Africa Must Come of Age

Published on 7th March 2016

A recent article on  how Nigeria's Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan handed Nigeria's sovereign wealth fund to Tony Blair & JP Morgan  is shocking and depressing. http://www.tori.ng/news/22569/how-expresident-jonathan-handed-nigerias-sovereign.html

This is how Africa gets screwed from colonial times to independent era. Her leadership is clueless on money management and how to create their own independent financial services. It is either they are sold junk of 5th rate ideas or hellish programs on money. Remember the 1980s Structural Adjustment Program - SAP, that sapped Africa of whatever energy it had? My late mom who did not have formal education in financing, could do better.

The Six Functions of Money does not change with geography, what does is the attitude of the persons who manage such resources.

It begs the question: Since 1975, when Kenya became the first African nation to receive an IMF bailout, how come 41 years hence, Kenya is barely making it and some aspects of her national budget is funded by donor nations? What did Africans miss in the pages of books they studied often graduating on top of their class, that when it comes to running their nations and committing to making a success, they flatly disappoint?

All it takes to screw all 54 African prime ministers and presidents  is one "whiteman" from anywhere in the world. It does not have to be real white - Chinese, Lebanese, Indian, Israeli, Pakistani, etc, all get unrestricted access. Africa is a playground from which foreigners walk away with millions, and turn around and donate peanuts in the form of aid and NGO support. It is so sad, it makes one wonder.

Once most Africans see a foreigner, they buckle at the knees thinking a savior has come.  Since that is the case, with all the black-white interaction for ages, the blackman is still one left holding the bag - empty all the time during SLAVERY and COLONIAL eras.

At the end of the physical domination 1950s and 1960s, the black race was granted civil rights in US and independence in Africa. But other methods to keep them both shackled and chained to dependency emerged - mental enslavement and colonization.

Every race suspects the other because in the 'human-animal kingdom,' all animals may have been created equal, but some are more equal than others both by design and default. Domination is part of the sense of feeling superior. Make no mistake about it.

When I met Tony Blair at SMU in Dallas and asked him a question, instead of answering, he asked where I was from. I did not answer. He said Nigeria. I smiled and he walked away. I was ready to rattle him with tough questions about things I have information on. He even asked  whether I was Igbo?

I get baffled when I hear how easy it is to have African leaders fall. The same thing happened in Kenya during the Kibaki era. Young British investment bankers sold him junk and he went along. This flies in the face of Kibaki having graduated with top First Class honors from the London School of Economics. It does appear that the more education most Africans get, the more vulnerable they get succumbing at the first opportunity, often at the hands of those who once colonized and enslaved them. God have mercy.

Singapore got successful after breaking  its relationship with UK and the Commonwealth after the country's  money at the exchequer was devalued. Such treatment angered Lee Yuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, that he decided to walk believing 'no one can and should be left to manage another's wealth, and live to tell happy ending story.'

It was a lesson in self-determination and assertion that people have to carry their own water. That lesson laden with profound determination is lost with Africans where 54 prime ministers and presidents all act sheepish, and will hand off their nation's resources for nothing. The taker[s] may be blamed but it is the giver and willing backer; the African, that ought to be ashamed.

No prophet has honor in their own village, welcome to the African continent where they do not trust their own. The 'whitier and lighter' the color of the skin, is all one needs to appear knowledgeable and capable to most Africans as they love such complexions.

Ironically, Africans and her cousins the African-Americans may sing and chant 'Black is Beautiful' and 'Am Black and Proud', but they do not honor such when it comes to managing their affairs and showing those that once colonized and enslaved them, that "This Is Our Chance" to prove 'We Can and Will.'

I suppose Africa being considered a dark continent, whatever is associated with her is 'dark' literally and figuratively speaking. It is about time to end this undue abuse and exploitation occasioned by those who ought to be tireless in enhancing and redeeming the image and glory of the black race.

Tony Blair and those like him are no saviors. Why grant them access and audience? Why dangle fresh meat in front of a very hungry lion? Challenge me and prove me wrong. I like to be duly educated and informed. I pass the witness.

By Ejike E. Okpa

Dallas, Texas.


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