Re: In Nigeria, gay no longer means happy - Prof. Patience Akpan

http://www.punchng.com/columnists/medals/re-in-nigeria-gay-no-longer-means-happy/

In Nigeria, gay no longer means happy - Prof. Patience Akpan

http://www.punchng.com/columnists/medals/in-nigeria-gay-no-longer-means-happy/

Letters As Distraction

Over the past month or so, a public feud has erupted between Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria's former president, and the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan. The battle defining the feud has been waged with letters on the pages of Nigerian newspapers. In every case, each letter has taken on a life of its own, with supporters of either camp taking sides in a battle the backstory of which most of them probably know nothing about. Such is the stuff of which grand distractions are made.

While those Nigerian leaders are busy throwing mud, many events are happening across Africa that would normally require the large presence of Africa's giant. After all, "to whom much is given, much is expected".  But not this time, and not in the near future. Iconic Mr. Mandela is dead and buried without the Nigerian President on any ceremonial podium to give a speech despite Nigeria's role in the anti-apartheid era; war is raging in the young West African nation of South Sudan; Mali is in trouble; Egypt is in turmoil; the Democratic Republic of Congo is in tatters; corruption continues to ravage Nigeria at levels never before known; the national unemployment rate is at 22% and going higher, security in many parts of Nigeria is at crisis levels due to kidnappings and armed robbery - not to mention murders on religious grounds. To maintain respectability, a country has to rise to its calling. Instead, Nigeria is lowered to the stature of its woefully poor leadership.

So, while Nigerian leaders are busy showcasing their manhood through letter writing, the country is increasingly a no-show in the international scene where reputations are built and solidified and Nigerians are distracted from matters of major personal and national significance. Nigerians ought to demand more from their leaders. This is a responsibility of citizenship. It is also a responsibility that no generation of Nigerians has ever seriously taken up. Those who are fortunate enough to find themselves in positions of authority over others must know that with authority comes responsibility. Unfortunately, this is knowledge that Nigerian leaders have rarely, if ever, demonstrated.

Religious Zealots Are Dangerous

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/29/20742472-gunmen-kill-at-least-40-in-attack-on-nigerian-college?lite=

Religious fundamentalists have once again claimed innocent victims, killing them as they slept.  As we continue to see such religion-driven cruelty around the world, there can be no argument that people of ANY religion who advocate and/or defend zealotry are dangerous. Any religion that sees its role as one of peace ought also not be murderous.

Terrorists Kill More Children in Nigeria

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/06/19318588-29-boarding-school-students-burned-alive-shot-dead-by-islamist-militants-in-nigeria?lite=

A Window Into African Leadership

Zimbabwe's Mugabe and his aides asleep at AU Summit in Addis Ababa - May 2013

 

Why is Africa in trouble? Watch these African leaders at the May 2013 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa and ask no further questions. That is President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, along with his aides asleep when they are supposed to be working hard to resolve the problems that they created for their people. This photo represents a snapshot of the state of African leadership.  These men are hardly worse than most of their fellow African leaders that are not seen in this picture.  Across the African Continent, rulers are asleep at the switch while the majority of the people that they govern just work hard, struggle and suffer through economic hardship, poor health, polluted environment and extremely corrupt and inept leadership. Clearly, Mugabe and his aides are people with nothing to offer as leaders.  To that extent, they are just like most of the people who govern African countries.  They are not leaders; they are pretenders.

Africa's Basket Cases

Mali has quickly become one of Africa’s numerous basket cases.  A small country, which was once calm and largely unheard of, has become a haven for Islamic terrorists, intent not only on causing mayhem and death but also determined to send the country back to the Stone Age.  This has gradually happened while much of the world has either been paying little or no attention, or has under-estimated the potential dangers of the monster that had begun to grow in that part of the world for some time. 

Perhaps the first major signal that Mali might be in trouble was the occurrence of a military coup in that country on March 21, 2012.  Prior to that coup, Mali had been widely perceived as an encouraging symbol of budding democracy in that region.  Therefore, the success of the military coup was perceived as a setback for democracy in Africa.  Following that coup, Mali increasingly descended into chaos, with Islamic militants solidifying their hold on a country whose institutions were too weak to protect its helpless citizens. 

The case of Mali raises significant questions.  First, how did it get so bad – to the point where it became very essential for France to go in to save Mali from itself? Secondly, what is the role of bigger and well-resourced African nations in helping the smaller, poorer and less stable ones to keep themselves safe and secure?  Thirdly, what does the future look like for Mali, and in fact for Africa, in light of the fact that a number of African countries are in similar circumstances as Mali?  Finally, can any country in today’s world still afford to ignore social and political developments in other countries, however distant those countries may be?

President Hollande of France is right that African countries have a major role to play in restoring Mali to a functional country.  At this point, France is receiving crucial assistance from the United States in the effort to save Mali from growing as a terrorist haven.  Western concerns are legitimate and terrorist groups must not be allowed to take over any nation and terrorize its people.   The innocent people of Mali deserve to live in peace in their own country, free from the grip of fear.  On the other hand, African leaders must work at securing their own nations and the people that they govern before it becomes impossible for them to do so.  Africa deserves to be a viable Continent as it once was; not a crumbling one to which terrorists lay claim.