If you want to snuff out Africa, now is the perfect time to do it; 50 of the continent head of states, countless business and political
leaders are gathered in Washington DC for a roll call by Uncle Sam.
No one in government circle will describe the jamboree in such a disavowing tone, most especially, when they have the opportunity to be in a more orderly and predictable society; away from all the chaos and turmoil irresponsible leadership has given birth to in Africa.
The US called it a business and investment summit, that is supposed to channel investment by American companies to the
last frontier of economic growth in the world- Africa. But in essence, it is a last ditch effort to counter the rising influence of China in Africa, and to resusitate the waning influence and sway the US has in Africa.
The underlining aim of the US, is to take stock: to know the number of for and against, and those still holding unto the non-aligned policy. The US seems to be saying: if you are still loyal, find your way to DC, if you are having a second thought, you know what
we can do to create unrest in your domain.
And as expected, they went in droves, driven by a manic desire to appease the mephistophilian master, else they lose their much coveted fiefdom through machinations like Boko Haram.
Our president, Goodluck Jonathan -who inherited a milder dose of globetrotting from Obasanjo- in is most distinguishable attire, went with 75 well-armed entourage of speech givers, who are adept at reciting all the melodious symphony supposed investors want to hear in order to make investment decisions.
Not too long ago, it was the World Economic Forum at Davos, then a version of it for Africa held in Abuja, and several other shades of business and investment summits that are suppose to improve the economic fortunes of African states. Yet, it is the will of the people to succeed inspite of the repressive and visionless leadership that characterise Africa, that is actually driving the economic advancement.
What causes the most disillusionment, is the fact that none of the 50 Presidents that left the behemoth of challenges at
home to attend the summit, will have a one-on-one meeting with Barack Obama. This is the height of condescension. They will all sit in a hall, where they will receive stern lectures on the dos and don’ts of America’s proposed investment, shake hand with top American officials -Not even with Barack Obama- ,wine and dine in luxurious hotels, then head back home with nothing tangible to show. In the end, America’s economy will be better for it; because this forced tourism by Africa’s heads of states will give it a
jolt, no matter how small; plus the incontrovertible assertion that some head of states went with their state’s resources to be stashed abroad.
The US was just being courtly to carry on with the planned summit in the face of the escalating deaths by, and death threats from the Ebola virus that has has fueled the stereotype of Africa being a miserable “country” with an overdose of sick and poor people that go about wrapped in leaves.
This Ebola-phobia, is the reason for the demeaning screening of all attendees to the summit, and the reason why the Americans are keeping their president far away from the body fluids of bushmeat eaters.
I will not be surprised to see Barack Obama holed-up in an Ebola-proof glass cubicle, with some protective gears to match.
Africa is not poor by any standard, we are just unfortunate to have a seemingly unending series of visionless self-centered leaders.
Providence has been very benevolent to us; enriching our continent with the choicest and most coveted natural resources, arable land for agricultural production, and a clement environment bereft of tornadoes tsunami and the quakes that devastate other climes.
But, over time, leadership has failed to harness these monumental advantages to transform the African society from her neediness to a point were she attains a level of sufficiency commensurate with her monumental wealth.
According to Maslow hierarchy of needs, our governments are still struggling half-heartedly to create conditions that will satisfy the physiological needs of its citizens; several steps away from the self-actualization needs that are needed to unlock the creative and inventive part of her citizens to develop and initiate programs and ideas that will ignite the rapid economical transformation of our society.
Am not comfortable either with the rising influence of China in Africa. I detest the proliferation of sweatshops with the most
inhuman working conditions. I abhor the ultra low wages they pay to their employees in Africa; the demeaning treatment meted out to their workers, and countless other corporate vices associated with Chinese investment.
But i resent the hypocrisy of the Americans more
Ibako William Ochuko from Delta State. @ibakoWilliam.
US-Africa Summit: The Genuflection Has To Stop
