Protected against populism?

Sir, – Christopher McMahon (Letters, August 15th) opines that in Africa “leaders attain power not by promising to further the national interest but by promising the distribution of resources to their followers and their ethnic base.”

I wipe the perspiration from my brow and give thanks that we were so fortunate on this island to be governed for so long by Fianna Fáil and the unionists. Neither would ever have dreamt of doing that! – Yours, etc,

M HICKEY,

Tullamore, Offaly.