Ghana Minister of Sanitation Turned Her Home Into a Bank

The news agency Reuters reported a story about corruption in Africa involving a Ghanaian politician and the headline goes: Ghana sanitation minister resigns over alleged stashed cash. Headlines reporting corruption in Africa are not new and anyone who claim to be shocked hearing news of corruption perpetrated by African politicians is either a non-African who don't care about Africa or Africans who are agents and collaborators of these criminals who steal from their commonwealth. African politicians do not steal from their people because they are really in need, it is because they have some undiagnosed afflictions. Some illness I believe is of spiritual nature; perhaps mental derangement. Any average reasonable human being may tend to have some limit.

Africans or the West: Who is Underdeveloping Africa Now?

First published in May 2011

Image credit: Pixabay

I was at the 48th Africa Day 2011 celebration organised by the Africa Asia Scholars Global Network (AASGON) at the University of Medway, Kent on Thursday 26 May 2011.

AASGON is a social and economic empowerment organisation whose aim is to work to strengthen economic, educational, social and cultural ties that exist between the peoples of Africa and Asia leveraging the vision of the 1955 Bandung Spirit Network of countries of Africa and Asia as a model.

Talks centred mainly around under development and poverty in Asia and Africa and how much the West had contributed to the under development of these regions of the world. In settings such as this it was not surprising that European trade in African slaves, colonialism, imperialism, trade imbalance, racism, will take centre stage as familiar topics for discussion. Unarguably, the continents of Africa and Asia had suffered greatly from the actions of the West which has contributed, and continue to do so immensely to the predicaments of Africa and much of Asia today.

Ibiso: The Light Just Went Out

 

Late Mrs Ibiso Igonibi Jamabo-Jack

Ibiso was everything to me. She was not only my younger sister, I saw and felt my mother in Ibiso. Far away she communicated with me at the same levels as my mother did. We made jokes, we laughed and hoped for the future together. We had shared concerns, fears, hopes and goals and in our chats she demonstrated the level of wisdom I never had when I was her age, perhaps even now. I am naive with little understanding of the prevailing thought pattern but in Ibiso I had an extremely insightful and logical ally who possess great vision of comfort and prosperity for the family. I abhor sluggishness but Ibiso is different; she is calmer than I am even though it is noticeable that she has a no-nonsense approach to her ways which comes out whenever it is necessary and required. 

God Is Broke: Money, Nigerians And God

Image credit: Pixabay

For the Nigerian, there is God o, they would wail when things go wrong. Yes, but it's usually money first, themselves and then God. When a Nigerian arrives, meaning when they stumble upon money regardless of whether it's legit or illegit, they beat their chest and boast about how smart and/or hardworking they have been. It's their power, hard work or cunning skills. More often than not they take the credit and God comes last as they gloat. 

But then they are put to the test, like health challenges, career challenges, loss of business or jobs, financial misfortune, death of loved ones etc., God immediately come to mind and the first mention of God goes like this: God, why me, why now and what did I do to deserve this? There is God O becomes God, if you exist, God, where are you at this time of need?  What they know not how to do is self-examination, soul-searching sort of. 

Vultures From Within

Image credit: Pixabay

No one leads,

No structure or strategy,

Voices from all around,

Reasonable voices can't be heard or sort,

No one listening,

All are talking and loudly; 

No one believes no one,

Everyone is a fighter or a leader or a spokesperson;

Everyone strive to shout louder than everyone,

The loudest get the jeep, the house and the bloody money;

The violent get their belly filled,

The gentle go hungry or forced to join the violent;

The fight is mostly from within,

Instigated by the controller from without,

Fighting for the $billions in the bush,

Wasting the $millions in hand;

Why Is Africa So Attractive, Yet So Poor? Pt 2

Why is Africa so attractive yet so poor? 

I did a cursory search with the term "Africa" and what got thrown up were not unfamiliar - animals, shanties, dirty town roads, looks of pain in the eyes of women and children; a general portrayal of penury on the wealthiest continent in the world. Some might argue that these are wrong portrayals to make Africa look bad? The white man would not show the good parts of Africa, others may argue to defend the absolute failure that is modern Africa. So, how would you portray the continent as an African? Your view may not be in line with mine but you certainly have one which fits the vision of the Africa you desire. 

So, what is it that is so attractive about Africa to the imperialists and foreign economic mercenaries who force their ways into the continent for the sole criminal purpose to plunder and commit grand larceny of the wealth under our feet. Why have we ignored what attracts outsiders while we depend on these external freebooters for handouts? Here is the interesting part; these invading picaroons have their traitorous gate keepers (maiguards in Nigerian parlance) and mules, most of whom are politicians, business people, academics and local chieftains, 

Lagos And The Faux Lagosians

Image credit: Krucifax, Nairaland

Lagos is a cosmopolitan mega city with major conurbations. Before Abuja, it doubled as the main economic and industrial hub as well as the seat of the federal government of Nigeria. Lagos is still the economic capital of the country; it can rightfully be described as the melting pot for major industries, businesses and trading posts which has attracted public and private sector actors from across the country. 

Though the natural home to some Yorubas, Lagos belongs to Nigeria as Port Harcourt, the natural home to the Okrika and Ikwerri people in Rivers State, belongs to Nigeria. The same is true in all sections of the country. Until the the different tribal nations or geo-political regions of the country decide to go their separate ways as independent countries every Nigerian has the right to reside, work, engage in lawful enterprise, pay tax, vote and be voted for in elections anywhere in the federation. 

A Good Leader Cannot Govern A People Who Hate Themselves

"Who Taught You to Hate Yourself" - by Malcolm X. (May 5th, 1962) 

Image credit: pexels.com

Malcolm X, a teacher, preacher and speaker, gave this speech in a church in Southern California. The year was 1962. He spoke about internalized anti-Blackness in the Black community. At the time of this speech the preacher was, as a matter of fact, speaking about a mindset which plagues the African people both on the continent and the diaspora. He was addressing the African-American community in the United States but his words echoed a problem which is still quite common in African communities and families all over the world. 

Africans, on the continental or diaspora communities worldwide are bedevilled by a troubling trait; there seem to be the culture of unhelpful internal competition which leads to animosity, disagreement, rivalry. and violence in cases of "black on black violence".

Why Is Africa So Attractive, Yet So Poor?

 Why is Africa so attractive, yet so poor? - Prof. PLO Lumumba. 

This question, I believe lingers on the mind of millions of  well meaning Africans all over the world. I do not only think about this question, I do worry about it. I do worry because Africa lacks internal fitness in my opinion; it means that Africa is easily vulnerable to external negative influence. But most worrying is Africa's susceptibility to external exploitation which is made possible by the involvement of rogue and corrupt state and non-state African collaborators. Slavery was sustained by internal collaborators so much as they continue to collaborate with imperialist exploitation of the continent.

Africa is down on it's knees because the average African politician is an avaricious and corrupt loose cannon ball - aimless, selfish and very cheap to be purchased by any imperialist actor. 

Brother Wole And The Emilokan Dance

Image:pexel.com

Pardon me, it's Professor Wole Soyinka. Who else? The activist whose blood boiled in 1965 in Ibadan where he invaded a broadcasting station to stop the announcement of the winner of what he considered to be a fraudulent elections. He was 35 years old then. The same man, now an elder statesman in 2023, turned a defender of a more dangerous and sophisticated variety of the undesirable political actors and their malfeasance which Nigeria has been battling to get rid of for nearly sixty years after independence. 

Political corruption was (and still is) so pervasive and glaring that in 1965 brother Wole invaded a radio station and forced the broadcaster at gun point to announce what he thought was the right results. He did not wait for the judges to decide; he took the law into his hands.

The Future is Now

                                                        Image: Courtesy pexel.com

First published in 8 oct 2010

The future is forever because every day comes with its own future; be it tomorrow, next week or next year for that matter. Everyone talk about it, dream it or live it in some way or the other but few believe that the future is actually here and now. Few have the understanding that today is the future and that our tomorrow is made today yesterday is history. Except in our memory, yesterday don't exist. To enjoy today we must move on from yesterday and all the experiences we've had - good or bad.

Why should we forget about the so great and lovely life we had yesterday or the pains people or circumstances inflicted on us? Why are we not having the great life we had yesterday or forget the terrible way we were treated yesterday? Thinking of the good times past creates sadness while thinking about the past wrongs creates worries and pain. Living in the present is taking one day at a time and trying to make the best of it hoping to do better. 

Voices of Hopelessness

                                                        Image: Courtesy pexels.com

For the average youth and the silent majority of older Nigerians who dream of a future for Nigeria which will work for all Nigerians their voices got willingly muffled. They were silenced by the few who knew no civilised way to win in what was supposed to be a democratic electoral process. For them the future is uncertain. Their already inhuman existence is made worse by feelings of hopelessness and despair caused by the BIVAStarized open rigging of the just concluded 2023 general election.

The government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are not pretending not to be part of the show of shame. It appears that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu sold millions of Nigerians into slavery for thirty pieces of silver. This man is not a Nigerian in essence.  At this stage of Nigeria's bumpy journey to a democratic system guided by respect for the rule of law and established elections administration process, it is right to expect the INEC chairman to be seen to have overseen a process which can be adjudged to be fair, credible and free. He failed woefully.

Behind the Cloak of Chieftancy

Founding members of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs

Note: This article was first published on 28/08/2011

Chieftaincy institutions will continue to evolve. More so in some communities in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria where the prerequisites for an individual's elevation to that erstwhile revered position has changed quite significantly recently. Recent key changes we are experiencing are not the type that strengthens a community because they occur in violation of the constitution of these communities with respect to the way individuals are accepted as members of the council of chiefs.

The chieftaincy institution is the most important one in the social and political life of these communities and its strength or weakness, therefore, reflects the fitness of the community. A community's fitness is its ability to create and manage positive change and/or its ability to withstand and manage changes that are not favourable to its long term survival.

Never Live in Fear My Daughter

Credit: Pixabay

Step out and worry not of the dark,
be fearless, be brave, be of courage,
there's no such thing as fear,
in the mind that venture into the unknown;

What is fear after all?
if not the coward's tool of defence,
the fear-stricken is not safe when in hiding?
fear has not a shape any man has ever sighted,
except in the eyes of the retreating coward;

Be brave my sister for God is on thy side;
be valiant my brother for God is thy shield,
fear is unreal, a mere negative feeling,
which strikes the body when the mind is weakened,
it is a phantom that fools the stricken mind,
into inaction, retreat or collapse;

The Time is Now to Change Africa

Image credit: Pixabay

Africans need to renew their minds in order to create much-needed change. Every African or anyone one connected to Africa and its people all around the world have the vision of an Africa which is free from poverty, diseases, ignorance, political oppression, economic inertia and the ills of imperialism.

Post-colonial Africa has existed for well over half a century but hasn't flourished in the modern era. Slavery, colonialism, wars, dictatorships and political violence, corruption, and economic mismanagement, have all played their roles in creating debilitating environments in which poverty, crime, and disease thrive. Religious mercenary and intolerance continue to play active roles in keeping Africa from real development. Tribal bigotry is a problem which needs to be tackled and the solution lies entirely on the ability of Africans to begin to foster different views of who they are and how they relate.

As the AIDS and HIV era fades into near oblivion Ebola surfaced and took West Africa hostage recently.

Ghana and Oil: Has Any Lesson Been Learned From Nigeria?

First published in December 2010

Image credit: Pixabay

Today Ghana has qualified as an oil-producing nation.  In my last post on the same subject, I stated the need for Ghana to take the development of local engineering skills content seriously if they are to avoid the mistakes which Nigeria made.  However, fears are being expressed that the whole process may have been rushed without adequate planning and preparation for the future. The oil and gas sector is huge and if well planned and managed revenue that will accrue over time has the potential of elevating Ghana to the same level as China, India, and Brazil. 

Ghana Must Plan For The Future

First published in December 2010

Image credit: Pexels

It was a busy day for me, yesterday. but I managed to wade through the day. Snow fell overnight and still falling. I called the nursery and they were open but not sure if they stay open the rest of the day. Heck! I still took my daughter there anyway so she can join other kids at the nursery to make snowman so that I can have the focus on work. Got there and they turned us back saying some staff had phoned in to take a day off. Its great being a dad but sometimes it makes no sense when you look into the future based on what is happening today especially as an African. Being an aware African living in the west can be quite challenging and sometimes depressing. It looks bad for the African from anywhere he exists and worst on the continent we all call home.

I happen to stumble upon a news item titled “In The Name Of Oil, Ghana Is Already Swimming in a Flood of Debt”. Given the recent gains made by the people of Ghana in sustaining  what is beginning to take the shape of a democratic system we can be forgiven for singing the praises of the Ghanaian leadership. Ghana has found oil which has attracted the foreign parasites. They have smelt blood and are circling with their mouth wide open and fang-like teeth exposed and ready to hack into the pie.