in public finance, procurement and
audit with the ‘right’ people.
These will be loyal people from
the same ethnic group, with a
smattering of loyal friends from
outside the common breed. The
leadership must also promote a
leadership philosophy that gives
it instant – even unsolicited –
support from a critical segment
of society deceiving itself
that it is a part of the eating
community.
Accordingly, the prebendalist
State takes on the face of a tribe,
a clan, a religious group, a race, or
even a family. Take the example of
Liberia under President William
Tolbert (1971 – 1980); David
Lamb has captured this snugly in
the volume titled The Africans.
Lamb recalls, “Tolbert’s brother,
Frank, was president pro temporare
of the Senate. His brother Stephen
was the minister of finance. His
sister Maria was the mayor of Bentol
City. His son A.B. was ambassador
at large. His daughter Wilhelmina
was the presidential physician. His
daughter Christine was the deputy
minister of education. His niece Tula
was the presidential dietician.
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