AN APPEAL TO OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE - BY PAUL INYANG

Paul Inyang, USA

There is nothing as bad as someone who refuses to see the folly in their ways and continues to be misled along the wrong path. We are all given the ability to discern and think logically. Such people become partners in their own demise, for whatever little momentary gain they may have. They fail to see that misappropriation no matter who does it endangers not only them but their children and children’s children. For long this has been the bane of the African continent and its people. Yet, it continues to happen under the pretext of tribal and racial sentiments among other issues. Yet still, the youth who are supposed to be the arbiters and purveyors of change and progress are the ones singing the same songs—of hopelessness and self defeat.

 

Where is the hope now and for the future generations? We are supposed to be getting better not worse. We are infinitely more educated and have greater awareness. We do not have to leave the shores of Africa for greater exposure—if only one has internet. The resources of a nation belongs to the people not only a few people. If the leaders utilize it well then the entire populace benefits from it but if it is desecrated, personalized, stolen and wasted; then it is and must be an issue. But it seems that in our neck of the woods, the people who are most affected are the same people who cry foul. For what you may ask? For parochial reasons and based on ethnic sentiments among other myopic issues.

We do not have a chance if we cannot see that the millstone is on all of our necks and we are all going down. What we call transformation is depreciatory and will not stand the test of time—already it is derogatory. It is not built on anything that is self-sustaining. We must also transform our minds and perspectives—our eye sights are already poor and fool us all the time. In the end we will only get what we deserve. Please think not only of yourself but others! Mandela remains’ Africa’s “living” example—he was selfless. Read about him and learn about him.

AFRICA'S LEADERS: A CONTINENT'S SCOURGE - BY CHUKA CHUMA OKPE

 

Chuka Chuma Okpe,  Ph.D Student, Abia State University, Uturu. Nigeria.








Rwanda’s Supreme Court two days ago affirmed that President Paul Kagame can run for a third seven-year term. In nearby Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Ngueso who has been in power for decades is scheming to amend the constitution this month so as to continue in power. Pierre Nkurunziza’s run for a third term is destabilizing Burundi. These men are all plotting to give some semblance of legitimacy to their affront on popular will. This is another sad commentary on leadership in the continent.
                                                                                                            When Lord Acton observed that absolute power corrupts absolutely, he probably had successive African regimes in mind. Ruled by dictators who do not differentiate between the national treasury and their personal purse, African nations are impoverished and consistently occupy the lower rungs of the Human Development Index on poverty, life expectancy, literacy, GDP per capita, maternal mortality e.t.c.  The landscape of African history is littered with carcases of repressive regimes - Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Omar Bongo of Gabon, Marcias Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic, Mobutu Sese Seko of then Zaire, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Sani Abacha of Nigeria and their ilk.
                                                                                                            Today’s African leadership has adopted this tradition of constitution violation and circumvention of the electoral process as defined in Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Republic of the Congo, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Joseph Kabila of DRC, Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan and now, Paul Kagame of Rwanda. These men employ deceit and brute force to manipulate the process and perpetuate their grip on power albeit till death do them part.
                                                                                                            Prodded by the salient acquiescence, nay ‘onlooker status’ of the African Union, mortals arrogate ‘’Sovereignty’’ unto themselves and, as absolute Emperors, set on a prowl to rape and plunder their ‘‘fiefdoms’’. Despots not only brutalize the conscience and commonwealth of their subjects but also impede the collective destiny of their people, plunging peaceful developing nations into penury and despondency. Did Chukwu Okike – the God of Creation - imbue African leadership with genes that are in constant negation to the advancement and aspiration of their people?

NIGERIA AT 55: A DESIRE TO SERVE - BY PAUL INYANG

Paul Inyang

So it is the 55th birthday of my homeland. I am thinking about how to best serve my country. Incidentally, I am taking suggestions if anyone has them. Nothing is too little for me to do. Seriously speaking this has been my quest for in the past 10 or more years. If one senses some frustration on my part, then, you are probably right. Many of us have always felt we belong to this giant of a country but have never truly found a niche for ourselves. I am sure; I am not the only one because I also run into people who live permanently in Nigeria that share the same frustrations as I do. But mine is not quite the same as theirs—I believe. I could be angry but it would be a total waste of time. I and many share this struggle and/or anomaly. One should not have this difficulty. We who live in the so-called diaspora have had this struggle for a while. At times we are at fault for not being decisive enough to commit ourselves in such a manner but I will dare to say, that such people are in a minority. Some of us through no fault if ours, are caught up in the act of raising families at home and abroad. If you doubt it, checkout the figure of how much money is coming into the country from abroad.

A great many want to come back and be part of building this great nation but the truth is that the nation itself has not been so welcoming of our contributions. It is almost like having an out of body experience—one is there but not there. Many like me feel that when we come home—we are often welcomed and celebrated—for some time, until we are down to our last pennies. But as soon as we run out of money, we are discarded like worn-out shoes no matter how comfortable. We would not want to create scandal in the community, if we need a loan to get by. Gosh, if we dare to speak of the “national cake”—we are told of the difficulties in getting things done and are denied access to meaningful endeavors—no matter how talented or whatever our talent. The meetings are held later and later at night or we are simply dis-invited.

Imagine that you are from a country that does not allow your political participation by vote or through being a part of the process. The law says that people who reside outside of the country cannot vote—our constitution spells it out. We are nobody’s constituents. The politicians will come to visit and possibly raise some funds. They make promises that their dispensation will create room for our participation but nothing ever happens. Oh, the speeches are super colorful. The insistence is always that—one must be “on ground” as they say. When one is on ground the “cake sharers” cannot be found—accessibility becomes an issue. Then one must know someone, who knows someone else, who is going to take one, to wait for the person, whom you just saw in Washington, DC by simply making a call to them. They hardly remember your name. Go figure! They are usually keenly aware that time is your enemy and they wait you out no matter the authenticity and value of the project. For us, when the money runs out—one simply gotta go! If one dares to criticize them, then we are unpatriotic and are simply belly aching. Never mind that no third world economy has been successful without people in the Diasporas—you name it; China, Korea, Japan, Rwanda (yes you are reading it right—Rwanda), etc. They are actively recruited and in some cases pampered. That word Diaspora had become a dirty word—it is spoken in whispers around the big table and when one shows up the conversation stops. We are told to write proposals that end up in dustbins. Do we have to bulldoze the place down before we are considered citizens? Jeez why do we fail to see each other as benefactors of our many resources and work together?

Jare, this was supposed to be personal, so let me stop there, this was a personal note to everyone. I want to help build my homeland—I simply need suggestions. I am a psychologist. Surely there are people who need mental health services. We can start at the top with all our leaders. I am also sure there are people who need rehabilitation from drugs or substances—many have acquired the illness of the rich. What of the traumatized—oh, like the Chibok girls or are they still in the Sambisa Forest? Dr. Ohiro, please help. Are there children and adults who have learning disorders or educational challenges—Dr. John there you go! I Am calling on all my friends. What ills can we think of next that needs fixing—it is personal. Someone please help—I am waiting please! Happy Independence Day!