Truth can sometimes come out of imbeciles and such could be said of an African petty-dictator, somewhere in the Sahara desert! The once enemy number-one of the west, former terrorists' comforter, maximum ruler of Libya and current chairman of the African Union recently voiced an opinion towards solving African internecine warfare? Muammar Gaddafi advocated for dictatorships throughout Africa to keep the people in check? Icheoku wonders, if this Bedouin-Arab has been cavorting with the likes of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Egypt's Mubarak, Gabon's Omar Bongo as well as other petty African dictators? Icheoku says, Gaddafi's position is somewhat weighty and merits some consideration, provided however that such emerging dictators are benevolent ones! Mummar Gaddafi's argument is trite and cannot be faulted into-to; admitted it will be somewhat a very difficult proposition to sell in the African continent where every little minion wants a private fiefdom for his personal indulgence. According to this pain in the behind of western governments, Africa is essentially tribal in nature and political parties are usually not very cohesive as most of them are founded along these tribal lines. These natural fault-lines 
are permanent and continuing, and so it is very easy to instigate a losing political party into a mayhem in any given country in Africa. The ensuing bloodshed between these tribes masked as political parties is what African democracy have sadly become today. Tribes engaging one another in a fight to finish simply because they lost an election, which they would interpret as their tribes losing face; based on primordial and subsisting tribal animosities and feudal antagonism from centuries gone by. This is akin to 1979 Nigeria, where political parties such as AG under Awolowo was seen as a Yoruba party, NPP under Azikwe was seen as Igbo party and NPN was seen as Hausa-Fulani party because of Shehu Shagari and Umaru Dikko; although it was the party with the most national outlook? Fortunately today, Nigeria's political parties are succeeding to an extent in melting down these tribal lines?
are permanent and continuing, and so it is very easy to instigate a losing political party into a mayhem in any given country in Africa. The ensuing bloodshed between these tribes masked as political parties is what African democracy have sadly become today. Tribes engaging one another in a fight to finish simply because they lost an election, which they would interpret as their tribes losing face; based on primordial and subsisting tribal animosities and feudal antagonism from centuries gone by. This is akin to 1979 Nigeria, where political parties such as AG under Awolowo was seen as a Yoruba party, NPP under Azikwe was seen as Igbo party and NPN was seen as Hausa-Fulani party because of Shehu Shagari and Umaru Dikko; although it was the party with the most national outlook? Fortunately today, Nigeria's political parties are succeeding to an extent in melting down these tribal lines? 
Gaddafi also called on African countries to copy his Libyan-example where he has been the sole captain of state since 1969; with zero tolerance for any dissenting viewpoint? Icheoku says, dissenting viewpoints should be allowed in order to keep such "dictator-leader" within his promise to the people, otherwise he/she will go astray. Also Gaddafi called for a United States of Africa with a single military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent! Icheoku says, this well articulated idea by Gaddafi is a noble one which deserves to be looked into with every seriousness. When viewed against the backdrop of the European Union's mantra, 'an attack on one is attack on all' and their common Euro currency experience, then it makes every sense to clobber African states into one formidable political entity. Agreeing with Gaddafi that Africa do not have any political structures but merely social structures, Icheoku says, a real thriving democracy is near impossible in Africa. This is because tribal unification under a political party is almost impossible as tribes cannot easily forgo existing rivalries/competition amongst themselves and always view each other with disdainful suspicion. 
Admitted there are certain advantages of a democracy over a dictatorship, but a benevolent-dictator could still deliver the so called "dividends of democracy" as would an elected government, to the people. All that is needed is patriotism and love of country on the part of the emerging dictator, who in council with elders and other political elites can map out strategy to move their respective countries forward. But the integration of political assets will be a strategic good move, in order to give Africa the much needed but missing clout to play in the international arena. Icheoku says, Muammar Gaddafi is either an African patriot with a burning desire to see Africa triumph or he is a petty-dictator scheming for a much larger empire/kingdom to morph his power into a phantom menace! Either way, Gaddafi could be right as Africa urgently needs a baby-sitter to coral all the stateless and ungoverned areas of Africa such as Nigeria's Niger Delta, Somalia, Western Polisario, Darfur, Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, etc? Icheoku says, O African Union, hearken to Muammar Gaddafi and let the rebirth begin!
Posts
Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
.jpg)
Gaddafi vows to push Africa unity
ReplyDeleteAdvertisement
Gaddafi vows to push Africa unity
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to pursue his vision of a United States of Africa, in his inaugural address as the new chairman of the African Union.
Col Gaddafi was elected by the heads of state of the 53-member union behind closed doors at a summit in Ethiopia.
A BBC correspondent at the summit says Col Gaddafi was seen to be the obvious choice, but some delegates are uneasy about his nomination.
Col Gaddafi replaces the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete.
Wearing a golden brocade robe and cap, Col Gaddafi sat with the traditional African leaders who accompanied him at the front of the room, rather than in the seat for the Libyan delegate.
New rules
Col Gaddafi attended the summit with an entourage of seven local monarchs"I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa," he said in his inaugural speech.
But he admitted that African leaders were "not near to a settlement" on the issue.
He told fellow summit leaders that his unity project would be approved at the next meeting in July unless there was a majority against it, reports the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt from Addis Ababa.
The AU normally relies on consensus in reaching decisions, but Col Gaddafi introduced what he described as the Islamic concept that "silence is approval," she said.
Under this principle, at least two-thirds of AU leaders would have to actively oppose Col Gaddafi's proposals, rather than simply ignoring his ideas, she added.
'Fantasy'
But an expert on the African Union called the vision of the United States of Africa a "ludicrous fantasy on the part of [Col] Gaddafi."
Kathryn Sturman at the South African Institute of International Affairs said many African leaders would not be prepared to give up their national sovereignty to join the proposed single-state federation proposed by the Libyan leader.
Ms Sturman said the chair of the group does not have any singular decision-making power, and cannot push through any changes without the consensus of the other leaders.
Muammar Gaddafi: Life in pictures
Profile: Muammar Gaddafi
Compromise
During closed-door talks on Sunday, African leaders again postponed Col Gaddafi's dream of closer union.
In a compromise, the summit agreed to transform the African Union Commission - which oversees the AU - into an AU authority with a broader mandate, outgoing chair Mr Kikwete said.
"In principle, we said the ultimate is the United States of Africa. How we proceed to that ultimate - there are building blocks," Mr Kikwete said.
Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika said governments wanting greater unity could go ahead on their own, without worrying about splitting Africa.
Erratic
The chairmanship of the African Union is a rotating position held by heads of state for one year.
It was the turn of a North African leader to chair the bloc, and Col Gaddafi was the only one present.
However, some African leaders believe the Libyan leader is too erratic to be AU chairman.
Before he arrived at the summit, he circulated a letter saying he was coming as the king of the traditional kings of Africa, our correspondent says.
Last August, he had a group of 200 traditional leaders name him the "king of kings" of Africa.
The summit's main agenda - to boost Africa's energy and transport networks - was pushed largely to the fringes, weighed down by the grim realities of the global economic downturn.
Gaddafi wants Caribbean in Africa
ReplyDeleteCol Gaddafi also raised eyebrows with another AU speech last week
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has said he would like a United States of Africa to include "Caribbean islands with African populations".
Col Gaddafi, speaking in Tripoli as the African Union's (AU) new chairman, said this could include Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
The Libyan leader also sympathised with Somali pirates, describing their actions as self-defence.
Last week he said that multi-party democracy was not right for Africa.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in the Libyan capital says Col Gaddafi's critics believe he is too erratic to be chairman of the 53-nation AU.
A week into his appointment his agenda for Africa is expanding and his views remain as controversial as ever to some people, she says.
Praise for pirates
Celebrating his new role at his compound in Tripoli on Tuesday, Col Gaddafi suggested Caribbean islands should join the AU and become a bridge between Africa and Latin America.
He went on to tell a gathering of some 400 guests that Somali pirates were only hitting back against other countries stealing marine wealth from the region's waters.
Col Gaddafi said the United Nations should protect Somali waters from the piracy of other countries.
He also said he would use his 12 months at the helm of the AU to try to resolve Africa's conflicts, including Darfur and Somalia.
Last week, the Libyan leader used his inaugural address as rotating head of the AU in Ethiopia to push his long-cherished pet project of a United States of Africa.
He envisages a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent.
But the response from many of his fellow African leaders was lukewarm, with some saying the proposal would add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
He also raised eyebrows by saying that multi-party democracy only led to bloodshed in Africa and that the best model for Africa was his own country, where opposition parties are not allowed.