लेस्सोंस फ्रॉम OBAMA

LESSONS FROM OBAMA

Tuesday January, 20, 2009 was a historic day. It was the day that the dream of Barrack Hussien Obama to become the president of the greatest, most powerful, and the richest (going by its GDP) country in the world, the United States of America,USA. It was a dream come true for Dr. Martin Luther King, the American dreamer, who coincidentally was born in the month of January. It was a dream fulfilled for black Americans who have suffered discrimination and indignation in the hands of their white brothers. It was a dream come for the minority across the world that one doesn’t need to belong to the majority to achieve his vision, dream and mission on earth. Congratulations Obama! May God grant you wisdom, strength in the inner man, divine direction, inspiration and the grace to lead America, nay the world, out of the unfolding economic recession.

Obama emergence as the 44th President of USA signals the restoration of the dignity of the black man and Africa. It is a spiritual indicator that the glory of God has moved to Africa and this move of God will soon manifest in all spheres of life. Soon Africa would be the happening place, the place to be and the people to beat. Africa would soon offer solutions to the world problems.

We should not look at what Obama would do to Africa rather we should seize the moment and effect the needed change in our political, economic, culture, education system. We should not be thinking of how Obama would help African rather we should be talking about how Africa would help Obama to have the best presidency in the history of America. Obama presidency should be a period where he should worry less about intractable wars in Africa or power sharing in Zimbabwe. If Obama is truly our son, as we are wont to claim, all the wars in Africa should cease. All bad leaders should have a change of heart or leave office.

We should imbibe the “I can do” spirit of Obama to effect this change. Yes, we can. We should shun apathy, pessimisms, hopelessness, cynicism and negativity. We should always look at the bright side of life that no matter the situation or prevailing circumstance something good will come out and we shall always prevail. In the current Obama wind of change, Nigeria and Africa should allow this wind to blow across the continent. Mugabe and his likes should take cue. Yes, Obama is a boy when compared with Mugabe but wisdom is not in age.

All Nigerians who are shouting Obama! Obama; in their offices, communities, states and local government can they give a chance to a non native even to stand as councilor in their wards? Are they ready, willing and committed to effect the needed change in our country that can give rise to millions of Obamas? Those religious fanatics in the North who hide under religion to attack non natives if Obama was to sojourn in their domain they would have killed him by now. Do they know how many Obamas they have killed? Whereas it takes a foreigner 10 years to be qualified to be a Nigerian citizen, a Nigerian would never be accepted, no matter how long; you would have stayed in another part of the country.

Why did the Kenyan government have to wait till Obama won elections as president of America before they gave his village electricity and water? Is it not that same Kenya that does not consider a man from Obama’s tribe fit enough to become the president of the country? Yet, the stone that was neglected has now become the chief cornerstone. So my village would remain without potable water and roads because we have no Obama from there. You see the African mindset, remembering a community just because one of its sons in now an international figure.

I felt ashamed when I see Nigerians celebrating Obama, calling him, our brother, and our man. How is he our man? Obama is a product of a liberal society that encourages excellence. A society where pupils seeking admission in federal government colleges are judged based on the same cut off marks not different marks for different states. A society that gives you the opportunity to be the best you can; no matter the colour of your skin or where your parents are from. A society that celebrate its best; and not anything goes-society like ours. Ours is a society where discriminatory institutions, federal character, tribalism, nepotism, ethnicity, indigeneship. A country where you are expected to state your state of origin, local government and religion and tribe when applying for jobs and these may turn up to be the needed qualifications and not your skills, training, competence or education. The excitement in Nigeria about Obama’s emergence as president of USA smacks of hypocrisy and insincerity.
Who is Obama’s political godfather who will be dictating to him who to appoint or who should be given which contract; and how to share federal revenue? How much was Obama’s bank balance when he indicated interest for the presidency, he ran his campaign on public donations and contributions and not stolen money from corrupt state governors. We recruit thugs to snatch ballot boxes and intimidate voters and political rivals, Obama recruited volunteers to go from do to door to campaign and raise fund for the elections. I think we should practice this in 2011.If things continued in Nigeria the way we going certain states may never produce a president for the country. Certain tribe, ethnic group may never produce a governor or a local government chairman because they are minority, so the majority must have their way and all the political privileges and benefits.

Who cares where the president of Nigeria comes from if those who have occupied that office have touched the lives of Nigerians positively? The place of birth, tribe or state of origin of any public office holder would not have meant anything to Nigerians if these occupants discharge their duty efficiently, effectively and in the common interest. But because public office in Nigeria is all about “chopping” that is why we worry about where the minister, director, governor or chairman comes from. We want to take our own share of the national cake. We want our turn to “chop” and not to serve. Tribalism, I have always say is an elitist game, use to manipulate the ignorant masses for their personal interests. How many Nigerians care about the share holding or ownership structure of the GSM service providers as long as they get quality service? Who bother about who is the Managing Director of PHCN or where the District Manager of PHCN comes from when there is constant light? Quality service is why Muslims pupils or students can attend Christian schools and vice versa because what matters is the quality of education and not the religious inclination of the owners of these institutions.

Nigeria and Nigerians have no business celebrating the Obama presidency; we have murdered, frustrated and marginalized many Obamas in our land. What we need to do is to hide our faces in shame and cry to God for forgiveness after a genuine repentance and determination to live right and do right to all manner of Nigerians “though tribe and tongue may differ”. According to Obama in his inaugural speech, the world has changed and we must change with it. If we do not change we would sink and stink.