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Obansanjo and the Gang: Singing and Dancing the Colonial Way By Menre Ayes
How long will colonial Britain deceive and exploit Africa? When will my president, Olusegun Obasanjo learn to read the handwriting on the wall? A thief is never ashamed of himself but makes his relatives feel ashamed. Britain is unfortunately not ashamed of her colonial atrocities in Africa, but would rather prefer the sins ascribed to entire Europe. Obasanjo was born and brought up in colonial days, sadly he still refuses to learn but prefers political and economic romance with the colonial perpetrators. Thus representing an obstacle to the political, economic, religious, ideological and social progress of Nigeria and Africa.
Going by the past and present situation of things in our country as well as our continent, the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other like-minded European countries should never be in Nigeria with their heads high. Colonial link is an illegal link and the minds of the children of Africa should in this 21st century and beyond be decolonised. This will help us shape a better future for our people. We the true Africans are the owners of our land and the destiny of our people is in our hands, just the way the destiny of their people (the Europeans) is in their hands. We are both two different continents with two different peoples, who may choose to work together for the mutual benefits of the two parties and not for the promotion of exploitation of one by the other. Outsiders especially the British and Europeans – courtesy of Shell Oil Company, have effused mob attack on the generality of Nigeria. History reminds me that before the arrival of the Europeans and Shell, there was peace all over Africa. Peace was so much on the continent that there was no colonisation, Apartheid, foreign exploitation, artificial political demarcation, foreign languages (including this that I wrote in), the dead (and must-be-buried-now rather than later) commonwealth organisation, environmental degradation and pollution. And above all, religious differences within people of same origin were not known.
Religion and African resources have recently become the major currency of trade for those foreign nations playing to destabilise, disunite and cause insecurity in Africa. Obviously the colonial generation including that of my president is yet to pass away in Africa, but the post-colonial African especially the Nigerian child must learn to understand the colonial master for who he is. We brought northern, eastern, western and southern Nigeria together – we will split Nigeria into north, east, south, west, Niger Delta and more, because we are British and Nigeria was made by Britain. To hell with Britain! Before the arrival of Britain in Nigeria, the people of that country were already in existence. The United Kingdom itself was not natural, it was forged and made by man. God did not create any political group called the United Kingdom. It came by chance and is still struggling to stay together today bearing in mind the violence rocking the Kingdom from Northern Ireland.
Why has the British foreign secretary (Jack Straw) chosen to take the massage of his government to the people of Nigeria? During his recent visit to the country he outlined their evil Development/Destabilation Plans (DPs) aimed to disunite our country. Obasanjo and his gang agreed to listen to the colonial song and dance the colonial dance once again. The problem of the Niger Delta is caused by aliens in our midst particularly the British, Europeans and Shell Oil company. Why must these aliens walk freely on our land? Naturally, indigenes of a country welcome foreigners and make foreigners abide by the laws and customs of the land in which they live if they are to stay long. Foreigners do not dictate to indigenes how to develop, live, earn a means of livelihood or share resources. Why has the nearly seven years administration of Obasanjo opted to dine and wine with foreign Oil companies constituting nuisance in Niger Delta, but fails to give the natives their God given wealth and pride? Jack Straw and his devilish Development Plans are listed below:
o Helping Nigeria resolve inside and outside conflicts. o The successful implementation of the on-going political and economic reforms. o Economic assistance to the north o Making the Niger Delta work o Review of immigration procedures o The issue of Islam
Why splitting Nigeria into regions in terms of assistance to the country? If our natural and human resources were actually well managed, would we ask assistance from any aliens? Nigerians formulated their on-going political and economic reforms. The only contribution Britain has for it is destruction. I have taken the pain to formulate some development plans for his country (Britain) and hope Obasanjo will be kind enough to help with the delivery of this message to them. The points are listed below.
But before I begin, I would like to mention a few things to you Mr Jack Straw and Mr Richard Gronzy, the British high commissioner in Nigeria. I urge you both as well as your country to learn not to be jack of all trades. Stop interfering in other's, as well as local people's activities. The activities of your host nation are theirs and not yours. Their people do not behave in your country the way you do in theirs. I chose to write this article in your language to bring its full context to your understanding. As you read my write-up (if you ever have the chance to read it, because I do not trust Obansajo to deliver it or solve the problem of the Niger Delta) always have in mind that you British are aliens in Nigeria. Now the ten points and questions for the British government are:
o Most of the money successive military regimes looted from the Nigerian treasure was deposited in British banks and is still there right now as I write. Britain we need our money back! o It doesn't take a genius to understand that Jack Straw's mission stands for the British economic interest and the exploitation of my people through Shell oil company, but why beating about the bush? o There is a difference between you and me, not just that you are a politician and I am not, but the fact that you are from a continent different from mine. Taking into account all the atrocities your country has committed on my continent, how would you define our relationship? Is any tie called for? o The days are over that you could come to my country with you hypocritical words. I am not a member of any diplomatic corps. Hence, I cannot consider diplomacy here. The message is simple, pack, go and never come back, because those soldiers that died in the course of maintaining peace in the Niger Delta are never coming back to us! They were struck by made in your continent bullets. They were killed in the course of restoring peace due to the problems created by your Shell Oil Company. o Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of Moslems in the world – that is another asset for us outside oil. For that reason, we will be sending some of our Moslem brothers and sisters to Britain to educate the British public, academics and parliamentarians that Islam is indeed a religion of peace. Your plans to send British Moslems to Nigeria is among your devilish plans o This article is written to inform you that British influence in Africa has diminished over the centuries. Britain was only great in the 19th century, is it clear to you that we are now in the 21st century? The time to enrich your country with Africa's resources is over. o Your Commonwealth of Nations is colonial and dead, and I am personally not a member of it. Count us out! However, I will participate in its burial. o Your company RoyalDutch Shell that is killing my people with pollutant gas will not go unpunished. Obasanjo cannot guarantee the safety of those aliens, only the host community can do that, and you simply have to start taking order from these host communities. o We give credit were it is due and blame were deserved. All that Britain has on our scoreboard is blame and no single credit. The days of military rule in Africa have passed and democracy has finally come to stay. African democracy is the choice of Africans. Britain in the past used to export Military coups to Africa. Most recently, she attempted doing it again in Equatorial Guinea. Margaret Thatcher's son was involved. o A new kid has long been on the block. Do not try to gain prestige for what America does and stop your propaganda news for the whole world has gone wiser. Africa my Africa needs education to overcome her problems and not your involvement in their internal affairs. Africa did not at any time bargain for colonisation. Why are you worried about Africa's overseas trade partners?
Your message about China's incursion into Africa's economic sector sounds alarming, appalling, dishonest and worrisome to me. It is obvious that there are huge numbers of Chinese students at British universities. In 2001 some British newspapers referred to your country as People's Republic of Britain due to the extremely high number of Chinese students’ presence in your tertiary institutions. You are not bordered with that, because of the huge amount of money you make from the tuition fees these students pay, which help boost your economy and increase the profitability of the British Airways. Most recently, Chinese foodstuff adverts have started featuring on British television stations about modern China. Is that any issue of concern to you Mr Straw? Only those with colonial minds like Obansanjo will fail to notice this, and sing and dance with you. The majority of the Nigerian public are aware of your message of mass deception. Mass education is the panacea to the problems in my country. Your villainous acts in the Niger Delta are obvious to the naked eye.
My hearth bleeds with sorrow and mourning for my beloved countrymen referred to as soldiers and militants that died in the Niger Delta recently. The so-called militants do not use African bullets – they use bullets made by these satanic European countries for Africans to kill themselves. But the Africans are the owners of the resources. I weep for those living and dead innocent people of the Niger Delta whose exact number I do not know. All that I know is the fact that their suffering and anger is as a result of the evils of the oil companies owned by the British and Europeans – a bunch of aliens in our land. If today was the judgement day, Mr President I wonder how you and I would explain to the Lord and pray for forgiveness for our failure to correct the ills in our society. The price of oil goes up regularly, while the amount of innocent blood flowing in the Niger Delta increases.
The British government has seen indefinite exploitative opportunities in our resources, while Obansajo and his political associates have chosen to ignore simple solution to the prevailing problems in the Niger Delta. Amicable solutions to these problems are certainly in sight – education and economic empowerment for Africans. The people in power, their colonial and foreign collaborators can only delay these solutions but the good news is that they cannot prevent it from happening. We will one day resolve these issues peacefully for the benefits of all indigenous Africans.
The writer of this article is an African youth from the region artificially and erroneously called the Niger Delta. May our leaders learn to sing and dance the African way so that we will one day have the chance to use our resources for the development and welfare of our people.
Menre Ugiagbe Ayes
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