Saturday, August 21, 2010
WYCLEF JEAN SHUT OUT OF HAITI'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
Wyclef Jean's bid for Haitian presidency has been scuttled. Haiti's electoral commission denied him the opportunity to contest in the presidential election, stating that 'The Fugees' superstar was disqualified because "he has not lived in Haiti for the past five years as required." Icheoku interjects and asks whether living in Haiti for five years meant continuously living in Haiti or as many Diaspora do, maintaining a place of abode therein which is visited periodically? Also why didn't the electoral commission invoke the doctrine of waiver and use to fix whatever five years residential snafu and hiccups Wyclef may have suffered? Waiver would have readily helped his cause, and help him qualify to run for office. If the commission wanted to solve this problem of five years residency; they would have granted a waiver; except that the entrenched powers in Port-au-Prince do not want any spoiler on the seat of power, so stop him now they vowed and just did. But Wyclef did not loose anything in event of his disqualification; no, since he can still call up former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama anytime he wants; which Haiti and its people would have beneficially used to their advantage. But the authorities there will have no Wyclef to effect 'Change Haitians can believe in?' So the real biggest loser here is the masses of Haiti, who the international clout of Wyclef Jean would have helped draw attention to their plight and struggle for survival. What a missed great opportunity which the Haitians would have continuously mined for a very long time indeed. Once again, Icheoku reiterates that Haiti missed a golden opportunity at raising its international profile through their famous son, who found success in America. Luckily too, Wyclef Jean's sojourn in America has robbed off on him very well;l as he accepted his fate calmly, urging his supporters to "remain calm and respond "peacefully and responsibly to the disappointment." According to his statement, "Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same." Icheoku says, the way to go Wyclef since politics without bitterness is the in-thing and do or die politics so ancient. The loser is Haiti and its people who missed a great opportunity to internationalize their country through a famous son of theirs who has met fame and fortune in America; and would have used that to the greatest benefit of Haiti.
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