Sunday, October 16, 2005

No Holiday in Monrovia...


This past week far away from the spectacular elections holding in Iraq to ratify a new constitution, a far more important event that should supposedly concern America more than a trifling adventure in the Wahabbi Desertdom is taking place in the only ex-colony of the United States- the Republic of Liberia. For the first time in many years the people of Liberia are pouring to the polls to elect a new government: the first round has 22 candidates leading them are George Weah ex-international soccer player and only African World Footballer of the year , and the lady economist Ms. Sirlef..This election is more about peace and tranquility than an entirely new beginning. The Liberian people have begun to pick the bits and pieces of their destroyed lives and are saying capital NO to war! War mongers like Charles Taylor and J. Johnson are out of the picture and Liberians can breathe a sigh of relief. The events in Liberia is a lesson to all - after thousands of souls have been wasted on the alter of power hungry men like Mr. Taylor (who should face trial after the new government comes in by any reasoning) , only peace can truly bring development and peace that Africa is sorely in need of. The days of these tyrants parading themselves as leaders on the continent should be put behind the continent and we must all work to achieve peace at all cost- war only benefits the rich, powerful and famous. They thrive on dividing poor people on the basis of color, ethnicity, political affiliation and religion. It is high time we show the way to the world and occupy the position we truly belong to in the comity of nations - a continent to filled with resources but crippled by bad leadership, corruption and lack of political foresight can only be an eye sore to the world. The leadership of United Nations, ECOWAS and indeed Nigeria is sincerely appreciated by all Africans around the world. If we can do it in Liberia and Sierra Leone we can surely do it in Sudan, in Somalia, in Congo and in Ivory Coast. God Bless the motherland.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Never Again? Lessons from Hurricane Katrina



Being a resident of Houston, the effects of the disaster at New Orleans strikes home for real- with poor people left stranded all over the United States, the obvious incomptetency of the government in managing huge disaster situations is more than obvious. The Almighty United States seem incapable of helping it own people? What a shame..while I commisserate with the victims of this natural disaster, there are some lessons that can be learnt from this: this post is adeparture from most blogs I have read that were just passing the buck..I would just let the buck stop on one desk..Mr. Presidents! The lessons are:

1. No nation is immune from the devastating effects of natural disasters. And that while it is convenient to blame corruption and bad government for the misery in Africa, misery caused by draught and other natural phenomenons in nations like Niger were not man made and the US as a world leading nation should be more aggressive in seeing this point of view and aiding these poor countries, having been at the receiving end now. Indeed, the disaster of draught and hurricances should start convincing Mr. Bush of the science and facts of global warming. May be those facts are what you need sir!

2. The cost of Iraq war is enormous. The lack of national guard troops and personel on ground immediately after the disaster is exactly the danger many forward seeing men were pointing to during the last general elections..is any american listening?
US Troop Deployment: 125,000 US Troops Killed: 1,887 (So Far) US Troops Wounded: 14,265 (So Far) Cost Per Week: $1 Billion Finding Zero WMDs: Priceless

3. The Homeland security department is another cosmetic bureucracy that would only weigh down the work of securing the homeland. The inability of FEMA to respond effectively to the disaster, bulked down by the web of bureucracy is a telling sign of things to come. Terror is an unforseen danger like natural disasters and can add another fearful dimension- we dont think America is prepared.

4. Big broda..small father. Bush did not need the permission of United Nations to remove saddam and save Iraqis, but he was holidaying while big easy got struck..,imagine, he complained of not being updated or invioted in to help..excuse me, who updated you on Iraq? was that Rumsfeld or home girl Condi? Please Mr. Prez, save us the excuse, you need to fire somebody!

5. The state of race relations in America today is uneasy. race is a very emotional issue, and until government start getting serious about removing the class barrier that promotes racial disharmony, the fight of MLK, JFK and LBJ may be in vain. 40 years after, 35 million in poverty majority who are blacks does not bode well for the world most powerful nation- it is a national security risk and should be treated as such.

6. Ever watched these partisan networks..I couldnt help but see the lopsided FOX News coverage..what a shame! And Orielly was more concerned about looting than people dying..lesson learned, the far left and right would always play politics with anything even human life..callous shameless poiliticos that have taken over governments and rendered them impotent. Cant help but notice the people calling fellow americans refugees..save me the crap!

7. Where were the churches? Umn..they wouldnt give up a sunday service to house the displaced all over the country..people..where are my tithes and offerings..umn..

8. That fire brigade approach to issues would not work. Building infrastructure is an investment in the future and all those involved in cutting 30 million dollars from the fund to strenghten the levys in N.O. should be punished..simple! say by the voters..we have an election next year thank goodness!

9. America needs friends in the world. It was human kindness that means we can all help..John Bolton is not really the man that UN needs to put this together, we need a George H. Bush and Bill Clinton.

10. Three day of terror and it made rapists, and looters of americans. It is not just Iraqis and Africans that do this: survival , chaos and desperation are recipes for the manifestion of man's infinte animalistic instincts..I bet those faces of New orleans looked exactly like those i saw in the wake of the Nigerien disaster! yes, right on CNN.

11. Many cities rejected the dislocated. They were scared of poor , black people I suppose..Umn, so much about being Americans. The lesson learned: If you are black and poor, you have two options - u stay with system or you beat it- even with ur votes--vote, vote, vote! If you are black and u are rich, consider moving to Canada. If you are white and poor, you are the target audience of the media- the poor black people are out to get u! If you are white and rich or okay, feel right at home: the government works for you.

12. While we all cried, Wall street joyed..made some buck this week? This disaster means the housing boom is not over, so the last lesson is that you should not have sold those housing, contruction and aggregate company stocks..if u did ? Sorry - nobody makes money panicking.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Tax Hike in Mugabedom!


As if the suffering of the common man in Zimbabwe is not enough, the Lord of the wretched south African nation has decided to raise the stake on them: he increased taxes to subsidize his madness and the wasteful spending of a government gone mad. After a week of tearing down slum houses all in the name of urban renewal, Mugabe thinks increasing taxes would spur an economy crippled by hyper--inflation, no diversification, low export incomes courtesy low Foreign Direct Investment due to the hostile posture his government. Mugabe needs to realize in time that he has lost touch with the common man...He lacks credibility and his fight is lost one. He should stop acting like a old warrior for liberation and should transform himself to a statesman, leave office like the Great Kenneth Kaunda did, and enjoy his old age while giving the people of Zimbabwe a chance. There is no use making them suffer horrendously under a leadership that lacks idea and should be given to a new guard of leaders that recognize the interconnectedness of all races and the have the skills to run a global and modern economy based on freedom, liberty and innovation of their citizens. The British government cannot be held responsible for Mugabe's performance, the onus to perform on him or he should quit. The African Union should also start telling the old dictator the home truth- his days in power are numbered!

Monday, August 08, 2005

Revolt In Mauritania - Africas Problem......An Impossible situation



The recent coup in Mauritania, a vast desert country in the North Eastern Fringes of the Sahara and N. Atlantic Coast is symbolic of the paradox in the continent of Africa. While the continent is filled presently with governments that can at best be called pseudo-democractic best known for their non-tolerance for opposition, electoral malapractice and sit tightism, as well as their inability to implement a coherent socio-economic policy to uplift their people from poverty. They span from Harare to Tripoli and makes it very difficult to condemn illegitimate coups. Indeed, if a leader has been in government for over 20 years with no remarkable improvments in the life of her people, such leaders deserves whatever they get...but this is no excuse for coup making which in it ownself is self destructive, primitive and utterly despicable. I wish the people of Mauritania well and hope they can kick the khaki boys out (no pun intended) very soon, before they start stealing the soon to be flowing oil money...Africa shall be free!

Monday, July 11, 2005

Personal Thoughts on Terrorism

Those who terrorize the innocent, do so because they are hopeless. Hope strenghtens the spirit of man and emboldens our prospect for the future. For those without hope live without the assurance of tommorrow-: food, shelter or clean water, a great life for their children. Indeed at this special time we console the great people of London on the tragedy of terror, we implore them not to lose hope. The hope that the little help to the needy in the poorest part of the world, would make the world a lot safer for us in the future. In unision, we all condemn terrorism, in unison we should condemn poverty. Terror is aweful and should be expelled by all means possible from the world, including waging a determined war against poverty, injustice and bad government. We should all join hands together to make the world a better place for our children, our grandchildren and those who we do not know. It is our hope that God's children would be able to live an abundant life devoid of terror, hopelessness, poverty and disease. May you reading this piece pray for the children of the world that would go to bed hungry tonite..please pray to your pocket- donate to www.unicef.org

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Singing the Song of a New Nigeria

While this appears to be a dream, I really hate to acknowledge it (as a fierce critic) the present administration in Nigeria are a lot better than their predecessors. No sleeping on our oars..all on board!
__
Obasanjo, in London, woos foreign investors
Vows to confront corrupt African leadersFrom Madu Onuorah, London

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday morning met with the Honourary International Investor Council for Nigeria, a group of global businessmen, to help sing the new song of a renaissance Nigeria.
He has also expressed readiness to confront any African leader found to be corrupt.
The Nigerian leader told the businessmen at a meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane, London that the debt relief given to Nigeria is an endorsement of the country's reform programme and insisted that "good things are happening in Nigeria.
Obasanjo said: "The reforms are working. The private sector and the government are now beginning to be strong partners in the push to give the economy a new lease of life. For us, the debt relief is an acknowledgement of what we are doing right."
In his appeal to the Council, Obasanjo said: "Please, help sing the song of a new Nigeria. Tell me what we are doing wrong so that we will do it right."
Members of the Council who were present at the meeting include the chief executives of Lafarge (the world's largest cement company), Total, Shell, Hewitt and Packard, Anglo-Gold Asante, Siemens, Unilever and representatives of other corporations.
Seven Nigerian ministers attended the meeting. They are those of Finance, Industry, Communications, Power and Steel, Commerce, Agriculture as well as Information and National Orientation. Others include the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dr. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, bank chiefs: Umaru Murtallab (UBA), Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank) and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Funso Kupolokun.
The Council is to assist in communicating developments about Nigeria to the international investment community in conjunction with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). It is to arrange investment fora at which key officials of the Federal Government and international business people can meet to highlight Nigeria's investment opportunities; undertaking practical efforts to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and providing general public relations and promotion on Nigeria's improved business climate.
The Council's terms of reference include:
to provide inputs that will shape future policy affecting business climate in Nigeria and promoting investment opportunities in the country to the international community;
to help increase the government's understanding of the factors helping or hindering investment into Nigeria;
to offer perspectives on developments in the international community and communicate trends within Nigeria to the international community;
to advise priority areas of economic activity for the purpose of enhancing Nigeria's attractiveness as investment destination; and
to avail the government with the dynamics of investment location decisions of the international community;
The President's Senior Special Assistant (Media), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, said that Nigerians were gradually warming up to the reforms.
Oyo quoted Obasanjo as telling members of the council, which included Baroness Lynda Chalker that commercial banks that had protested against the reforms in the banking sector, were now working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a successful conclusion of the exercise.
The President, she said, had noted that the banks were now "partners with the CBN".
Obasanjo said the collaboration between the banks and the apex bank was also an indication that what the country had embarked upon was the right thing.
"Tell me what you think we are doing wrong, I will tell you where we are coming from, but together we will be able to work for the betterment of our country and indeed the world," the President was quoted as saying.
He stated that there were ample investment opportunities in the oil and gas, agriculture, industry, tourism and solid minerals.
Obasanjo, therefore, invited interested investors to make the country their preferred destination, pledging as government's support for them.
The CBN governor, Prof. Charles Soludo is also attending the meeting.
Oyo said that later in the day, the President would meet with members of the UK chapter of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO).
She said the body had contributed about £1 million (over N250 million) for investments in the country.
The President is also scheduled to meet with leaders of the G-8 in Gleneagles on behalf of the rest of Africa over the debt issue tomorrow before leaving for home later that day.
President Obasanjo also yesterday pledged to confront any corrupt African leader if there is proof, and warned that delay in debt relief and other forms of aid to the continent could be disastrous.
He spoke yesterday in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London ahead of the G-8 leaders summit beginning today.
Africa is hoping for a bumper lifeline from the industrialised nations at the two-day meeting.
Obasanjo said: "You don't wait until a person is dead before you give him medicine, when you know he's dead."
The Nigerian leader stressed the importance of the debt relief at this point: "The position is that we have not the slightest chance in the world to meet the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) set by all for the international community by the year 2015 unless we have debt relief."
Tasked on the popular view by the West that African leaders' corruption was delaying development in the continent Obasanjo snapped: "I don't agree with you. I hate such sweeping statement that African leaders are corrupt and I will not take that from anybody.
"So, that I won't say all European leaders are anti-African, some are negrophobists. And I will not group all leaders in the world or in Europe in one category like that."
The Nigerian leader continued: "There are African leaders that are corrupt and there are African leaders that are not corrupt and that must be the starting point."
He said there was need to identify those leaders that are corrupt. Obasanjo said: "Those that are corrupt let them be identified. I can confront any African leader and say these are things that have come out against you in your country, you are not fighting corruption enough in your country."
Commending Britain's effort in Africa, he said the G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, is a historical effort. "It has never happened before where you have a developed country really championing the cause of Africa and as a result of that, the 18 highly indebted countries have been forgiven their debt 100 per cent and Nigeria earned about 60 per cent of debt forgiveness."
He rejected suggestions that Nigeria, which is bidding for the United Nations Security Council seat, was handling Zimbabwe with a kid's gloves.
He expressed optimism on Africa's breakthrough poverty, saying that there was now "new awareness, new understanding, and new hope about the eradication of poverty in Africa, may be not in 2015."

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Nigerian Haters On Wall Street-Kudlow Under Gun

I saw the commentary of Kudlow the CNBC commenator on Africa's problem and was incensed by his ignorant attack on Nigeria Check out his comment (http://www.lkmp.blogspot.com/) and my rejoinder to him. This sort of comment deserves a reply and the sort of reply to teach Americans to do their research and that the world is not New York (Apology to my knowldgeable American friends)

Friday, July 01, 2005

Mother Africa

Mother Africa!
Oh mother Africa!
Have you heard?
Have you not seen?
Will you ever feel?
Can you ever perceive?
Oh mother Africa,Ancient in age,Ageing in civilization.
The cradle of man,The origin of the sapiens,Wholesome in creation,Whole in incarnation.
Nature's endowment,Shall it ever depart?
The greenery, the waters,T
he vegetation,Beautiful to behold,
A land of contrast!Mother Africa,
A paradox in its own self!

Olubusayo Michael Oluwagbemi
August 1999
Copyright ©2005 Olubusayo Michael Oluwagbemi

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This is a very important page to me- now I can get my ideas on African socio-political issues faster out there. Any visitor is free to post and comment on my articles that would often be linked to dawodu.com where I am a regular writer. Sometimes original articles might appear on this blog and may be published on dawodu.com too. I would also share with you some of my poetic thoughts..it has been a while so I might not be off and running a little while- I am poetic rusty! Once again you are welcome to wazobia world- the world where 250 languages, type A character and the worlds most resilient people share and banter ideas on the development of a continent- Mother Africa.

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