Is Africa in the Age of Begging?: Ghana's President Seeks Foreign Partnership

First it was President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria that begged President Obama of the United States to help develop Nigeria in order for Africa to develop. He said President Obama needs to develop Africa and he cannot develop Africa without developing Nigeria first. On the whole, it looks more like African leaders are displaying their ineptitude openly publicly.

No Chinese official ever begged foreigners to help develop China. The Asian Tigers; Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore grew of their own accord. Luis Inacio Lula da Silva led Brazil to the part of glory by having a good mastery of good governance and all seriousness to lead the people to a glorious era. Hugo Chavez stood like a rock having in mind the sole mission of making Venezuelans feel the benefits of their country being an oil producer.

Ghana’s President John Mahama on his part called on leaders of more developed nations to partner African leaders toward ensuring sustainable development of the continent. This is contained in Mahama’s address presented at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly. Mahama said that much of what was currently seen were gestures that connoted pity and sympathy instead of partnership for economic development.

"Often the western world has wrongly assumed that we in Africa do not know our worth, this is entirely wrong because Africans are aware of who they are. African leaders are aware that what the continent needs is not sympathy, it is partnership which will avail us the ability to stand on our own feet," he said. The Ghanaian president further said that the continent would achieve serious development given the right partnership.

"Africa is not in search of hand-outs, Africa is in search of opportunities, we have already shown that with time and the right opportunity, Africa can make it." Mahama said. Mahama stated that there was need to transform Africa’s economy by adding value to its primary export produce. "It is not good enough for Africa to export raw gold, cocoa, petroleum and other resources and end up importing product finished from its produce."

"Africa needs to add value to its natural resources by setting up industries that will add these values," he said. He said that such step would create more employment for the teeming youths and boost economic growth in the continent.

What Mahama and his counterpart from Nigeria nay Africa always fail to grab when making such atrocious speeches is that the only times the Western world ever came to full agreement and partnership on Africa were times they wanted to exploit and plunder Africa. The heinous, inhuman and inhumane Slave Trade coupled with the notorious colonial era and the continued entrenchment of imperialism. These leaders are talking more like they are out of ideas, almost totally helpless and hapless yet want to continue ruling.

Africans can only save Africa and determine the form of partnership they want not begging. No country ever begs and grows. Every developed nation on earth today took charge of their destinies. It is high time Africans started taking developmental issues seriously and stop killing themselves while the leaders siphon the funds meant to be injected into the economy and develop the land to the lands of the same people they are begging.

Serious countries will continue to look at the leaders begging and pleading for support as jokers and clowns because they know Africa is wealthy but badly and poorly managed.

Responses to Terrorism; The Nigerian and the Kenyan Experiences

Nigeria prides itself as the giant of Africa and as such ought to be leading the continent in various ways but apart from her population, she has a real quagmire in other capacities to project her power. Nigerians, maybe due to the long years of being shortchanged, have totally lost confidence in the government. Nigerians who naturally are hailed as being 'fearful' of death and highly compassionate now wake to witnessing deaths and killings with no remorseful hearts. The generality of the citizenry move each day as if nothing is happening or nothing has happened.

The lives of the people have been politicised. The government puts on the garment of ineptitude when the Boko Haram saga started because the President is scared of being labelled a tribal goon. The case is simple; the President does not want the people from the North of Nigeria to see him as being in favour of one side since members of his own community in the Niger-Delta who took to crimes to demand better deal in the oil-rich region were given amnesty and massively trained. The situation of Nigeria is so precarious that one begins to wonder how the so-called leaders and elders think. Nigeria loves being in a continuous state of denial.

If one mentions the wastage in the Niger-Delta, northerners will be quick to support and heap the blame on the President as well as the Tompolos and the Asaris. If one condemns Boko Haram, they will pounce on one, if not careful, eats one raw. If you want to see the full fury of them, attempt to clarify between Boko Haram and the militants of the Niger-Delta and one would be eaten raw. They will simply say all crimes are crimes and what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander; hence, Boko Haram members deserve amnesty like the militants. Crimes are crimes and that ends the similarity; which is only in nomenclature not in deeds. Militants did not bomb churches or how do the defendants of the inhumane people see their own crimes? How many mosques did militants bomb?

If militants ever bombed any mosque, will they ever accept such without imploding the country? How many children's throats did the militants slit? Students and most especially students who just finished their examinations were killed like rats yet you still compare and contrast militants to these inhuman ones? Those asking for amnesty for Boko Haram saw the opportunity to do so and did not bother to miss the point. They demanded for amnesty since the President refused to act accordingly. Before amnesty was arrived at for the Niger-Delta militants, force had been maximally employed and utilised to prove a point that the state is the state. Even when amnesty was finally worked out, President Umar Yar'Adua did not beg the militants.

He spoke like the President that he was; boldly and frankly. He even gave them an expiry date after which maximum force shall be employed and that time, nobody would blame the President again. Our new President apparently was too 'timid' to stamp his feet and stand his ground for the right things to be done. However, there are many too who are ready to frustrate the efforts of the President beginning from the political obfuscation that arose during the heydays of President Yar'Adua's sickness to the era of the 'doctrine of necessity' down to his subsequent passing away.

This might be a 'convenient' excuse not to act in 2010 but after the full four-year mandate was given to President Jonathan, he ought to have decided to be Presidential but apparently, he decided to go the El Rufai way and prove himself to be an 'accidental public servant' by estranging himself from the people through all sort of obnoxious policies from subsidy to MAULAG and 5000 naira note among others. He was not talking to the people at all rather promulgating policies that are so alien to the people. Uhuru Kenyatta responded like a President to the Watergate Shopping Mall attack. Before now, he had proved to be a man for the people. He appealed to parliamentarians to cut their spending in other to free funds so as to be able to develop the economy.

Under President Jonathan, the jumbo pay and mammoth spending of the National Assembly skyrocketed while civil servants' salaries are delayed all in the name of no money. Corps members are suffering and crying before they could be paid in relatively unknown terrains. President Kenyatta never had any double minds of being labelled anything. Kenya like Nigeria is having security challenges. It had its own post-election violence too in 2007 and in the new dispensation, the people rescued their land. This is why many have concluded that Nigeria is not yet a nation. Despite being a fervent adherent and believer in one Nigeria because it has far more advantages than separate kingdoms, I accept that submission.

Uhuru Kenyatta took up the challenge because Kenya is his own not the Kikuyu tribe. President Jonathan-led administration refused to caution Asari Dokubo and his numerous vociferous militant outbursts which would have given him a good locus standi as an impartial President that he ought to be. President Obasanjo arrested OPC leaders; Frederick Fasheun and Gani Adams and threw them inside jail despite being from the West with them. With that, how will he not have the authentic certificate to deal with others trying to create pandemonium in the land? If the administration can call Asari to order, it will be able to call Modu Sherrif, Ango Abdullahi and all those creating unnecessary tensions to order.

Rather than act, the administration rants each day that politicians should not heat up the polity when Asari is busy singing and dancing in trance to his own personal songs of war. Though Nigerians are relatively tired of the whole scenario and have started acting strangely with the daily loss of the pounds of humanity, it is high time we started learning. Kenyans came together to help each other, no section, group or religious adherents gathered to support the carnage publicly or tweet to blame it on the President. No one celebrated the death of the other group like we see in Nigeria. Nobody goes about shamelessly asking for amnesty or criticizing the use of force to quell the siege.

Nobody targeted the other accusing them of having common religious belief with the group which carried out the attack. The people of Kenya gathered and donated blood to victims. Kenyans, both abroad and within donated over $420,000 in just 48 hours for the care of the victims. Fast food outlets and canteens opened around the vicinity in numbers to feed the volunteers and armed forces. An attack that was meant to destabilize Kenya and divide Kenyans succeeded in uniting them.

No tribe or group of person seeks to undermine the government because the head of the government hails from another region of the country. The citizens of Nigeria should not allow themselves to be deceived by selfish politicians who employ tactics aimed to create tension and division in order to gain power that nobody but them and their families only reap the benefits. It is time Nigerians woke up seriously and not allow parochial sentiments jettison our future. These set of thieving politicians will always be friends for as long as they are on the same page in looting. How many of them have killed themselves because of religion and tribe? They only fight and kill when they cheat one another in the sharing of the looted funds. Why do we kill ourselves at the grassroots?

Issues

*President Kenyatta was highly Presidential. He spoke, reacted and ultimately acted like a President. He was never sentimental and had no tribal consciousness. He did not say he had al Shabaab members in his cabinet nor put the blame on political enemies. This is by far the most important.

*Raila Odinga; the foremost face of the opposition stood beside him and they both fought together. Raila even engaged in negotiation with some of the terrorists. After all, it is all about Kenya not Oromo tribe or Kikuyu. It is all about the Kenya he could later become its President. If it were to be the opposition in Nigeria, they would have been happy that the President lost his relatives. It is that bad in Nigeria.

*The people of Kenya are not notoriously religiously and 'tribally' dogmatic like many mannequins in Nigeria whose brains think of nothing else than read religious meanings centrally to every happenings and events. They jettisoned tribal affiliations because it is an attack on Kenya not the President or any tribe.

*Kenya's interior ministry, defence forces and police force understood the current trend. They quickly identified with the passion of the youths by becoming active on social media. They created hashtags stating 'One Kenya' and to show they are all together in this. No one ever dissuaded the trend by bringing in religious and tribal rants.

*Again, the most important factor in all these is that the President had earlier identified with the people by passionately appealing to Parliamentarians to reduce their jumbo pay in order to develop the economy. He also took the issue of security wholeheartedly. To crown it all, he acted Presidential during the attack and after it by appealing to Interpol to issue an arrest warrant on Samantha, the notorious British female terrorist believed to be part of the whole terror drama.

GOD bless the people of Nigeria
GOD bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
GOD bless Africa

I Will Conduct Credible Polls in 2015 ~President Jonathan to Obama

After throwing powerful jabs at those who continue to distract his administration with fake news and obnoxious conjectures by telling them to allow him concentrate on his job, President Jonathan again has emphasized on his main goal which is to transform Nigeria in all facets; politically, economically and diplomatically. The President resounded the position of Nigeria as the 'Big Brother of Africa' without which Africa may not really put its onus rightly.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier warned those bent on creating political pandemonium in the land to desist from doing so. He cleared one of such nefarious statuses Nigerians are quick to jump at by speaking through his media aid, Dr Reuben Abati to demystify the news making the round that he took 600 officials to New York as reported by Sahara Reporters. The whole Presidential team composed of just 30 officials. He warned the opposition and their attack 'voltrons' not to blow up the house they intend to occupy with dynamites.

President Goodluck Jonathan continues to reiterate the commitment of his administration to hold credible, free and fair elections in the country by 2015. He gave the assurance during his bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama in the Lyndon B. Johnson suite in the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on Monday. “I have conducted credible elections in 2011 and I am committed to do the same in 2015.”

Jonathan reminded the US President that as he continued to work towards a safe world, Nigeria, he said, should not be left out.  “For you to fix the world, you must fix Africa. For you to fix Africa, you must fix Nigeria.” He also called for a stronger global consensus and determination to end the scourge of terrorism as quickly as possible. President Jonathan said that unless the international community unite and deploy its enormous resources to eradicate terrorism, it would continue to be embarrassed by terrorist outrages such that occurred in Nairobi.

He expressed his appreciation of the support and assistance Nigeria had received from the U.S. in the fight against domestic terrorism. Jonathan said that Nigeria would welcome more bilateral collaboration to fight terrorism in the country. On his part, President Obama recalled his recent trip to Africa and since then he saw common interests in helping Nigeria improve its rural electrification, empowering young people through the Young African Leaders programme.

According to him, improving internal security is in a way consistent with human rights and making sure Nigerian elections in 2015 continue to improve the country’s democratic process. Obama said the attack at a Nairobi mall over the weekend “underscores” the level to which all countries "are connected” and the need to work together. “We stand with them against this terrible outrage that’s occurred, we will provide them with whatever law enforcement help that is necessary.”

“The United States will continue to work with the entire continent of Africa and around the world to make sure that we are dismantling these networks of destruction.” The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the National Security Adviser, Susan Rice, were also in attendance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan was accompanied to the meeting by the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U. S, Prof. Ade Adefuye, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo.

Kidnapping of Corps Members: Rivers to Withdraw From Funding Police, Governor Attacks Jonathan

Governor Chibuike Amaechi expressed dissatisfaction over the recent kidnapping of 3 corps members in the state when the state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps visited him to register his displeasure. The governor stated that the state is already planning to withdraw from funding the police till relevant actions are taken  to secure lives and properties.

The governor noted that the Commissioner of Police is no commissioner but a politician because he attends political party meetings actively. He said the CP lacks any concrete sense of duty and does not know the real mission of him being in the state. 

He told the state coordinator of NYSC to inform the IG who has authority over the police on how to protect corps members, especially in their lodges. He mentioned that he has no authority over him (the CP) because the police have been politicised although the constitution permits him. For security of lives and properties to be ensured in Rivers state, the CP has to be removed Amaechi revealed.

The brawl between the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi got a bit complicated with the swipe the governor took at the president. The governor said 'how can we say we have a brother from Bayelsa as the President and Rivers is insecure?' The governor said is it till when Rivers turns to Borno where corps members can no longer be posted before anything tangible will be done?

He said there was a case of  kidnapping of corp members among the last batch that left the state and now, another has just occurred. Some commentators said Amaechi is not comfortable with the present commissioner of police because he is unable to use him to attack opponents like the previous commissioner.

The rift between  the president and the governor became pronounced when Governor Amaechi who was deemed to have won the Nigeria Governors' Forum election was shortchanged. The election became characterised by allegations of corruption in a 35-elders cum first citizens of states' election. The Jonah Jang faction is backed by the presidency. Jonah Jang himself was a late entrant into the election.

£3,000 UK Visa Deposit: FG, Reps kick against new policy

By Vicoria Ojeme

ABUJA— The Federal Government, yesterday, vowed to defend the interests of Nigerians, following the introduction of a new visa policy by the British government. The policy requires Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom to produce a cash bond of N730,000 (3,000 pounds, $4,600 or 3,500 euros) before they enter the UK.

The Sunday Times newspaper had reported that visitors from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana whose nationals are deemed to pose a “high risk” of immigration abuse will be required to produce the bond which they will forfeit if they overstay in Britain after their visas have expired.

Reacting, yesterday, while rendering account of his stewardship at the Radio House in Abuja, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, said the Federal Government was yet to receive any official communication from the UK government.

“We have received no official communication from the UK government. When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever proposal they bring and know what to do.

“But I can assure all Nigerians that the Jonathan government will defend the interest of Nigerians by whatever means we can. So, when we get their proposal, we will study it and we will see how we can guide the ordinary Nigerians,” Ashiru said.

UK Visa bond unacceptable —House Committee

House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, has also condemned the new British visa policy, saying it is discriminatory and unacceptable. Chairman of the committee, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, in a statement issued in Abuja, said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is targeted at non-white Commonwealth”, she said.
Ukeje (PDP-Abia) said as a Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House of Representatives would take a critical look at the policy as it affects Nigerians and come up with a way forward.

According to her, “they should realise that it is not in the best interest of UK. We will, as a country, look at it vis-a- vis our citizens and come up with a decision. We agree totally with the UK Foreign Minister that the policy is totally unworkable and impractical.

It is contrary to the commitment made to our President by David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reason ahead of general election. We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency,” Ukeje advised.

The pilot scheme of the new visa policy is scheduled to commence in November. According to the Sunday Times, the controversial move by the UK home secretary, Theresa May, to introduce the Australian-style system reflects her determination to show that the Conservatives are serious about cutting immigration into the UK .

Ms May said: “This is the next step in making sure our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain .”

She added: “In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services.” The Home Office is targeting countries which have high volumes of visitor visa applications and what it deems to be relatively high levels of fraud and abuse.

2015, APC and PDP: Likely Continuation of Sectional Headache than National Cure

The stage is gradually being set for 2015 amid tribal fire and sectional storm among players that mattered most. The illumination of politics and politricks combined; all to cajole and coax some stakeholders including the voting public to either board the train of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) or come on board the ship of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The drumbeat towards the election year has been that of 'mild war' than politics.

There is no gainsaying the fact that PDP has led Nigeria over the years, spanning a period of 14 good and solid years, yet as at now the nation is more divided and still like a stagnant water with dissatisfaction from the citizens. Many seek the demise of the party because of the stagnancy in the polity or to put it better, forward retardation; because we are moving forward in years but going back in national aspirations, dreams and realities.

Well-meaning Nigerians are ready to support any opposition party that can oust the PDP on the proviso that it will forge the sense of oneness and positive advancement which is currently under disguised murdering mission. Despite the visibly naked quagmire, the opposition is somewhat or somehow trying to commit a faux pas in semblance with the moribund politics of the PDP.

The opposition has known today takes delight in condemning, castigating and insulting the snail-like President rather than cause national debates on our morass which had begun since 1960, roll out programmes and manifestoes for untoward discussion among the populace and start reaching out to disenchanted and disillusioned ones who are hell-bent on chaos and divisive missions.

Prominent figures of the opposition rather than stretch forth the hand of unity have assumed a notoriously precarious position, fanning the ember of tribalism and religious bigotry, almost at par with the regime that is becoming extremely directionless because of 2015. Muhammadu Buhari is almost a leading figure or maybe the most pronounced figure in the opposition with his 'untainted image' as his power base yet he remains the most nauseously controversial.

He is even not ready to learn that the nation is too divided and needs someone who can cause it to start thinking as one gradually than make it inebriated more on tribal-inclined speeches enclosed in religious dungeon. Muhammadu Buhari himself has also been associated with corrupt practices which are yet to be denied.

Whenever tweets are seen from El Rufai, they are mostly antagonising President Jonathan than discuss issues of national importance. One begins to wonder what Nigerians will be voting for in 2015? Antagonists of a personality? OR a political party who by now ought to have read the handwriting on the wall that we need radical discussions on unity. One expects them to start using the power of the media and social media positively to foster unity than sectionalism.

No matter how credible the candidate from APC is, it is most probable that Niger-Delta militants will not let it rest if he or she wins because of the ghost of Boko Haram. Nigeria needs those who will understand that the menace has gone beyond unemployment and breakdown of social facilities, the northern reactions to the Jonathan-led administration are creating a domino effect.

Nigeria needs no sectional statements and tribal-inclined speeches. The system is hot enough. Issues of national security is the business of all; either an opposition or in appurtenance with the regime. It is sacred; you do not politicise it. How can Buhari castigate the regime so much after the state of emergency which was long overdue was declared? Northern Elders Forum said he declared war on them. That is way too far.

If anyone has been to the northern part, he or she would have known how powerful these speeches are to those who are ready to do the violence. The almajiris and host of others. They respect the views of the elders and clerics and take them as certificate to act. The south-south elders too are not exempted. The 'our son' syndrome has blindfolded them on reality.

They find it hard to condemn Jonathan, even when his actions are despicable. I stand to be corrected, during Obasanjo's era, the people from the south, mostly the south-westerners were foremost in criticising him. The renowned lawyers and human rights activists, Femi Falana (SAN) and Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAM, SAN) were always at alert. Adams Oshiomole was not exempted. Olu Falae was there too.

How about Pastor Tunde Bakare? The fiery and fearless Man of God did wonderfully well. Tunde Bakare and his Save Nigeria Group were pertinently instrumental for the emergence of President Jonathan as President during the Yar'Adua debacle. Upon winning the election, the President suddenly forgot as a real ingrate would just the way he forgot Nigerians risked all to get him into office including the lives of corps members and gave subsidy removal as the new year's gift in 2012.

For a better Nigeria, the opposition will do well to start massive discussions on how to be a united entity first. We need to start seeing each other first as Nigerians. The youths are really disunited. They are the potential stakeholders who could make the cycle of sectional division continuous. Some Igbo youths stated that if Jonathan does not contest and get a second term in 2015, Nigeria is gone. This statement was the same as that of Dokubo.

The origin of this was the tripartite statements of Atiku Abubakar who said 'He who makes peaceful change impossible, makes violent change inevitable' all because of PDP zoning. Modu Sherrif also vowed that the regime of Jonathan will know no peace all because a northerner did not win. Buhari said 'If the election was not free and fair, monkeys and baboons will bath in blood'.

Though that of Buhari was and is understandable because you cannot continue to rig election and still stand to tell the people that you will rule for 50 years when it is glaring you are stealing their mandates, but the mere fact that he never accepted the election as free and fair spontaneously geared those who are always ready to do the violence to swiftly respond by displaying their cannibalistic acts.

Nigeria's problems are from 1960. Boko Haram is not an isolated event or occurrence; it had begun far back as the first crisis in 1956 which emanated after Enahoro and his colleagues sought independence and was opposed by Ahmadu Bello and his people. In other words, Boko Haram is the transfer of tribal and religious wars as always witnessed in Nigeria and which are always enshrouded in political agitations.

For as long as there are politicians who see their tribes as superiors and clerics who are always preaching hatred and are averse to peace, Boko Haram insurgency might not be decisively stamped out. Nigeria needs people who will bring the unity gradually not those who will advertise the already known downward spiral of the PDP and leave real, genuine and valid issues unattended to. No more beating around the bush.

Nigeria is a wonderful project worth salvaging. The break-up of Nigeria should not be anyone's interest. Nigeria is needed in Africa. It remains a veritable hope for the black race. 2015 is the year that could make or... Nigeria.

Convocation postponed in University of Lagos

          

The imbroglio between the Federal Government and the Senate of the University of Lagos took a dynamic turn with the recent memo in circulation among officials of the University that the Golden Jubilee Convocation Ceremonies slated for Thursday, Friday and Saturday; January 17th, 18th and 19th respectively will no longer be held due to the intransigence of the Jonathan-led administration. The administration reveals that unless the name is changed to MAULAG (Moshood Abiola University), there will be no signing of any convocation ceremony.