One of Africa’s greatest figures, Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah, coined the term ‘neo-colonialism’ to encompass the yoke
of expectational burdens imposed on developing countries by elements
from advanced countries or former colonialists. Neo-colonialism is the
idea that, even though the actual occupation and overt control of a
country may have ended, some economic and political fingers of
imperialism still seek to influence life in what is derogatively tagged
the Third World. Elements of this continue to manifest in Nigeria’s
engagement with the international community despite the lip service
being paid the supremacy of the sovereign status of Africa’s largest
economy and the biggest gathering of black people in the world.
Those who have followed this trend of events since most nations in the continent regained their freedom from colonialist and started a process of self-rediscovery readily argue that the journey to full economic, political and cultural independence would not, by any means, be without challenges. Of course, the greatest threat to this vision is the negative effect of neo-colonialism—a situation in which those who have refused to let go of the stranglehold of the past still believe that everything must be measured from a prism set by the West.
It is, therefore, not surprising that while much of America and people in other parts of the world continue to stand in solidarity with Nigeria, especially in the battle against a devious sect of terrorists called Boko Haram, Senator John McCain, “some guy” from Arizona who made a failed bid during the 2008 United States presidential election tends towards being one of such odious fingers. In an interview with the Daily Beast newspaper, McCain rightfully spoke of supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorists but he went overboard by advocating arbitrary raids on Boko Haram without regard for Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty.
Truly, McCain inexplicably discountenanced our nation’s pains to reveal his utter contempt for Nigeria, America’s largest trading partner in Africa and Nigeria’s President whom he described as ‘‘some guy called Goodluck Jonathan’’.
Those who have followed this trend of events since most nations in the continent regained their freedom from colonialist and started a process of self-rediscovery readily argue that the journey to full economic, political and cultural independence would not, by any means, be without challenges. Of course, the greatest threat to this vision is the negative effect of neo-colonialism—a situation in which those who have refused to let go of the stranglehold of the past still believe that everything must be measured from a prism set by the West.
It is, therefore, not surprising that while much of America and people in other parts of the world continue to stand in solidarity with Nigeria, especially in the battle against a devious sect of terrorists called Boko Haram, Senator John McCain, “some guy” from Arizona who made a failed bid during the 2008 United States presidential election tends towards being one of such odious fingers. In an interview with the Daily Beast newspaper, McCain rightfully spoke of supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorists but he went overboard by advocating arbitrary raids on Boko Haram without regard for Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty.
Truly, McCain inexplicably discountenanced our nation’s pains to reveal his utter contempt for Nigeria, America’s largest trading partner in Africa and Nigeria’s President whom he described as ‘‘some guy called Goodluck Jonathan’’.
Former United States Secretary of State,
Senator, and First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton is
another such finger. An American-owned website,
http://rare.us/story/6-inconvenient-truths-about-hillary-clinton/
unequivocally presents an unflattering picture of Hillary’s ill-chosen
controversies, starting from being fired as a 27 year-old lawyer, over
lying and unethical behaviour. Her lie about being shot at by a Bosnian
sniper during a Balkan visit in 1996 turned out to be a global blunder
as CBS News’ Investigative Reporter, Sharyl Attkisson, uncovered the
farce in the story.
At present, she is occupied with her presidential aspirations as well as allegations of lies and cover-up over the incidents that led to the September 11, 2012, murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 other Americans by Islamic militants in Benghazi, Libya.
At present, she is occupied with her presidential aspirations as well as allegations of lies and cover-up over the incidents that led to the September 11, 2012, murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 other Americans by Islamic militants in Benghazi, Libya.
Without doubt, the gaffes from McCain
and Clinton do not represent the prevalent opinion in America about
Nigeria and its anti-terrorism efforts. Nigeria has cause to really
appreciate Americans’ solidarity and empathy with the abducted school
girls and their families. President Barrack Obama, First Lady Michelle
Obama, US Congressmen, celebrities and countless other American citizens
have been actively supporting us by tweeting, making telephone calls,
supporting the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign. Conclusively, most
Americans have demonstrated the oneness of true humanity in the face of
unusual adversity.
But could anyone in America have given
McCain’s statement any regard if it was the other way round, coming from
a failed Nigerian presidential aspirant who seeks to deprecate the
American people and their president?
Back home in Nigeria, the past few years
has witnessed heinous terrorism acts which some have described as a
coded message being conveyed to President Jonathan – “Quit while you
still have life”. Any leader who quits in the face of such unjustifiable
blackmail risks being judged harshly by posterity.
Just few years ago, several doomsday predictions assert with pseudo-divine finality that Nigeria’s house will fall by 2015. Although Nigeria has passed through several unnerving turbulent times, including a Civil War, it has remained a resilient nation, forging ahead in spite of many odds stirred mostly by mischievous political forces.
Just few years ago, several doomsday predictions assert with pseudo-divine finality that Nigeria’s house will fall by 2015. Although Nigeria has passed through several unnerving turbulent times, including a Civil War, it has remained a resilient nation, forging ahead in spite of many odds stirred mostly by mischievous political forces.
It becomes even more disappointing when
political elites who constitute opposition forces carry their quarrels
with President Goodluck Jonathan’s too far.
Of course, like any other country on the face of the earth, Nigeria has its own problems. Challenges notwithstanding, Nigeria is still a country of destiny.
Of course, like any other country on the face of the earth, Nigeria has its own problems. Challenges notwithstanding, Nigeria is still a country of destiny.
A May 21, 2014 headline in PUNCH
newspaper’s online publication reads: “Africa investors looking beyond
negative headlines, saysWorld Bank”. The news story under it opened with
“Investors in Africa are increasingly able to see beyond negative
headlines of violence in nations like South Sudan, Nigeria and Kenya…”
According to the Vice-President and
Chief Operating Officer of the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency, Michel Wormser, most investors in Africa now had
enough sophistication to discern long-term opportunities despite a
flurry of negative news, ranging from civil war in the world’s newest
nation, South Sudan, to bombs by suspected Islamist militants in Kenya
and the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria by Islamist
group Boko Haram.
“There is more understanding of the
riskiness and more ability from investors to distinguish between what is
media hype and what is the reality on the ground, and the likeliness of
their investment to yield what they expect,” he added while describing
Nigeria and some other parts of Africa as “a land of great
opportunities.”
Now, could it be the same Nigeria that
McCain and Hillary had chosen to take to the cleaners as some jungle
without any working system or any potential for the future? Clearly,
that is far from the truth.
It will be utterly mischievous for Nigeria’s opposition to continue exploiting every little piece of potential disinformation to misinform citizens and stimulate further anxiety across the land. A McCain’s rant or a Hillary diatribe on corruption and flagrant abuse of privileges by those who know little or nothing about our terrain shouldn’t be flashed as adverts to denigrate a government that was duly elected into office through majority vote. There are laid down processes of removing such government without helping those who predicted a 2015 break-up to realise their wicked agenda.
In our haste to embrace the utter gibberish from these fellows, we appear to ignore the bigger picture. Anarchy or a failed Nigeria will have serious negative implications for all. The desperate Machiavellian politics of “the end justifies whatever means” must stop. For all conscious citizens, we should help in rallying others to wake up and not fall prey to some mischief-making characters, keen on ruining us and our collective potentials.
It is in moments of great challenges that true patriots distinguish themselves in their community or nation. Every patriotic Nigerian has a duty to rise up to ensure that prophecies of doom against Nigeria come to nought.
Asked if Nigeria could survive the 2015 breakup prediction, Ambassador Walter Carrington’s inspirational response should reignite the spirit of nationalism in every Nigerian who truly means well for this country. He said: “I see Nigeria not only surviving but prevailing. I see Nigeria getting stronger. One of the stories that needs to be told about Nigeria is that in spite of the fact that this is a country, whose borders with many African neighbours were imposed by colonial powers, Nigeria has survived.
In spite of a civil war; in spite of the fact that you have 250 to 300 different ethnic groups speaking different languages, different religions, Nigeria still remains one. I think that is very important and I think that Nigeria is a strong nation and is going to be important for the future of Africa.
Let me say from a very personal point of view, I think that Nigeria is going to be important for the future of the black race. This is a country that has the potential to become one of the great countries of the world; A country in which every son and daughter of Africa, no matter how long they have been separated from this continent will take great pride in.”
It will be utterly mischievous for Nigeria’s opposition to continue exploiting every little piece of potential disinformation to misinform citizens and stimulate further anxiety across the land. A McCain’s rant or a Hillary diatribe on corruption and flagrant abuse of privileges by those who know little or nothing about our terrain shouldn’t be flashed as adverts to denigrate a government that was duly elected into office through majority vote. There are laid down processes of removing such government without helping those who predicted a 2015 break-up to realise their wicked agenda.
In our haste to embrace the utter gibberish from these fellows, we appear to ignore the bigger picture. Anarchy or a failed Nigeria will have serious negative implications for all. The desperate Machiavellian politics of “the end justifies whatever means” must stop. For all conscious citizens, we should help in rallying others to wake up and not fall prey to some mischief-making characters, keen on ruining us and our collective potentials.
It is in moments of great challenges that true patriots distinguish themselves in their community or nation. Every patriotic Nigerian has a duty to rise up to ensure that prophecies of doom against Nigeria come to nought.
Asked if Nigeria could survive the 2015 breakup prediction, Ambassador Walter Carrington’s inspirational response should reignite the spirit of nationalism in every Nigerian who truly means well for this country. He said: “I see Nigeria not only surviving but prevailing. I see Nigeria getting stronger. One of the stories that needs to be told about Nigeria is that in spite of the fact that this is a country, whose borders with many African neighbours were imposed by colonial powers, Nigeria has survived.
In spite of a civil war; in spite of the fact that you have 250 to 300 different ethnic groups speaking different languages, different religions, Nigeria still remains one. I think that is very important and I think that Nigeria is a strong nation and is going to be important for the future of Africa.
Let me say from a very personal point of view, I think that Nigeria is going to be important for the future of the black race. This is a country that has the potential to become one of the great countries of the world; A country in which every son and daughter of Africa, no matter how long they have been separated from this continent will take great pride in.”
Sure McCain and Hillary never ponder
over these words in spite the many years they have spent in the
corridors of power. Why should they anyway? Is it not obvious that these
folks are bent on working to an already predetermined answer?
Yet while anarchists at home and ill-wishers from abroad are doing their mischief, Nigeria quietly continues to move forward under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan. For instance, the nation successfully recorded some measure of positive advancement. It hosted the World Economic Forum Africa (WEFA) between May 7 – 9, 2014. Some one thousand, one hundred people from seventy countries participated in making the most successful WEFA held in Africa. It brought in $68billion new investments along with multiplier economic effects for the continent.
Yet while anarchists at home and ill-wishers from abroad are doing their mischief, Nigeria quietly continues to move forward under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan. For instance, the nation successfully recorded some measure of positive advancement. It hosted the World Economic Forum Africa (WEFA) between May 7 – 9, 2014. Some one thousand, one hundred people from seventy countries participated in making the most successful WEFA held in Africa. It brought in $68billion new investments along with multiplier economic effects for the continent.
At least, for the sake of posterity,
this is the time for every well-meaning Nigerian, including the
perpetual critics in the opposition, to rally behind President Jonathan
in the fight against those with terrorist inclinations. It is not just
enough to criticise or hate naysayers at home and the vessels of
mischief like McCain. It is a sacred duty for all of us, as true
citizens of Nigeria, to make sure that the doomsday predictions never
come to pass for our dear country, Nigeria.
End. End. End,
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