Cote d’Ivoire and Libya

African Union and The Economic Community Of West African States

Recent events in Cote d’Ivoire and Libya have exposed the ineffectiveness and obscurity of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). Both organizations have remained on the sidelines while uncertainty, insecurity, and authoritarians have held the African continent ransom. Indeed Pan-Africanist leaders like George Padmore, W. E. B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe would be mortified by the paralysis and ineptitude in the most natural endowed continent of the world. So called rulers in sub-Saharan African nations have indolently sat by while Black and Brown Africans are murdered in Libya. In Cote d'Ivoire the situation is at best pathetic and at worse criminal negligence. 

Due to the dictatorial tendencies of our heads of governments who do not seem to be constrained by constitutions and/or term limits, ECOWAS and AU have tacitly allowed Mr. Laurent Gbagbo in Abidjan to continue clinging on to power. While stubbornly refusing to handover power after occupying the presidency of Cote d'Ivoire for ten years, Mr. Gbagbo has spearheaded the mass murder of innocent civilians including unarmed women protesters. Sadly this same individual who was once incarcerated and forced out on exile is now the conduit of undue hardship to his people. The Ivorian army has derogated their responsibilities to their citizens while clamoring to maintain the hegemony of a particular sect in the country. Streams of Ivorians are now forced to flee their beloved country to become refugees, paupers, and prostitutes in neighboring countries. 

However, in response to the crisis in Abidjan the ECOWAS countries have allowed their threat to use force with installing President Alassane Ouattara the legitimate winner of the November 28 2010 elections, fall on deaf ears. The African Union (AU) has also been shameful in dealing with contemporary situations in the continent. When they met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia for the just concluded African Union Summit, the AU enshrined Dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea as the next chairman of the organization. The aforementioned tyrant and fraudster who has been in power since 1979 after he executed a bloody coup was charged with the task of resolving the impasse in Cote d’Ivoire. In a continent that is at the precipice of holding elections in one-third of her 55countries, no better choice was made for the chairperson of the AU. As a testament to how out of touch with reality the African Union and our so-called leaders are, they literally rolled out the proverbial red carpet for Dictator Obiang Mbasogo. 

Furthermore, the AU banded together with their opaque notion of solidarity and ignoring other pressing issues in the continent. Ironically, people in Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt were voting and protesting against the “recolonialization” of their nations by rulers and systems who view their countries as personal properties and wealth mines. As Egypt was burning and true peoples’ democracy attempted to wrestle power from Dictator Hosni Mubarak, our dear AU kept mute and instead accepted his delegates to the summit in neighboring Ethiopia. This deafening silence and apathy have continued with the developments in Tripoli Libya. The AU and ECOWAS have stood by as sub-Saharan Black African have been stereotyped, brutalized, and murdered by both Dictator Muammar Gaddafi and some in the pro-democracy movement of this North Africa nation.

Press reports indicate that there are thousands of Black Africans stranded in the Libyan-Tunisia, Libyan-Egyptian, and Libyan-Algerian borders. Individuals and families with children have been relatively abandoned as refugees in faraway lands to fend for themselves. There does not appear to be any progressive (proactive) logistic plans to get the Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Malians who are the majority of strained Black African refugees back home. The powers that be in ECOWAS and by extension sub-Saharan Africa have not thought it wise to send out their presidential jet fleets to liberate their people. The governments in Abuja and Accra appear to be incognito in regional and global affairs that demand accelerated response from them. Until now no statements and/or ultimatums have been issued to the Libyan government and people to protect and preserve the lives of Black Africans who are victims, caught up in these ongoing North African disputes. Neither has transparent diplomatic channels and pressures been brought to bear on the mad Dictator in Tripoli.                   

--
Nnamdi Frank Akwada, MSW, BA
Social Justice Activist

African Progressives

While supporting the People of Libya in their prerogative to seek true representation in their national government we also condemn all xenophobic comments and tendencies of the Libyan government and people. Black Africans should not be used as scapegoats by both Gaddafi and the Libyan people. For decades Colonel Gaddafi had paid lip service to Pan-Africanism while encouraging wars in several African countries and filling his jails with Black Africans. The Libyan People should be mindful of the divide and rule strategies of Colonel Gaddafi and the Western powers. The pro democracy movement should not be co-opted and used as a means to sustain other hegemonies, racism, discrimination, and warfare. There have been several massacres in the African continent and the Mid-east which did not receive any attention, interventions, and strong condemnations from Western nations. While condemning the horrific killings by Gaddafi in Libya, we do not encourage any interventions that would be viewed as an annexation due to other considerations such natural resources and imperialism. Let the Libyan People become their own heroes in their revolution.

International Social Justice Activist: Developments in Africa

International Social Justice Activist: Developments in Africa: "The African Union, European Union, and United States need to condemn the massacres in Libya. The African Union also needs to support the Pro..."

Developments in Africa

The African Union, European Union, and United States need to condemn the massacres in Libya. The African Union also needs to support the Pro-Democracy movements in Libya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. With the avalanche of true democracy sweeping the African continent major attention should be directed to autocratic rulers in Uganda and other African countries

We Salute the Egyptian People

After 30years of servitude we welcome the dawn of a new era in North Africa and the Arab streets. The Young People inspired a whole region and remained steadfast to achieve their goals. Peace and Justice to all.

My Nigerian Story- Vestiges of a Cuckoo Nation Part 2

In exploring my recent trip to the United Nations of Nigeria and the “Cuckoo nation” which we are presented with, it would be tempting to maintain the status quo and ignore the obvious problems. Therein lies the crux of the matter, as this would only suit the narratives of some Nigerians like President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan and members of the Building Up Nigeria Project. Nevertheless, longstanding and contemporary situations do not get resolved through these means because self-censorship is not a panacea to our national plight. According to the renowned singer, actor, social justice activist, and Pan-Africanist Harry Belafonte, not speaking truth to power is tantamount to becoming a patriotic traitor. It is my assertion that inaction and keeping quiet ultimately results in the historical circumstances that we have witnessed and are all witnessing in the African nations of Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt.

                Our situation in the United Nations of Nigeria is such that some of us fail to realize the difference between expecting gratuity (tips) after rendering the designated services than out rightly canvassing for bribes before the commission of the task. For example, while boarding the bus from Lagos to Owerri the bus company bag handlers (paid employed staffs) did not want to assist and demanded for some monies in advance. When they failed to convince me to that effect, they again tried to proposition me on how to circumvent the bag weighing process by paying them on the side to put my belongings on the scale for half the fee.

Moreover, these types of behaviors are not limited to the regular strata of our society, as most federal, state, and local government officials are controlled through the “pay to play” dogma. Our current do or die politicking is largely due to individuals and groups that are engrained in the scratch my back and I go scratch yours mentally. In his exclusive interview with www.pointblanknews.com, General Babangida spoke about the fact that corruption and mismanagement of public funds had skyrocketed after his 8year rule. This is quite true, except that in his characteristic intellectual and political dishonesty, the General failed to point out that some of the corrupt rulers that have emerged in the United Nations of Nigeria are his mentees and political allies. For instance Chief Dr. Peter Odili the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and Colonel/Senator David A.B. Mark the current Senate President. The members of the Nigerian National Assembly and Colonel/Senator David A.B. Mark with their refusals to declare their wages while appropriating retirement funds for ex- autocrats and their families are knee deep in the “pay to play” mentally.

                In digressing, I should report that despite the K-street lobbyist and the money in Washington DC, most politicians here know what lines they are not to traverse. Those that operate with impunity like their Nigerian counterparts such as Mr. Tom Delay of Texas, Jack Abramoff, and Mr. William Jefferson of Louisiana (who had connections to former Vice President and Deputy Director of Customs and Excise Atiku Abubakar) were arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated. People actually go to jail unlike what transpires through the dictates of our so-called Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke. Thus, If colonialism and imperialism are akin to natural disasters for the African continent then the corruption, impunity, and injustice that we experience from our rulers are equivalent to some of the most costly man-made disasters. 

                When I arrived at Owerri Imo State, I was confronted by some major man-made problems that had nothing to do with the prevalent problems of land erosion. With all the insecurities and kidnappings in South Eastern Nigeria, I entered Owerri with some hesitations and resolutions. My younger brother had been the victim to a ghastly shooting near the Federal University of Technology Owerri when so-called indigenes attacked students in 2008 under the guise of indigenes/settlers dichotomy. Instead of resolving differences with the school administrators and students the surrounding communities attacked our Nigerian children. The absurdity of the indigenes/settlers problem is that an Mbaise (closest local government area or county to Owerri) young man who resides in Port-Harcourt is shot by people from Owerri in his native Imo State.

                As someone who attended primary and secondary school on university campuses in Port-Harcourt I also know that the Owerri campus like others in the country have thrived more in anti-social activities hence the deteriorating standards of education in the country. We have organizations/fraternities (student secret cults) that focus on criminality and youthful exorbitant instead of challenging the corrupt societal structures. Members of the Pyrates, Vikings, Black Axe, Buccaneers, Klan’s Konfratenity and others maim and kill each other with Western inspired organizational names, political/economic sponsors, and their cult colors while abandoning pro-social activities. There is a failure of imagination to realize that Nobel Laureates like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Professor Wole Soyinka were former fraternity members that focused their energies on social justice issues instead of negativity. For example in my final term of secondary school an attempt was made by two cult members to capture me on the streets of Port-Harcourt due to a personal rift with my late classmate. However, this cuckoo act resulted in recruitment request by rival groups. Please listen to MI’s (Nigerian musician Mr. Incredible) song “Craze” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wqE4y2uImc for more insights.    

At Owerri, I witnessed young people in the prime of their lives who may have been betrayed by our so-called leaders. For the first time in my life, I was in a room with so many smokers and had to exit due to the contamination from second hand smoke. My wife a biologist and public health specialist informed me that she had read an article about the dumping of cigarettes in Nigeria because of the strict regulations in Western nations and the quest for virgin markets. Then I realized that cancer would definitely be a cause of concern in about 20years for our contemporary youth population. On a much lighter note, I also saw many young men “sagging” their trousers. Sagging refers to wearing your pants in an incomplete manner. This youth culture originated from the jails of America before spreading into her urban cities. I saw more people practicing this trend in Owerri than I have on any given day in Washington DC, New York, and California.

In Imo State, I was confronted with the unfortunate reality that one of the booming industries is electioneering politics. His Excellency Mr. Ikedi Ohakim was the number one protagonist in this sector. There were blizzards of posters with campaign information about him but nothing visible and tangible to show for his stewardship from Owerri to Mbaise. I also came across several posters of people that had no educational qualifications and real life experiences with community service. At the Sam Mbakwe International cargo airport the edifice was more like a small dormitory building. However, that did not stop the airport authority from collecting entrance (tolls) fees. I intend to address the problems with our airports, immigration officers, and indigenes/settlers disputes in the final (Part 3) commentary on My Nigerian Story with special emphasis on Port-Harcourt Rivers State the pulse of the Niger Delta.

 Nnamdi Frank Akwada, MSW, BA Social Community Activist and Blogger

 Masters of Social Work (2010)  

 Bachelors in Criminology and Criminal Justice (2001)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

International Social Activist: True Democracy in Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt

International Social Activist: True Democracy in Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt: "As the Drums of True Democracy and Justice Beats on the African and Arabian streets we have to encourage and endorse the will of the people...."

True Democracy in Sudan, Tunisia, and Egypt

As the Drums of True Democracy and Justice Beats on the African and Arabian streets we have to encourage and endorse the will of the people.

Indeed True Democracy should not be curtailed and/or co-opted by the Western Powers, African Union, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference, Western Corporations, Eastern Corporations, Religious factions, and the African and Global elitists.

People and True Democracy is the panacea to hegemonies, terrorism, apartheid, classism, racism, tribalism, sexism, and religious intolerance.

True Democracy enables communalism, cultural exchanges, economic development, community empowerment, and equity.

True Democracy shuns corruption, impunity, autocracies, plutocracies, corporate greed and mismanagement, pseudo security while spurring accountability, responsibility, civility, security, togetherness, human development, and justice.  

True Democracy

Let us call on President Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, and the US administration to support the will of the Egyptian People. Let us support True Democracy in motion.

9-11, Community Center, and Immigration

September 11^th!!! In Support of Park 51 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

As a Methodist Christian, during the process of joining my Islamic sisters and brothers in the month long Ramadan fast, I have come to the realization that more progressive voices are needed in the current debate about the New York community center and the comprehensive immigration overhaul in the United States. However, my decision to speak out is not borne out of some epiphany and/or altruistic liberal virtue. On the contrary, I am speaking out of the basic human instinct of survival, morals and principles. My decision to fast does require more self examination because it was motivated by solidarity with others and the need to take charge of my health and well-being. The last time I experienced this difficult consecutive fasting exercise was a teenage born-again evangelical Christian. When I look around the United States I realize how some on the right of the political spectrum have decided to demonize “the other,” “the different,” “the foreign,” and “those cultures” etcetera etcetera.

Consequently, I have come to the unique but honest realization that the same fringe and evolving contemporary conservative movement on the right might one day single out my offspring for discrimination due to political convenience. The protestation about the Islamic center and the clamor to deport immigrants are both political avenues of sowing discord in society in this climate of economic recession. Conservatives are in an intermediary era, with a president that they are refusing to identify with, acknowledge and/or respect. They are afraid of change and would like to maintain the status quo, hence their decision to dwell on divisive propagandas and exploit our so-called differences. Examples of their misinformation are that President Obama was born in Kenya and he is a secret Muslim. Would they have supported him if he was a Muslim? The more bigoted premise is that affiliation with the Islamic faith is grounds for disqualification from elected/appointed positions in the United States of America.

Since, it is politically incorrect to cast aspersions about race; the next line of attack is to conveniently question Mr. Obama’s national origin (place of birth) and religion. It is worth noting that while President W. Bush and Cheney were in office the current hatred for Muslims and Immigrants that we are currently experiencing in the United States from the Republicans, did not reach this feverish pitch. Did the Bush administration take advantage of the fears of “the other” after September 11^th, 2001, the answer is absolutely yes. Bush and Cheney lied and deceived the country into a war in Iraq. They transposed Osama bin Laden’s transgressions and Al-Qaeda’s declaration of war to Saddam Hussein and Iraq respectively. Bush did not want us to blame the 1.5billion Muslims for the war declaration on September 11^th, 2001, however he substitute one Arabic name for another and Hussein became Osama.

Coincidentally, my children have recent immigrant heritages and their middle names are Arabic. They are citizens of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the United States. In my humble opinion they are citizens of the world and their allegiances should be extended to make the planet a better place for all. My son’s name is Nnaji Yusuf. Nnaji is his Igbo name which means (Our Lord is holding) and Yusuf is his Arabic name which means the (The Lord Increases). My son’s middle name is a tribute to his uncle the late Alhaji Yusuf Conteh who arrived from war torn Sierra Leone and met his untimely death in Prince Georges County, Maryland. In objectively analyzing the current debate with regards to the Islamic community center and the insistence by some in the Republican Party to target Latinos in the immigration situation, I can not help but think that similar methodologies would be utilized against my children in the future.

            Moreover, some fools might decide to question my children on the legitimacy of their birth certificates, and whether they were actually born in Silver Spring Maryland. Their Nigerian heritage and/or Arabic middle names are going to become an issue, if we keep quiet and do not speak out at this juncture in history. Some in the future would definitely suggest and/or attempt to invalidate their United States citizenship. While others may think that this is impossible and can not happen in America, I would like to remind them that there is already a movement to denial citizenship to children who are born within the American territory. This debate is going on despite the fact that the citizenship provision of the United States constitution is one of the bedrock of the 14^th amendment. If conservatives have the audacity to challenge the Citizenship clause of the amendment that allows African Americans and all persons born in the United States to be naturalized citizens, then my supposition is very feasible.

            However, enough is enough! Progressives and people of good conscience need to stand up to confront the likes of Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Newt Gingrich. We need to counter them in their attempt to derail this nation in transition. The freedom to freely express religious beliefs is enshrined in the constitution and should not be trampled with. The Park 51 project should proceed and be a testament of our resolve to appreciate diversity and inclusion. Recent immigrants should be provided with a path to citizenship just like it was the case in the past for other generations of immigrants. We should make a commitment to organize and vote out of office those who use religious intolerant and immigration as discordant political issues. Let us stand up against the bigotry of the majority from individuals and groups that want to rescind freedom of association and religious liberty. Those that site public opinion polls and try to intimate others with antics like the Koran burning should be called out. Truth tellers should remind our society that the same public opinion polls could have continued the patriarchy hegemony of this country with Jim Crow segregation and racism still in place.     

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