Yoruba Assassinations & Self-Deceptions Continue As President Obama Lands in Ghana

By Dr Spinoza | Published 10 July 2009

“Unresolved problems and feelings from the past,” they say, “don’t simply disappear”. As President Obama lands in Ghana, the Yoruba people continue to plot, to kill and to deceive themselves because they strongly believe that Yoruba democracy of Olusegun Obasanjo is better than democracy in Ghana or in any other world nation.

They feel that their Yoruba democracy deserves respect and honor from President Obama because deep down in their bones they believe that Olusegun Obasanjo and Lamidi Adedibu should be crowned the “best” statesmen from the African Continent.

Anything else you say about why these people are unhappy with President Obama is secondary to this. From Wole Soyinka to the dog catcher in Yoruba Land, these people slyly and self-deceptively think, talk, and live as if Obasanjo and Adedibu can never be matched in political acumen and achievements. This is the summary of their feelings and problems. Anything else is secondary and immaterial.

Their unresolved past feelings are as dangerous as their unresolved past problems. The only critical issue for me or for any honest Nigerian should be that their internal feelings and problems are their feelings and problems, not our collective feelings and problems. Or at least, their internal feelings and problems should not hold the entire nation hostage because they are responsible for their feelings and problems.

Consider the same thing this way: All other human beings or cultures always find a way to create the feelings and problems from which they run or which they deny, until they muster the courage to seek the solutions for the feelings and problems. Until these people feel safe enough, human enough, and grown up enough to deal with their internal issues and feelings and problems, they will continue to drag the rest of us down with them as if we share the responsibility for their internal feelings and problems. So long as we continue to dance around this, we will remain the laughing stock of the world – we will continue to retrogress until they drag us all down with them.

President Obama on Ghana 1

President Obama on Ghana 2

Ghanaian Lady who lived in USA (now in Ghana)

 

Rep Escapes Assassination Attempt -Abandons Residence
By Idowu Samuel
Nigerian-Tribun, 11 July 2009

A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dave Salako (a Yoruba man), is now counting on mother luck for escaping the claws of assasilants who reportedly stormed his Apo legislators’ residence to take his life in Abuja penultimate Friday.

The gang of suspected assailants, according to reports, stormed the residence of the legislator representing Ikenne Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun State at midnight, removed the ceiling of the building and gained entry into his bedroom, but met his absence.

Salako, unknown to them, had travelled out of Abuja early in the day, as he had left all his cars and aides in the house in a manner that gave an impression that he was around for the weekend.

One of the neighbours of the lawmaker in Apo told Saturday Tribune that the assassins left his bedroom without taking anything including his briefcase and GSM telephones which he left behind, thus suggesting that they came purposely to attack him.

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Petroleum Bill: FG Plots To Enslave Niger Delta - Amaechi
By Bolaji Ogundele
Nigerian-Tribun, 11 July 2009

THE new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) being considered by the National Assembly to regulate oil and gas operations in the country has been described as a fresh plot by the Federal Government to enslave the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The Rivers State governor, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who disclosed this on Thursday while delivering the 10th anniversary lecture in honour of a foremost journalist and founder of Port Harcourt-based Independent Monitor Newspaper, late Mr Evans Osi, said that the new bill was capable of fuelling further tension in the region.

Speaking on the topic, “Repositioning the Niger Delta through Good Governance, the Rivers State Example,” Amaechi said the region was being marginalised unjustly and called for a study on the bill and how it would affect the Niger Delta people.

“I have said it on many occasions that we are being marginalised.

“The new petroleum act is another form of enslavement for the Niger Delta people. Now they have sent another version to the National Assembly. This means they have no regard for insecurity in the Niger Delta region. Niger Delta is part of Nigeria and we deserve respect,” he said.

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Opposition parties write Obama on corruption in Nigeria
Nigerian-Tribun
11 July 2009

As the President of the United States, Barrack Obama, visits Ghana on Saturday, the opposition parties in the country under the auspices of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) have written to the president informing him that corruption was fast eating up the country while democracy in the country was in a tragic state.

In an eight-paragraph letter entitled “Corruption undermines democracy in Nigeria: Electoral reform and Halliburton case study,” signed by its national chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, the CNPP stated that “the tragedy in Nigeria is that both our oil industry and our electoral process are highly corrupted.”

It informed the US President that Nigerians were outraged that between 1994 and 2004, Halliburton officials, in an unholy alliance with top government officials, funnelled millions of dollars to top Nigerian government officials in what turned out to be monumental corruption, in return for multibillion dollar contracts to build Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Bonny.

The group said it was regrettable to note that as Nigeria moved towards the 2011 general election, the high hopes raised by President Umaru Yar’Adua during his inauguration to embark on genuine electoral reform were fading.

This, according to it, was consequent upon 360 degrees detour from President Yar’Adua who after convening an Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) with granite terms of reference, which was religiously followed, turned round to submit tepid and self-serving Electoral Constitution Bills which the group noted was at variance with the core ERC recommendations.

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Obama’s day in Accra
Editorial by Daily Independent
10 July 2009

For us as Africans, today represents a momentous day in history. The arrival in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, of an America president of African descent, in the person of Barack Obama, is a moment many could not have reasonably expected to see in their own lifetime. In many ways such an event would, only a decade ago, have appeared to fit more into the realm of fantasy.

In spite of its chequered and often unedifying history of race relations, much kudos should be given to the nature of the society and politics of the United States of America that merit can still triumph over all manner of social debilities. The continent of Africa where Obama’s late father hailed from has a lot to learn from this. Unfortunately, even in the present century there are still hosts of countries on the continent where merit has taken a back seat. In its place we have a stultifying amalgam of dynasties, tin gods, cronyism and professional political jobbers. All of this has gone hand in glove with crippling underdevelopment. As a result, in the overwhelming majority of cases the great expectations aroused at independence have been dashed.

For us in Nigeria, Obama’s visit to Ghana should be a cause for sober reflection. It is not out of place to ask, why Ghana? Why not its bigger much more endowed neigbour, the self-proclaimed ‘giant of Africa’? Though some commentators have, no doubt out of a sense of patriotic pride, questioned the special importance of an American president’s choice of a first country to visit in Africa south of the Sahara, there is no doubt as to its symbolic significance in global diplomacy. It is sad that Nigeria has simply blown the opportunity to show and lead the way, as it is well endowed to do. Unfortunately, discretion seldom comes naturally to the political leadership in Nigeria, as may be gauged by the embarrassing response of the chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jibril Aminu, to the Obama visit.

The respectable senator threw aside circumspection and sober reflection, preferring to play to the gallery. In his view, as reported, Obama passed over Nigeria and chose Ghana as his port of call because he was being influenced by a coterie of advisers who have misled him as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria. These faceless advisers must have great persuasive powers to have manoeuvred Obama to fly over America’s strategic interest in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and head for little Ghana. How pathetically self-serving! It is precisely this inability to face often unpalatable reality that has so far held down this country of amazing endowments.

President Obama is, to state the obvious, nobody’s fool. He did not pull punches as to why he chose Ghana. Answering the question directly, he put aside diplomatic niceties and went straight to the point: “Part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of elections in which power was transferred people,” he stated in an interview with the All African News website when asked why he had chosen to visit Ghana. Every forward-looking African should applaud the U.S. president for his candour. There is no point in flattering to deceive, and Obama’s sensible admonition should hopefully inspire a decisive turning-point.

The blunt truth is that Africa is not going to break out of the logjam of perennial under-achievement without instilling openness, transparency, good governance, the rule of law and democracy. The good people of Ghana have bucked a dismal trend and should be applauded for it. Holding elections in which an incumbent government graciously gives up power after an electoral set back cannot but warm the hearts of all men and women of colour. It gives the lie to the racist position that there is something in the culture of African societies which makes them impervious to operating a democratic polity.

In this view, it cannot be over-stressed that the Obama presidency represents a fantastic opportunity for the African continent, which should be seized with both arms. It is only reasonable, though, to expect this to come with a quid pro quo. Given our contemporary largely dismal record, Obama will be failing in his moral duty and betraying his unique responsibility if he does not insist on openness, transparency and democracy in African governments. He is certainly acutely aware that billions of dollars of aid money has simply gone down the drain as a result of a lack of the transparency which good governance and adherence to the rule of law help to guarantee. Africa today, more than ever, requires great technical and financial assistance to build up its physical and social infrastructure. Obama should look at creative new ways to trigger off a new partnership for development.

Above all, Africa needs to be availed of the opportunity to have more access to the markets of the developed world. This will have a catalytic effect on African economies and help to propel the continent forward. The United States under Obama should set the example and lead the way. This will go to consolidate the advance started under the Clinton presidency. Obama needs to use his clout, goodwill and political capital to propel the agenda of open access to markets to the next level. The continent should not be denied the same opportunity given to the countries of South Asia which they have used very sensibly to pull millions out of poverty.

We welcome President Obama to Africa. This valiant and inspiring man has made us all to feel so very proud to be Africans.

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President Barack Obama in Ghana: Matters Arising
By Fr Matthew Hassan Kukah
ThisDay, July 10, 2009

Since the news of President Barack Obama’s planned trip to Ghana en route from Russia became public, some Nigerians have been acting like a jilted wife on the matrimonial calendar in a polygamous household. With no hard evidence, some commentators have tried to put words in the mouth of the American President thereby creating the impression that President Obama is sending out a negative signal to Nigeria. The media has gone to town to second guess and come to the dubious conclusion that the visit is an indictment on Nigeria’s flawed elections. If elections were an issue for Obama, would he go out of his way to incur the wrath of his fellow countrymen by hugging or bowing to President Hugo Chavez or the King of Saudi Arabia as he did recently? While Chavez had amended the Constitution and secured an open ended tenure, Saudi Arabia’s citizens have neither seen a ballot box or ballot paper in their lives. The message is simple: It is the oil, stupid!

As a measure of the seriousness of those who hold these views, which other country has reacted in the rather garrulous manner that some Nigerians have reacted to a routine state visit such as this? Are the Kenyans who can lay claim to Mr. Obama sulking, whining and pinning in the way these Nigerians are doing that he did not come home first? They had bad elections and a near civil war, but are they wallowing in self pity? If President Obama had chosen to visit Nigeria, would Ghanaians have shown this narrow mindedness or jealousy in their interpretation of his motive? Is President Obama the world’s electoral Pope who is going around rewarding and punishing election defaulters?

Not surprising, our dear Nobel laureate has led the charge by offering to lead an Intifada against President Obama were he to visit Nigeria. What a show of cowardice! For over 10 years now, Intifada strategy of stone throwing has been abandoned. Why would Professor Wole Soyinka not opt for suicide bombing which has since replaced stone throwing? Would Professor Wangari Mathai (Kenya’s own Nobel laureate) make the same threats if President Obama offered to visit Kenya? I am persuaded that we could have conducted this debate in a more robust, informed and matured manner and not exhibit our characteristic tendencies for self flagellation and self doubt. It is a bit shameful that we have been drained of our patriotic instincts and we are our own worst enemies. Our lack of restraint has become too embarrassing even to those who hate us.

This visit is, in simple terms, in pursuit, defence and protection of the permanent interests of the United States of America which is the primary responsibility of any President. These interests, whether they are economic, geopolitical, strategic or even intangible, are varied and complex and only the US knows and defines them. America has shown that it will go to any length or overlook any international obligations or obstacles to achieve these interests. Therefore, beyond these shenanigans, we need to rise to the occasion and situate this visit in proper context. This is an African and not a Ghanaian visit. I am fully in support of the choice of Ghana. All the evidence suggests that Ghana deserves this visit. Let us list just a few pointers.

Ghana’s Elmina castle has been the unofficial cultural shrine for generations of African Americans in search of their identity and roots. Those African Americans who have found home and emotionally stood at the Gate-of-no-return where to see where their ancestors took off never to return to Africa would definitely find in Ghana a metaphor for a home coming for a President of African descent. Secondly, the Ghanaians have given us the Kente cloth which has now been appropriated as the symbol of our collective African identity. Thirdly, Ghana gave us Kwame Nkrumah. Whatever may have been his personal short comings, Nkrumah made Ghana the baptistery where our independence candles were lit across the continent. From our own Nnamdi Azikiwe to Robert Mugabe, freedom fighters across Africa used Ghana as their staging post for their anti-colonial revolutions. Ghana has produced a secular Pope in the person of Mr. Kofi Anan, the former United Nations Secretary General and Nobel Laureate for Peace. Today, perhaps next to Nelson Mandela, Mr. Anan has the highest moral capital deposit on the African continent. At home and abroad, Ghana knows that its interests are in the safest hands. He is a silent but effective campaigner for Ghana’s national interests within the international community. Finally, and to end this catalogue, Ghana has just discovered oil. It therefore makes sense that the US, with its gargantuan appetite for oil ensures that it is not caught napping.

Perhaps a more important question is, beyond the emotional and symbolic value, what difference will a Presidential visit make in the lives of ordinary people in the country? Three American Presidents have visited Nigeria as far as I can remember (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George Bush). The main drivers and beneficiaries of Presidential visits are businessmen and women who, under the shadow of the President, seek to cut the best business deals, concessions, and monopolies they can get for their businesses. For example, President Carter visited Nigeria during his Presidency but it was not until over 20 years of his leaving office that we have reaped the benefits of his tremendous work in fighting guinea worms around the world under the banner of his Jimmy Carter Foundation. When President Clinton visited Nigeria, the village of Ushafa within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was the cynosure of all eyes. Today, none of the promises made during that visit have not been realized by all sides. The good work that President Clinton has done for us in Nigeria through his Bill Clinton Foundation in the area of HIV/AIDS surpasses a 100 fold what his visit as President achieved. So, by themselves, Presidential visits are useful, but surely, they should not be the measure for a country’s greatness or lack of.

I am not downplaying the significance of this momentous event. However, I believe that this visit is for Africa and President Obama will not only speak to Ghanaians but merely use Ghana as a platform to address Africa by laying down where he wishes to take the US.

I believe that in this visit, President Obama will restate America’s commitment to seeking collaborators around the world in the search for global peace and an end to world terrorism. I expect that President Obama will politely but firmly speak directly to the leaders of Africa, calling for an end to corruption and the need for an equitable distribution and allocation of the continent’s resources. He will call for an end to violence and the need for Africans to hold their leaders accountable and responsible. These may be nice sound bites. The real challenge is that as he may realize, Africans have heard all this before. What they are yet to see is a clear signal from the US and the international community that they are truly committed to helping Africa. For, to do this, they must be ready to expose their multinational corporations and other corporate crooks (e.g. Halliburton), the sponsors of strife and violence in Africa in the course of the exploitation of mineral resources and the need to energise and support civil society groups.  I hope he will note the ubiquity of religion but appeal to the leaders to find a more muscular role for religion and to apply the fine principles of their faiths towards the attainment of the common good.

Whatever moral exhortations President Obama may make, African leaders must have the courage to admit and take full responsibility for the ruination of the continent. They must genuinely admit that effective collaboration entails their being held accountable to their international obligations. They must sign on to the inviolability of the democratic quest, the sanctity and dignity of the individuals, their rights to vote for or against their leaders. Young Africans who look up to President Obama must learn to imbibe hard work and shun violence, reject being conscripted into death squads in the name of religion and embrace the values of democracy.

•Kukah is the Vicar General, Archd-iocese of Kaduna