Obama Presidency: What Africa Should Do
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| The Continent can Only Imagine |
Why is the election of Barack Obama highly celebrated? It is because Obama is like no other before him and his arrival signals that the US is a country that extends equal access and opportunity to anyone duly suited. By Obama ascending to the position, Blacks will have joined in all ranks of political posts in US. But what will this mean for the average Joe? No one can tell because after the party/celebration, comes the challenges and expectations that come with the office.
Will Obama have an easy start? Yes and No. But we hope he starts off well maturing into the role so that the expectations are felt beyond the borders of US. For Africa, a stronger sense of connection may ensue because of the paternal connection Obama has with Africa via his father's tribal birth into the Luo tribe of Kenya.
Since Africa has had one of the longest connections with US but one yet to gain materially and substantially from such relationship, does this mean the arrival of the Big One? Another expectation hard to tell. How will Obama coming to power benefit Africa? The lead to the answer is “what will Africa expect from an Obama presidency?”
Obama cannot give to Africa what Africa does not want for itself. If help comes to those that dutifully pursue good things for themselves, it is likely that another will help as a reaction and response to the strides and efforts being made. Obama should neither in act nor design be seen as serving the interest of Africa. He is the president of US, even though in an elastic extension of his birth by a Kenyan and a white woman, he may sympathize with issues relating to Africa. But all that may and should not happen in the first two years of his first term, except of course, he is a wonder boy and can wave the magic wand.
While a US president has enormous influence, using the Powers of the Presidency, is handled with caution especially when outside forces would like to label him something and use that to undermine his ability to lead. Obama should not immediately embrace the African cause until maybe the third or fourth year into his first term. As the first of his type to be president, he may very well act like John the Baptist, preparing the way for incoming ones to finish the job. If he is successful and gets re-elected, he should at that point in a quest for legacy decide what that legacy should be.
His first priority should be settling into the Oval Office and consolidating his leadership roles so that the hands that headed his election are strengthened and those hands can step forward and do well without Obama telling them what to do.
In the African-American communities throughout US, it is not that blacks have not been elected to office, it is more about what those who are elected do when in office. Mastering how to use and employ the benefits of the saying 'May He Use His Good Offices', takes more than just having one's own occupy such office.
If Africa wants to enhance their chances during Obama presidency, they should not just wait for Obama hand-outs, but employ the manners of effective cultivation of relationships to access the resources of US. Available statistics show that African governments are the least effective in lobbying US government and when they do, they often use the wrong approach.
Take the case of Goodworks International, an organization associated with former US Ambassador to UN Andrew Young, a democrat lobbying for Nigeria under President Obasanjo in a Bush republican administration. Such approach will not spell well for Nigeria because of the manner of approach. It is not that only democrats lobby democratic administration and vice versa, but certain approach spells less than desired outcome.
In 1997, according to State Department sources but in an article styled 'Making America Love', in George; now a defunct magazine of the late son of JFK, Nigeria under Abacha, received about $29 million in AID and spent about $3.8 million in laundering its image, nearly 8%; far more than anyone else. That was the highest spent both as a percentage of what was given and in amount by any foreign government. During that same period, Indonesia received $136m but spent only $2.05 million on its image and India received $297 million and spent about $1.7 million. So why did Nigeria spent more but got less? Even though Jessie Jackson was the de facto emissary of US for Africa, Nigeria's standing in US was shot? It was more a situation of 'take the money and do nothing'.
Nigeria and by extension Africa, do not know how to lobby US government. Cases of missed opportunities are outlined in many books including one by former Secretary of State Warren Christopher in his 'Chances of a Lifetime'. There is a given approach to getting mileage out of any relationship, and with US, certain approach spells success. Nigeria/Africa, appear not to care for such and as a result, end up with less when they should be seen as making out big time.
No other ethnic group apart from the native Americans, have had elongated and side-by-side relationship with the Anglo-Saxon clan of US than the blacks/African. While the relationship was dotted and noted for its master-servant style, often, the servant knows the heart of the master and can exploit that to better benefits. The emperor relies on his subjects to keep the empire going and often lets the subject have a say in the direction of things so that the empire is not over-thrown.
The American system of government is such that Congress and businesses have enormous roles in deciding how, where and when resources are doled out. If Africa wants to benefit from an Obama presidency, they must embrace the style of best practices for best results.
US relations with Africa is as old as diplomatic relations. It was an African country, Morocco that accorded US its first diplomatic recognition which resulted in US building its first ever Embassy in Tangier, Morocco. Although this historic fact is lost because Morocco is a Muslim country and not a European one, African nations have been lending hands to US but in return, they have mostly been timid in reaching out to US for mutual benefits.
I will expect times to be different during Obama. Heaven is available to all but only those that know how to ask God for something end up getting something from God. US may not be God but between heaven and earth, is US, and it depends how one sees her and reaches her for better dealings. There are now many Africans and African-Americans that can help promote African interests in US but Africa must woo these resources and pay them for service. The geo-political interest that tends to shape things in Washington, requires that those courting her, must recognize how the game is played and use the proper referees to get the game called in their favor.
I thank God for making it possible that this election is happening during my time. May more of such happen as we all need to experience the benefits of the Oval Office: The most respected and sought after office in the world. China may be all that, but my God: There is nothing like being called Mr. President, especially US president.
ejike okpa ii
Next Generation Fellow