It is no longer a secret that Nigeria, the once acclaimed giant of Africa has lost its premier status in the eyes of the world. Today, Nigeria has withered away in the eyes of the world and is no longer seen as the representative of Africa, among the comity of nations. Such is the perfidy that every sensible Nigerian should seriously be questioning how things got so out of control that Nigeria is now deemed a "pariah" nation? Icheoku says, it is time Nigeria started digging herself out of the molasses it is in now, where successive rudderless and inept leaderships have sunk it into. Icheoku's verdict, Nigeria is bogged down and sinking fast; and barring any meaningful intervention, may soon be completely finished!
The other day, Nigerian foreign affairs team led by Ojo Maduekwe and the Siemens bribe-taker Jubril Aminu were in Washington DC, lobbying the State Department for President Umaru Yar'Adua to meet and greet President Barack Obama? But they were given a cold shoulder, completely rebuffed; and in diplomatic lingo told that the president's tight itinerary will not accommodate such a visit now. Few months later, the G20 London world economic summit once again told Nigeria, that it is about time it put her acts together by ignoring her and not inviting her to the summit? Any hand-writing on the walls, yet? May be, it was such an incomprehensible hieroglyphics of a writing for the authorities in Abuja to decode? Abuja seems to be playing the possum and 
pretending like the cricket roasting in the fire, that it is just cooling off? How strange? Icheoku says, it sure does not look good that the hitherto giant of Africa, previously the first is now the last!
pretending like the cricket roasting in the fire, that it is just cooling off? How strange? Icheoku says, it sure does not look good that the hitherto giant of Africa, previously the first is now the last! Once again the world waited to see if President Umaru Yar'Adua meant well when he promised that it is a new day in Nigeria, that rule of law and the will of the masses will henceforth guide elections in Nigeria? But lo and behold, Ekiti State's re-run election proved that the leopard, Nigeria, is not just yet ready to change its spots! That President Umaru Yar'Adua is either a conniving pretender or he is lost at the sea of Nigeria political labyrinth. The world verdict, it now seems is that Nigeria's problem is intractable and they should rather be ignored to see if such apathy will jolt them back to reality? That Halliburton's bribery recipients are still moving freely in Nigeria is without doubt? Also that a high government official implicated in the Siemens $12 million dollars bribery, Jubril Aminu is still heading the Nigerian senate foreign relation committee is instructive on the destructive nature of the powers in Nigeria; who do not care a hue about the damage their charade is causing Nigeria.
Now the mother of all snubs and the first African-American president of America, Barack Obama goes on his first mother-land visit to Africa and it is not going to be to Nigeria? What a heck? How has the mighty Nigeria fallen? How has Nigeria become so decimated in the eyes of the world, that it is probably still being tolerated just for its cheap oil? This Obama's visit to Ghana is particularly "painful" to Nigerians because Ghana does not necessarily factor in Africa in the scheme of things:- not in military prowess, not in international peace-keeping effort, not in population, not in natural resources, not in manpower, not in over-all wealth or just name your paradigm. Were it South Africa it could be understandable! Were it Egypt, Nigerians will accept it; but to Ghana, it can only be interpreted as a move to make a statement to Nigeria, that enough is enough and it is about time they sat up or be forgotten! Icheoku says, wait until the newly discovered oil in Ghana begins to make its way to the world market and the undertakers will come for a formal interment of what used to be the giant of Africa! Is it too late, probably not; but it is going to take a lot of introspective re-thinking by the authorities in Nigeria to understand that, what is going on in Nigeria is not merely an internal affairs of Nigeria as the whole world is watching. Nigeria needs to re-boot! Nigeria needs to press her re-set button for a new beginning! Nigeria needs to put her house in order! It is so shameful it hurts, the rot that is Nigeria today; that it does not factor in any longer in the analysis of Africa, nay the world! 
Icheoku says, it is regrettable that Nigeria has now also lost to Ghana in Washington's permutations of her African interests? That Ghana is being accorded the privilege of hosting the first African visit of the first African-American president of America, Barack Obama in July, 2009 is too much of a slap in the face for the formerly known giant of Africa, Nigeria. It shows a failure of the foreign policy team of Nigeria and hence their resignation is the proper thing to do now. Icheoku therefore calls on Ojo Maduekwe and his team at the foreign affairs ministry to resign their office immediately. Their failure to secure and/or garner President Barack Obama's first African visit for Nigeria smacks of an ineffective team which does not understand their job description properly and should hence be disbanded. Such a preferred visit to Ghana is an affront on Nigeria's standing in Africa and an insult on the prestige of Nigeria; it besmirches Nigeria and whoever allowed or permitted this to happen, either through commission or omission to effective international diplomacy should suffer a consequence as a result. Nothing short of their resignation from office should be acceptable to Nigerians, including President Umaru Yar'Adua; this is in addition to our call and continues call for President Umaru Yar'Adua to throw in the towel for not knowing what to do with the mandate which was handed to him by the cabals of Nigeria. Until such a day when Nigeria will get its acts right, Icheoku cries for thee, motherland Nigeria! Be that as it may, and in the spirit of African brotherhood, we felicitate with Ghana's President Atta Mills of Ghana on securing this historic visit; and wish him a successful first-hosting right of President Barack Obama of the United States of America in July 2009.
Nigerians can be funny with their bloated ego. I don’t know who the hell conferred the title ‘Giants of Africa’ onto Nigerians. Tell me for what reason do you consider yourselves the giants of Africa? The mere fact that you have a huge population does not make you a de facto giant of anywhere. Being a giant entails more than a huge population and some oil.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous, you seem bitter because Obama did not Visit Nigeria first; there is nothing special about Nigeria to make you the favourite of anything. Clean and put your house in order and all will be well, but for now stop thinking you are a Giant or whatever your inflated ego makes you think you are.
Your article is pathetic!!!! You should be ashamed of yourself; you are one of the reasons why Nigeria has lost all its respect. 'A visit to Ghana is an affront on Nigeria's standing in Africa', I thought you guys were crawling. If Obama is making a brief visit to sub Sahara Africa why not the first country to gain independence from colonial rule, can Nigeria beat that? Nana
ReplyDeleteI think Nigerians have drunk their own poison-laced koolaid. It is delusional for any Nigerian to broach the idea that that country is the giant of Africa. It is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Granted Nigeria has an uncontrolled burgeoning population but that is hardly a mark of greatness. Nigeria is probably among the 10 largest exporters of oil, but it is probably the only country in the world whose ordinary citizens derive no benefit from their nation's oil resource; it runs a federal system of government and elected officials but it can hardly organize a clean election to elect a class prefect in Ajengule Government Primary School. Perhaps, Nigerians are not aware of their true image in the world, so permit me to offer you a few pointers.
ReplyDeleteNigeria, as that country is currently run, is the proverbial case of all that is wrong with Africa. When we talk of corruption, Nigeria comes out at the top. You doubt me? Ask any Nigerian to tell you what that country uses its oil revenues for. They can't tell you. Nigeria's only contribution to the world lexicon is "419". Do you need an explanation of 419 and the damage it has done to Nigeria's image abroad? I don't think so. That is hardly a mark of greatness.
Sure Nigeria has the potential to be Africa's equivalent of the West's USA, but presently it is wallowing pathetically at the bottom of the list of well-organized and well-run nations. Three years ago, both Ghana and Nigeria were on their knees begging the West for debt forgiveness. Giants do not cut such a pathetic sight on their knees begging for crumbs.
Lastly, if anyone with an overbloated sense of Nigeria's greatness cares for the truth they have but to visit an internet cafe in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, on any given weekend. They'll be met with hordes of grown Nigerian citizens (evidently criminally minded men) who now ply their trade in international conmanship from Ghana.
Nigeria is hardly a self-sustaining well-governed nation that benefits its people, much less an international giant. You want a visit from Obama, clean up your act. This is a brotherly advice from a Ghanaian. Kokuvi
We deserve these toxic but regretably (hard to swallow)raw comments from our (obviously) Ghanian friends because they have earned the bragging right. They had their low moments (much lower than we have ever sunk)but galantly climbed their way back. Until we do likewise, let none of us quarrel with their yabis, rather, let us divert that energy to righting the wrongs with our country's ways(not rebranding it), then it would have been a worthwhile effort. Fire on our dear Kofis and Nanas!!!!!I bear the truth no grudge. Kizito Osuji
ReplyDeleteWednesday, May 20, 2009
ReplyDeleteU.S. Nigeria ties intact, says Clinton
From Laolu Akande, New York
THOUGH President Barack Obama is not visiting Nigeria yet, but the country is still an important partner of the United States (U.S.), the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said yesterday at a State Department press conference in Washington DC.
Clinton said President Barack Obama's preference to visit Ghana in his first call on Africa in July is mainly to indicate to Africans his deep commitment to the continent.
At the 100 days press briefing held by the Obama Administration for the foreign press last month, the question had been raised that the Obama Administration was yet to visit Africa. But on Saturday, the White House announced a first presidential visit to a sub-Saharan African country.
Clinton spoke yesterday in Washington DC at a global press briefing hooked to New York and Rome, which was her first meeting with the foreign press corps to enunciate the new U.S. administration's diplomatic agenda.
Although the U.S. President will not be visiting Nigeria now, Clinton said the U.S. government would follow up on its commitments to Nigeria, dispelling the notion that Obama's visit to Ghana ahead of Nigeria is an indication of less commitment to Nigeria. But she warned during the press briefing that America's diplomacy globally will no longer be limited to government to government, but will now include more and more government to people and people-to-people.
But the U.S. Secretary of State did not counter the view that President Obama was visiting Ghana to highlight good governance in that West African country as the White House press statement had announced on Saturday. Obama in his 4th major trip abroad will be visiting Ghana on July 11 and leaving the next day after a trip to Russia, and Italy among others, including participation at the G-8 meeting in Italy in July.
According to Hillary Clinton, Obama's choice of Ghana is "meant to tea-up" U.S. relationship with sub-Saharan Africa, and the choice should not be interpreted in any other way.
She stated that "our relationship with Nigeria is an important anchor in Africa, " disclosing that she has spoken several times with Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister and looks forward to having more of such discussions with the Nigerian government.
But she declared that "Nigeria has a central role to play in its own democratisation and development," hinting at what many have interpreted to be the Obama Administration's principled stand against the electoral chaos and Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria.
Secretary Clinton added that Nigeria is also important in regional issues in Africa, but stressed that America's relationship towards the continent "transcends one country in Africa."
She added that "President Obama is very focussed on Africa as I am, and I hope to visit Africa later in the year. President Obama is of course going to Ghana to make sure that in the beginning of his administration, he can travel not only to Egypt in Africa, but also another country in sub-Saharan Africa."
In her opening remarks, Hillary Clinton explained that the Obama Administration is committed to the display of smart power in the pursuit of the country's diplomatic goals. She noted that America is now forging new diplomatic relationships based on partnership and principle, good governance and social inclusion. In addition, such will also require, she noted, the use of "new tools to broaden our diplomacy."
You guys (big empty ego Nigerians) are making me sick with this insistence that you are the giants and deserve the visit better than any country in Africa. It's very arrogant and shallow mindedness which will make one think that way when you live on a continent with over 53 sovereign nations. Any country could have been chosen for this visit. It so happened the criteria used made Ghana the favourable choice, nothing special. Yes, Nigeria has a huge population, but it has NEVER EVER BEEN the giant of anywhere. Somebody was talking about 'reboot'. You reboot and Nigeria will go back to zero. Yes, you have an oil boom (but messing it up) and other nationals flooded your country to seek greener pastures. Does that make you special? I don’t think so. Kizito Osuji, maybe you were not born then, but Nigerians were in Ghana in droves in the 60's and 70's before they were sent back as you did to them in recent memories. You guys should continue to eat your hearts out because of this visit and continue to wallow in this self conceited greatness till your wells run dry.
ReplyDeleteWe don’t have any nation in Africa which could be put on a pedestal because of it’s development, none. South Africa is what comes close to that and that is simply due to the presence of the whites, they made it happened. Not that other African nations could not do it, fact is we are too busy tearing down what we have through greed, corruption and stupidity and I think Nigeria is at the forefront. That is what you should worry about rather than making yourselves imaginary super power in Africa.
Soyinka: Why I Support Obama Not Coming to Nigeria
ReplyDelete05.22.2009
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Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the decaying state of affairs in the country and the dwindling status of Nigeria in the international community.
Speaking at an art exhibition at the Italian Embassy, Abuja yesterday, Soyinka said United States President Barack Obama’s decision to visit Ghana ahead of Nigeria in his first trip to Africa is a wise decision.
He said he does not subscribe to the suggestion that President Obama should rather visit Nigeria instead of Ghana, adding that the Nigerian government does not merit such honour.
“If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone him. The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious; is so brilliant that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria any time soon,” he said.
Commenting on Nigeria’s downward spiral status in the international community as a result of the recent non-invitation to the G20 Summit and now Obama’s preferred visit to Ghana, Soyinka said Nigeria had never had any status in the first place.
According to him, there is no basis to judge if Nigeria’s status is either increasing or decreasing since the factors upon which such analysis can be measured are lamentably absent.
“Which status did it ever have? It has lies, deceptions, one regime after another and the impudence of trying to suggest that we have a status in the first place is misleading” he said.
Soyinka while also commenting on the current onslaught in the Niger Delta, described it as a shame and crime against humanity whose master minders must face the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He said he is not against any precise surgical operation to root out criminals, adding however that he was never in support of any act of aggression against civilian population, which, according to him, is what is currently going on in the Niger Delta region.
“These atrocities should be stopped immediately. Look at Odi; that is a shame and a slap to Nigeria. This kind of massive onslaught is being used in an indiscriminate way. You have more casualties among civilians than among the militants. It is unconscionable and unacceptable. Some of these sooner or later will feature in the international court for crimes against humanity and therefore it had better be stopped right now before the criminalities move to the level of that of Sudan’s Bashir.
“I think we are beginning to discover that as usual the politicians fail. The leaders have spoken and I was happy to read in the papers that the religious leaders have spoken against what is happening right now. And I think that within the coalition of the various arms of the civil societies including the arts as I keep insisting arts should be followed to at least give us a crumb of consolation against the brutality of our daily existence,” he said.
“I am not talking about surgical action against militants or any of that; I am talking about the deliberate indiscriminate assault against the civilian population. I think there has to be a coalition of the various civil societies and artists should be ready to play their role,” he added.
On the recent Ekiti governorship rerun saga and the controversy surrounding the Electoral Reform, the visibly angry Soyinka opted not to dwell much on that, saying that Nigerian democracy is a failure.
“I wouldn’t want to talk about it. I mean where do you begin, where do you end? Is it corruption you want to talk about or what are you people talking about? he asked.
Nigerians, no doubt, know what it means to the countries of Europe, North and South America, as well as Asia, to be chosen as first for an official visit by the American leader. They, therefore, easily grasp what is implied in the expressed preference for the Republic of Ghana as first and only destination for President Obama when he comes to West Africa in July.
ReplyDeleteWhat has therefore elevated Ghana in global reckoning, well above Nigeria, as to command endorsement by the White House as “one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa”? America reckons that the West African nation is worthy of its association because it has evolved orderly political succession, a vibrant democratic culture and appreciable economic performance for over a decade. The Obama government also believes that Ghana is the appropriate reference point for a discussion of “the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.”
The world’s leading democracy and sole military super power is pointing to Ghana as a more deserving partner in her policy of constructive engagement with Africa and the rest of the world.
It has to be emphasised, however, that what is at play is the dynamics of international relations which, as the nations of the world know, is constantly under evaluation and subject to change as circumstances might dictate. That should be comforting to the government and people of Nigeria, as it leaves room for a reassessment of the country’s credentials and warmer, mutually beneficial relations with the outside world.
Nigeria has done so much at enormous human and material cost to advance the cause of peace, racial harmony and integration, democracy and socio-economic development in Africa and elsewhere. In years past, the country had been widely applauded and respected by the international community for its sacrifices. That, however, has not blinded the outside world to the nation’s gross underperformance in economic management, democratic practice, human rights, and governance, generally.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was unequivocal when, in clarifying matters relating to President Obama’s proposed visit to Africa, she spelt out the criteria for warm relations with countries – good governance and social inclusion; transparency in government; acceptance of a vibrant opposition and zero tolerance for corruption.
A critical self-assessment would show that Nigeria is crying for improvement in all those areas. A government machinery-executive and legislative- dominated by persons of questionable character, with manifest disinclination to constitutionalism and transparency in the management of national affairs, is likely to be ostracised by progressive countries. That is the clear message from Washington.
Social inclusion needs to be pursued as a cardinal policy in the country’s striving for national reinvention and acceptance in the comity of nations. For too long, from independence till date, the ruling elite have been preoccupied with political and economic schemes that create wide disparities in the distribution of wealth and in access to the means of social mobility.
The Yar’Adua administration should take Obama’s visit to Ghana as a wake-up call to revamp the weak democratic process and failing state institutions. There are acceptable international standards of good governance to which the nation must conform if it desires to be reckoned with in the comity of civilized nations.
Nigeria has a right to dismiss the views of other nations on matters of governance, but the many deficits in our national life – an unbroken history of electoral anarchy and imposition of political leaders; pervasive corruption in all tiers of government; collapse of basic infrastructure and social services; mass poverty; high crime rate; mass emigration of citizens, etc. – remain challenges that must be addressed if our country is to court the friendship of progressive nations.
Aliyu faults media on Obama trip
ReplyDeleteWritten by Ayegba Israel Ebije, Minna
Gov. Aliyu of Niger State
Niger State Governor, Muazu Babamgida Aliyu says the visit of the President of the United States of America to Ghana instead of Nigeria has nothing to do with an international conspiracy to avoid Nigeria as widely reported.
Aliyu who said this at a ceremony in Minna where he was conferred with Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria (CIPAN), maintained that the way Nigeria was viewed internationally is a function of the negative image the Nigerian media sells to the outside world.
The governor who stressed that the perception of Nigeria was due to the way the local media carried stories to reflect the worse instead of being mindful of the adverse effects it may cause the country.
“The American president not coming to Nigeria is not an international conspiracy against Nigeria but our own problem as all papers in the country continue to scream headlines that make the country look like it is the most corrupt in the world. Nigeria is not the only corrupt country but our media seem to enjoy making the country appear to be the most corrupt and unsafe to be with stories that continue to present leaders as corrupt”, he said.
Citing the election that brought former president Bush to power, Aliyu said the American media was tactical about the Florida election which was globally known to have been rigged.
He lamented that the image of Nigeria had been so bastardized in the area of its electoral system, adding that once again, the media helped in over blowing things out of proportion.
“In Florida you saw how Americans managed their crisis but here in Nigeria things are blown out of proportion to look like the worse has happened”, he said.
Speaking earlier, the governor of Jigawa State and chairman of the investiture, Alhaji Sule Lamido called on Nigerians to be mindful of any act that would vilify the country internationally, adding that America which is now a country setting standards globally was once like Nigeria in its early years.
“As Nigerians, what we say about ourselves is taken overseas by resident ambassadors to their various countries which in turn bring about bad image for the entire country”, he said.
U.S. expert explains Obama’s visit to Ghana
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Written by Aisha Umar
President Barack Obama of the United States of America is visiting Ghana because of the feat the country achieved through “peaceful transition of democracy,” an USA Associate Professor of Political Science, Steven Ekovich has said.
Obama is to visit the West African country in July.
Ekovich, who spoke yesterday via a live Digital Video Conference monitored in the US embassy in Abuja, said the visit to Ghana will be a symbolic gesture to support the country’s peaceful transition of power to the opposition.
He also said the program is part of the President Obama’s Early Initiative organised by the US Department of States (Africa Regional).
According to him, the approach of the Obama administration style is clearly different from that of former President George W. Bush administration. Obama, he said, promised powerful changes, and people like him, what he says, what he proposes and waiting to see the change.
He however said that Obama’s administration will not change U.S. foreign policy or fight against terrorism, adding that U.S.-Africa policy in terms of economy will be based on mutual interest.
On Iran, he said the U.S is not in support of the country having nuclear weapon because some Arab leaders are afraid of a nuclear Iran. He said only countries with good democratic government should have nuclear weapon like Israel but Iran democracy is not recognised by U.S.
He said Africom is a transformation of office which was in existence since 1962 to support only Francophone African countries which is now expanded to all African countries and the aim is not to deploy tools to Africa, it is favour of Africans.