On the 29th May 2015 a
new president of Nigeria was inaugurated in Abuja. In many parts of the world similar events
come and go with or without aplomb. However in this instance there was a
positively charged atmosphere and for many with a decent sense of expectation
on the basis that fallen peoples can fall no more. Poignantly the occasion
beamed live across the world provided striking opportunities to x-ray the real
importance of Nigeria in the comity of nations and also contrast contradictory
scenes of fellowship by mischievous diminutors of her essence abroad.
Africa’s Day at the Centre
It is not always the case for
Africa to pick up positive headlines in Europe & North America and on this
day the negative took the lead but essentially no one in Nigeria or Africa paid
attention. UK Guardian led the way for the dying embers of a collection of
regressing powers. As various powerful media channels of Nigeria beamed the
event, a construction of events played out by interaction of important African
personalities only copied the world i.e. Africa a la Nigeria. As Abuja stood
still, geographies and sub-geographies of discontent around the world took
deserving beating into the background.
MetaGeographical Power Player
of ReNewing Africa
Africa arrived Abuja on time and
stool still for the important event. Nigeria’s neighbours in the persons of
Chad’s President Deby, Cameroun’s Paul Biya, and Niger’s Issofou graced the
occasion as President Deby gave President-elect a big hug. Few days earlier he
reminded him that Nigeria is essential in Africa as ‘when Abuja sneezes her
neighbours catch cold’. Benin Republic President was missing from the action.
Quite strange but one must acknowledge that recent past energy strike in
Nigeria stirred things up in Benin.
On the western flank, ECOWAS put
on an excellent presence including Ghanaian President Mahama, Liberian
President Sirleaf, Sierra Leone’s President Koroma to mention a few. Guinean and Ivorian presidents paid
President-elect courtesy call few days in advance to display their
understanding of Nigeria’s geopolitical weight.
From South Africa, President Zuma
led the charge in attendance and must be acknowledged as a bonus because he
smoothed the way for a Nigerian to be elected African Development Bank (ADB)
president for the first time. This diplomatic
victory was active despite the xenophobic tension in his country at the time.
Swaziland King graced the occasion, so did President Robert Mugabe. Southern
African regional presence is an acknowledgement of Nigeria contributions to
their liberation from colonial jaws of United Kingdom, Portugal & Apartheid
South Africa.
From the eastern flank President
Paul Kagame of Rwanda sauntered in his lanky frame while Ethiopian Prime
Minister Desalegn remained quietly in his seat. There was a conspicuous absent of
the remaining Heads of State of North Africa.
This state of affair only reinforced the weight of instability sweeping
across the region. It is interesting that King Mohammed of Morocco made a detour
to Guinea Bissau few day earlier while the action waited in Abuja. It is sad to
watch North Africa in regression, confusion and disruption.
Weakened Northern Powers
While the new constellation of
consolidating powers (Russia, China, India, Brazil, Iran, Turkey &
Argentina) must have sent their representatives understandably, the chasm between
Africa and South America & Asia remains. Government-to-government,
people-to-people interactions between these continental regions is
astronomically local despite sharing common experiences, histories and apparent
picking up similar future trends.
One couldn’t miss the 3 Western amigos
led by United States in attendance. The foreign ministers of United States,
United Kingdom and France sat together reminding one clearly of their shared
past in eviscerating Africa’s dignity through slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism.
These men represent the awful geopolitical convenience of unleashing policies
of regression and suppression of Africa through perpetual wars, instability,
economic wars and controlled development.
It was awful watching Mr
Laurent Fabius of France making futile cavorting efforts to obtain attention of
the President-elect as he spurn platitudes on the back of Paris designs on
Libya, Cote d’Ivorie, assigning her ‘colonies’ to United States for new
military bases for recolonisation of Africa with USAFRICOM. Mr John Kerry stood
grinning in the knowledge of refusing Nigeria timely military support in
dealing with Boko Haram because Abuja rejected her erstwhile pressure to
moderate her marriage/family laws.
Conclusion
There is life beyond presidential
inaugurations Nigeria is no exception. Nevertheless there are 2 options facing
the new administration; implement at least 50% of her initiatives/policy or lay
the foundation of potential concerted effort by the commons to retrieve what
remains of their despoiled and raped domain.
No comments:
Post a Comment