By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh 

Emeritus Professor Timothy Uzodinma Nwala, the Chairman of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) Congress, a Nigerian-based Pan Igbo Socio-Cultural and Political Organization, explains that African leaders are aware of the bleak past, but a lot still depends on the background and character of those in control of their national political affairs in the emerging multipolar world. Ultimately, African countries should understand the true meaning of their colonial past for the present and future existence and play their roles as autonomous actors on the stage of world history instead of being pawns in global politics. Here are the interview excerpts: 

Q: To begin with, how would you characterize the sentiments and attitudes of African leaders towards the contemporary geopolitical situation? How specifically different is the case in Nigeria?

Prof. Timothy Uzodinma Nwala: The sentiments and attitudes reflect diversities characteristic of a people who have lived in different geopolitical spaces and historical eras. There are commonalities depending on who have been colonized by who and which region has experienced what character of colonial influences. 

There may be differences depending on the background of the leaders themselves. There are however some major explosive new awarenesses about the past - about various forms and wreckages of colonialism as manifested in different regions of the world. It is not that mankind was unaware of the horrors of colonialism. Reflecting over these horrors, what comes to mind is that the term 'State of Nature' of Charles Darwin reflects mankind's past. Even today, civil governance and the global system have only moderated this bleak past of mankind's history. 

Mankind who manifest the ideal state of affairs - are the God-men, but they are certainly in the minority. African leaders who are aware of the unique manifestations of this bleak past in the image of colonialism do so depending on their history as well as the prevailing political and social dynamics of their countries and societies. A lot also depends on the background and character of those in control of their political affairs. 

Q: What are the dynamics, in the emerging multipolar order, for ensuring Africa's unity set by the African Union? Is Africa disintegrating due to sharp existing political differences in the continent?

TUN: The dynamics reflect the background of the leaders and how regional and global struggles impinge on their countries. The Southern African experience is not exactly the same as the West African experience. That past affects current sentiments and alliances. Thus, the experience of the Southern Africa under apartheid critically affects the attitude of their patriotic leaders in the current global political dynamics. 

All African countries are bound to wake up to a common understanding of the true meaning of their colonial past for the present and future existence. The younger generation of African leaders are bound to return to the heydays of the pan-African dream of a united and free people playing their role as autonomous actors on the stage of world history instead of being pawns in global politics. 

Q: How would you suggest Africa positions itself within the context of these geopolitical complexities and contradictions? Should Africa also strengthen its agency and state institutions into more effective instruments for promoting sustainable development?

TUN: Pan-Africanism is bound to surge rather than wane under contemporary dynamics. Current realignments are geared towards freedom and equality and not towards exchanging one master for another. The songs of freedom are bound to echo and re-echo throughout the continent. The pan -Africanist spirit of Nkrumah, Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, Azikiwe and their generation is bound to guide the new Africa knocking on the horizon. The emerging new wave of Pan-Africanism is bound to conjure a new dynamism for broader autonomy and freedom. 

Q: Nigeria and a few other African countries are feverishly looking for a voice on international stage. Do you think BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) association's membership for African countries could be the saviour and mechanism through which to raise the level of development?

TUN: Yes indeed. Nigeria has a leadership which many Nigerians consider as imposed by imperialist manipulation. The regime lacks self-confidence and is bound to continue to rely on its masters to sustain its illegitimacy. The only hope is the raging songs of freedom over various nationalities to overcome the forces of illegitimacy and fraud. BRICS is bound to conjure a lot of influence in the face of this longing for freedom. The BRICS outfit will derive a position purpose if African leaders learn from the classical colonial and neo-colonial domination. I hope that the wave of radical freedom and pan-Africanism raging in contemporary Africa will grow into a dynamic wave of liberation and freedom of the new Africa. 

Q: But there are also a number of internal hindrances, for example, poor development policies, bureaucracy and non-transparency, and worse lack of good governance. What are your views here especially when tracking democracy and governance across Africa?

TUN: The immediate post-colonial era in several countries in Africa (especially in the late fifties and sixties of the last century) portrayed immense hope of a new era of 'love and happiness'). The messianic posture of the leaders played into the hands of the imperialists who preferred puppets to be in charge rather than genuine patriotic leaders of the people. Poor political stratagem made things worse as the patriotic leaders over-estimated their political strength and grossly underestimated the power of the imperialists. This was the undoing of such patriotic leaders like Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Patrice Lumumba of the Congo and Col. Ghadaffi  of Libya. The later had opportunity to engage in done radical transformation before the imperialists struck. Some leaders engaged in personal aggrandizements and dictatorial leanings for whom the state was like the case of Louis IV, equated with their personalities -Letat est moi!" There is no doubt that was the case in Nigeria, the leadership was largely dictatorial and corrupt. 

Q: Are military coups the sure way to deal with old governance systems which are fraught with deep-seated corruption, as it appears, especially in West Africa? Is growing neo-colonialism the problem in these French-speaking countries?

TUN: Three forces were at play in provoking military coups in several post-colonial states in Africa especially in the sixties and seventies. These included bad governance and arrogance of the new leaders, the thrust of neo-colonialism and ambition of other citizens. Often the last two were in alliance - that is to the neo-colonial forces went into alliance with high ambitions, especially those in the military to overthrow those in power. This picture could be seen in all post-European colonial states. 

Q: What would be the future relations of African states that opposed United States hegemony and Europe's exploitative attitudes? Do you think Russia compared to China presents an alternative for Africa's development and attaining Africa's economic sovereignty? 

TUN:  Two factors explain the attraction of Russia and China to the new African leaders. The first is the positive role of Russia in the struggle against Apartheid. President Vladimir Putin himself, the current leader of Russia was a young KGB officer who worked with the ANC and helped to train their anti-Apartheid forces. There is no doubt that Russia and China represent a more tolerable leadership than the Western and European countries. As to which of the two present a more positive alternative, the future will tell.