Seth Pecksniff in Charles Dickens’s novel Martin Chuzzlewit represents the worst of human characteristics. He is sanctimonious and obnoxious. He passes himself off as an asset to society, yet he is a liability. He pretends to be kind, but he is conniving and dishonest. He pretends to be self-sacrificing but exploits students he is ostensibly teaching the art and science of architecture.
He waxes lyrical about his designs and creations, but has never designed or built anything. He has no honour, no principles, no conscience. But many in society are fooled by his hypocrisy. We all know of scoundrels who pass themselves off as great moral assets to society. Africa’s political class – dirty, dishonourable and thieving – seems to draw its membership from the Pecksniffs of society.
