Obama

Obama’s Visit To Ghana: Reflections On Nigeria

Muttaqa Yusha’u Abdulra’uf

Research Department

Nigeria Labour Congress (Nlc)

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA

The recent visit of U.S president to Ghana has attracts criticism from people across different quarters. Most of the criticism stems from the fact that why is Nigeria not chosen for such a visit. A number of reasons were advanced for the skipping of Nigeria in favour of Ghana, in spite Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and the world. Therefore, why does the U.S president opted for Ghana? What reactions do Nigerians have on such a visit? What benefit do the visit to African continent?

In response to the first poser, many commentators, advanced arguments that, Obama chooses Ghana, for its growing matured political culture, especially evidenced in their electoral democracy. The recent election that brought Ata Mills to power is a pass mark that qualifies Ghana’s passage to an enduring process of democratisation.

The recent re-run election in Ghana, that ensued the success of Ata mill as the president portends a lot in the Democracy literature, specifically in Africa. This is due to the fact that, the political atmosphere was liberalised to the extent that the electorate have determine their fate in the governance process. More than any time, specifically in the Africa’s region, to have an incumbent party dislodged from power and equally ready to relinquish power is doubtful, albeit commendable.

We congratulate the Ghanaians, for having a growing matured political culture that is a pre-requisite for democratisation process to be firmly rooted. Conversely as Nigerians we mourn over the state of affairs in the country from the return of democracy in 1999 to date. What we witness throughout this era, are electoral malpractice, political corruption, impositions of unpopular candidates, disrespect to the rule of law, moneybag politics (highly Pronounce) and excessive expenditure to the political office holders (the first class citizens), and the use of state apparatus in the defence of the incumbents.

The political economy of Nigerian democracy is predicated within “class interest”. That is why what the country is earning from the crude oil does not commiserate with the living condition of its citizens. The working class are always agitating for a better living condition, and the yield of dividends of democracy.

The recent strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), and the current agitation of a minimum wage of 52, 500 Naira by the Nigerian Labour Congress, and the need for the full implementation of Justice Uwais electoral reform recommendation, is a milestone and a further commitment toward salvaging the democracy project in the country, albeit being considered as critical, especially by the government side.

Since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the country was in the threshold of economic liberalisation, with little or no concern about political liberalisation, the former has further accentuate the poverty profile among the working class, through unfriendly policies of deregulation, especially that of the oil sector that has a multiplier effect on all facets of life.

For instance, the hike in the price of the petroleum products makes the life of the common man as a prisoner of the system. It widens the gap between rich and the poor, and heightened the price of essential commodities. The surpluses were primitively accumulated by self serving elites.

Unfortunately, the realm of political liberalisation was limited and skewed; this is because it will accommodate civil society groups, and other pro-democracy movement that are essential in cautioning the defects of the process. For instance the actual independence of INEC is a pre-requisite to political liberalisation, by allowing the people to determine its composition, and salvaging it from the preserve power of the presidency.

Nigerians have various reactions on the Obama’s visit to Ghana. Therefore what are those reactions? and from what category of Nigerians do the reactions emanate?. The reactions emanates from, the government officials, civil society organisations, and the citizenry.

For the politician, the reaction is apologetic, seeing the visit as un-called and exonerating Nigeria from the dreaded blames by the citizenry, by giving the usual excuse of a nascent democracy, when is the nascent baby going to be weaned from the cradle of disgruntled mother, and allow the baby to stand on its feet?. As patriotic Nigerians we hope for the maturity of this baby, for the betterment of all.

Second quarter of the reaction, comes from the civil society organisations, which we referred to as organisational realms outside the state. This category holds the view that, the political atmosphere in Nigeria, is shaky and callous, embedded by brazen acts of political corruption and poor governance. Such an environment may not be fertile for the presidential visits, especially when countries like Ghana are through with their home works, therefore awaits for an august examiner to commend such efforts. Hence, the Obama’s visit.

It is along this line, that the conference of Nigerian political parties CNPP, writes Obama, on the state of electoral democracy in the country, though some people, blames such effort as it thwarts the essence of Nigeria’s sovereignty. But along the line, I see it as a way of partnering to ensure a just and egalitarian society, relevant for a sustainable, democracy and development. Since global partnership for development is 8^th goal in the millennium development goals (MDGS).

The third reaction, comes from ordinary Nigerians, most of whom commended Obama for skipping Nigeria, the visit becomes an issue of discourse in the offices and market place, i heard an individual saying that, he wishes Obama safe journey to U.S.A at least he has done a right thing because Nigeria, is good for nothing, therefore deserves no attention from the global community. Especially its failure to nation building

III

The Obama’s visit to Ghana could be a further commitment, to comradeship, and a renewal of American African policy. Especially as vindicated by his speech, that America will aid Africa in the areas of rolling back malaria, fighting Aids and commitment to nation building and good governance.

This reminds me of General Murtala Ramat Muhammad, message to the then American secretary of the state Henry Kessenger, in the 1970s, Murtala sent his foreign commissioner Joe Garba, and ask him to tell America to have a policy on Africa.

In the spirit of Pan-Africanism, Obama’s visit to Ghana should be seen as a courtesy to all African countries. It becomes a task for Africans, to commit themselves to pro-people policies investment in human development, and the political will to negotiate Africa’s position, in the recent upsurge of economic globalisation, that tends to be paradoxical to Africa.

Africa remains a consumer economy and a discursive rapture of western finished goods. How can Africa be a partner in globalisation when it produces what it did not consume and consume what it did not produce, and the price of both is determine by the west and its multinational corporations.

Finally, the Nigerian government, in its commitment to pursue the seven point agenda, should be sensitive to the yearning and aspirations of the people. The rule of law should be the core value of all stake holders and commitment to overhauling the electoral system, especially that of repositioning the INEC, both in leadership, funding and composition becomes paramount.

Pro-poor policies and wage review for the productive development of the worker is key to achieving the Goal one of the MDGS, if by any sense, we are to halve the number of people that leaves in an income bellow a dollar par day by the year 2015. Long live federal republic of Nigeria, and the Nigerian masses.