Nigeria is neo-colonizing Black Africa!

Added by Sarah on December 18, 2013.

By Dibie Kingsley Chukwuma

As I already expect, after reading the headline and without the intricate understanding of the thoughts behind it, some Africans might in the spirit of patriotism scream in anger “Never, Nigeria can never colonize us! At face value, others might go beyond anger to hatred and disdain from just the article to the writer. On the other hand, there might also be Nigerians screaming, “Yes, very true, you have said it the way it is, we are colonizing them!”

But whatever, the position or mood, I honestly would be quick to say that those who would support or oppose me or the article by just reading the headline will both be wrong in their judgment without reading the whole article to understand the reasons behind my assertions. At this juncture, it would be most appropriate for me to begin to put the issues in proper perspective and provide necessary explanations for what I have said.

Historically, the 1500s to the mid-1900s saw several European powers particularly, but not exclusive to Portugal, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy and France established colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. From their activities, the term colonialism became referred to as the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. One basic practice evident among these colonial powers during this period was their quest to physically occupy their colonies.

For the people of black Africa, the activities of Nationalist like Edward Wilmot Blyden, Herbert Macaulay, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others who spoke and fought against colonialism, led to the independence of the first set of countries like Ghana in 1957 and Nigeria in 1960, as well as end of the apartheid regime in south Africa in 1994. Today, virtually all the countries in the African continent are free from European occupation and dominance, but are they all free from colonialism? There are those who still argue that former European powers as well as the united state exercise some form of control under a new term known as “neo-colonialism” which is likened to be a form of colonalisation without direct physical occupation of the colony but based mainly economic and cultural influences. it is on this new understanding that my argument is based.
Africa today is divided majorly among French and English speaking countries alongside the Arab countries up North. In West Africa for instance which comprises of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, there is a vast sense of western culture which over the years have been part of the life of the people of this region.

But in recent years, one cannot ignore certain visible changes necessitated particularly in the business and entertainment industries. Unlike the colonization era where Africa depended on the west and its media for entertainment, food, shelter and modernization, things are fast changing as the people are beginning to look inward, and somehow their needs are being satisfied by countries like Nigeria and its people.
Growing up in Nigeria as a young boy, the craze for American culture, slangs, music, movies and lifestyle was everywhere. As children, we would sing along to American songs from the likes of 2 Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre and other popular American acts even though we could not understand properly the meaning of what they said. To be able to sing American songs made you the guy everybody wanted to hang out with. To dress the American way made sure you weren’t ignored at any party. To speak with an American accent brought you closer to the girls, and to look like an American “Oyibo” gave you almost everything even without asking.

Till today, many Nigerians will attest to Hollywood’s influence in the Nigerian society. A journalist friend once said to me, “Nigerian music industry gained Independence from America in 2004 as a result of the scuffle between Idris Abdulkareem and American rapper 50 Cent on board an airplane at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos when he protested the second class treatment given to Nigerian musician by cooperate outfits.” By media accounts, Abdulkareem had tried to occupy 50 Cent’s seat, resulting in a fight between Abdulkareem, his friends, and 50 Cent’s bodyguards. Whether his statement is valid or not, one thing is certain, between 2004 to today, so much have changed in the Nigerian entertainment industry both locally and internationally.
Between July to September 2013, I was opportunied to visit Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. I am still amazed by what I encountered during my stay in these African countries. Beyond the beautiful beaches, affordable food, clothes and accommodation, one particular experience that struck me was the preferences given to Nigerian culture, music, movies, lifestyle and its people. There I was, in Benin Republic – a French speaking neighbor of Nigeria, just about an hour from Lagos; the commercial capital of the country, Nigerian culture, her movies and music were the rave of the moment.

During, my journey from Seme – a town in Benin Republic to Lome – the capital of Togo, the Driver of the taxi repeatedly played Nigerian music from artists like P-square to Tu- Face, to D-banj, Wizkid, Iyanya, and Flavor down to Nigerian songs I personally didn’t even know or could recognize the artists behind them. Ironically, neither the driver nor other co-travelers could understand English or (Pidgin English), as they earlier had to seek for translator at the Car park to tell me I was going to get my “change” when we got to our destination. But as the music played, some people in the car nodded in affirmation while others graciously sang along.

At Ghana, another English speaking country which has over the years struggled to rival Nigeria in football and other international events, the atmosphere and appreciation for Nigeria was not much different from Togo and Benin. One might assume that I might be biased while taking into account my excellent English proficiency as against other languages, but I still would argue that it is not far from the truth to say that the appreciation of Nigeria in Ghana cannot be rivaled by any other country in Black Africa. One reason for this argument is the place of Ghanaian culture and pride in the social life of the people. Ghanians are proud of their culture, music, heritage and their “Flag”. But regardless, they are in the same vain passionate about Nigerian music, movies, culture and its people.

Apart from the music and movies, another interesting aspect I enjoyed was going shopping at the markets in Togo and Benin Republic. I virtually went there every day and every time possible to get something new because the prices were incredibly affordable compared to what was obtainable in Nigeria. The markets in these countries had many similarities like the ones in Nigeria – very noisy, filled with so many people and a dirty environment. But most interestingly, one striking similarity that encouraged me to come every other day was that majority of the traders I encountered there were Nigerians.
It was shocking for me at first to notice that many of the big shops in the markets I randomly visited in French speaking countries like Togo and Benin Republic could be owned by Nigerians. I just couldn’t understand it. But regardless of what or how I felt, it was the reality. In front of many shops were huge speakers playing Nigerian music as people went about their daily business of buying and selling. I had been briefed by a friend before my visit that I must talk, act and behave like I was a local; else once they knew I was a Foreigner, they will charge me higher prices than normal. Having been told, I had made up my mind to think, act, and talk like the local people.

But unfortunately, the moment I opened my mouth to ask for an item, the shop owner replied me in English, and went further to ask me “How far my brother, how you dey?”. At that point, I could no longer keep up with my “acting local”, because he obviously knew I was Nigerian and had spoken to me in “Pidgin English”.
Similar experiences played out in Madina Market, Accra, as well as other exotic places I had visited during my stay there. There were so many Nigerians and they could sense I was Nigerian even before I opened my mouth. Those who were not Nigerians wanted to associate with me than just business or act friendlier on account that I was a Nigerian.

When Nigerian musical artist visit many of these African countries, the love they get is never commensurate to what or how they are treated in Nigeria. Whether in Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigerian businesses, art and culture have continue to strive alongside and above what is available in many of these countries. For Instance, Cameroon a bi-lingual country with French and English as its official languages and shares a border with in Nigeria in the south is said to be a country of diverse culture and people. But while many Nigerians, cannot and might never know or recognize a musician, a movie or a cultural act from this country, the people of Cameroon go crazy over Nigerian music and movies regardless of the linguistic differences.

In the 21st century, military occupation as evident in the colonial period has become unpopular and to a great extent unrealistic making colonialism impossible. However, cultural as well as economic superiority are the new defining characteristics of a new form of colonialism. If the term is realistic, then there is more than enough reality proving that Nigeria is neo – colonizing Black Africa!

Read more: http://www.naijacenter.com/editorital/columnist/nigeria-neocolonizing-black-africa/#ixzz2ntB0VQ6T

Bishop donates late father’s wealth to charity in Nsukka

Bishop donates late father’s wealth to charity in Nsukka

By Emmanuel Uzodinma on October 13, 2013

The Bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Professor Godfrey Onah,

on Saturday announced that the money in the bank account of his late father will be used for charity.

Bishop Onah, who spoke at the funeral mass for his late father, Mr. Gabriel Onah, at Imilike in Udenu Council Area of Enugu State, said the money would be used to pay school fees of indigent children in the area.

The late Gabriel Onah died on September 28, 2013 at the age of 99.

While reading a funeral oration on behalf of the family, Bishop Onah said the family took the decision because their father as a teacher had passion for education.

“My father as a teacher believed that education is necessary for everybody.

“As he liked riding bicycle, most times people in their jeep will stop to great him and remind him that he taught them in primary
school.

“He was humble, godly and contented with
whatever he had. We will continue to showcase good virtues he instilled on us.

“My father was a disciplinarian who would not hesitate to flog any of
us when we went wrong”, he said.

He continued that “I stopped throwing away canes my father used to flog me, when I
discovered that the more I threw away the small one he used to flog me, the more he brought bigger canes for me.

“I started thinking that possibly without flogging of those days, I could have not become what I am today. No wonder the bible said ‘Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child’”.

Earlier in a homily by Rev. Fr. Fred Agu, he described life as a market where one buys and goes, battle field where one fights and goes and as a stage one performs and leaves the stage.

“What matters is how you buy, fight and perform while alive. We should all prepare because death must come for every person, the rich and poor, as well as old and young. What will earn us heaven is how we lived our life on earth”, he admonished.

Agu described the late Onah as “a teacher who was satisfied with his job as well as taught
children under him the importance of humility and fear of God.

“If he has not trained his children very well, it will be impossible for one of his sons to become a Catholic Bishop”.

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Unbelievable: BBC World News Insults Nigeria On Twitter

October 19, 2013 1:47 pm

“Abuja Was Built On Stolen Land” – BBC Writer Alex Preston Insults Nigeria On Twitter. You must have come across this article on other sites. The most touching part of it is that the article was written by a complete stranger who perhaps got the wrong impression from history or local informants.
Whether it’s true or not, read a detail article written by Alex Preston for BBC News below:
When one of Nigeria’s long line of military rulers, General Olusegun Obasanjo, seized the land on which Abuja was to be built in the late 1970s, he could hardly have imagined that the city would remain unfinished 35 years on.
Abuja has a makeshift, haphazard feel to it: A place of bureaucrats and building sites, its streets eerily empty after the buzz of Lagos or the enterprising bustle of Kano.
It is one of the most expensive cities in Africa, and one of the most charmless.
The skyline is dominated by the space-rocket spires of the National Christian Centre and the golden dome of the National Mosque, facing each other pugnaciously across a busy highway at the city’s centre.
Its other striking landmark is the vast construction site of the Millennium Tower, which, if it is ever completed, will be Nigeria’s tallest building.
The skyscraper was intended to mark Abuja’s 20th birthday in 2011.
Now delayed until who-knows-when, hugely over-budget and the subject of numerous official investigations.
All the people of Abuja have to show for the billions invested in the project are two stunted fingers of scaffold-clad concrete.
I had been in Abuja for three days – about two-and-a-half too many – when my friend, Atta, a sociologist, picked me up from my hotel.
We drove out towards Aso Rock, the monolith looming over the presidential palace.
On either side of the road there are complexes of bulky, imposing mansions, most of them unfinished.
Some had empty swimming pools; others had mock-Tudor timbering, but were windowless and often roofless. Atta told me that 65% of the houses in these developments were uninhabited, put up only to launder Abuja’s dirty money.
Like the Millennium Tower, these grandiose schemes are ruins before they are completed, bleak monuments to a city built by kleptocratic politicians on stolen land.
We pulled off the Murtala Mohammed Highway at Mpape Junction, and immediately the road deteriorated.
“I am going to show you the real Abuja,” Atta told me, as his car struggled up a deeply-rutted dirt track.
A warm wind from the desert to the north – the Harmattan – whipped clouds of red dust around us as we climbed through rocky scrubland into the hills.
People began to appear on the streets – men carrying ancient Singer sewing machines, women balancing baskets on their heads.

We entered a vast shanty-town of shacks with corrugated iron roofs, slums stacking to the horizon.
Nissan minivans scuttled past – they are called “One Chance” buses, as they barely stop on their manic journeys through these uncharted streets.
Crowds thronged between skinny cows, beneath posters advertising beaming televangelists.
Dance music blared out, interrupted by a muezzin’s call to prayer. Bright-eyed children kicked footballs about.
This was the home of the Gwari people, the original inhabitants of the land where the capital was built.
Hundreds of thousands of them were summarily evicted in the 1970s, and now scrape a living in the hills.
Abuja is itself a Gwari word and, although the city of generals and politicians below us had barely 700,000 inhabitants, two or three million people live in these shanty towns, many of them Gwari.
The Gwari people continue to fight for compensation for the land wrested from them by the Obasanjo government, land now worth more per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in Africa.
We got out and walked through the smoke and dust towards a row of shacks. In one of them, a woman knelt on the ground plucking a chicken, a man above her leaning on a makeshift bar.
Frank and Mary
They were Frank and Mary, Gwari people in their thirties, children of one of the thousands of families originally evicted during the foundation of Abuja.
The four of us sat in the shack sipping Fantas, staring out at the swarming life of the shanty town: Motorbikes and cattle and people, all of them through a veil of reddish dust.
“I trained as an architect,” Frank told me. “I have an education. But I do not have money, I don’t know the right people.
So I work here with my sister. In Abuja, money defines everything.” I ask him about the empty mansions lining the roads into the city.
“That is pseudo-Abuja, a false place. It’s unjust – we should be living in those houses. Instead…”
He gestured to the squalid lean-to that jutted from the back of the bar. Mary looked up from her chicken. “Life here is difficult,” she says.
“Often we can’t see across the street because of the smoke and dust. If it rains, you can’t move for the mud. But we pray hard.”
Frank pulled out a CD. It was Fela Kuti’s Suffering and Smiling. “This,” Frank said, as the music coiled out from an ancient hi-fi, “is the compressed statement of Nigerian society.
We suffer, but we smile. Nothing will change until we get angry, until we stop smiling.”
A storm was coming in, red clouds rolling overhead and thunder crackling down the valleys.
Frank and Mary stood waving to us, the music playing still, as we drove off down the hill, towards pseudo-Abuja.
http://www.medianigeria.com/38077/unbelievable-bbc-world-news-insults-nigeria-twitter/

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes, Youths With Crazy Haircuts

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes, Youths With Crazy Haircuts

October 19, 2013 2:01 pm

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes & Youths With Crazy Haircuts In Kano On Sallah Day.
The Public Relations Officer of the Board, Malam Yusuf Yola, told the newsmen in Kano that the defaulters had been charged to court.
He said that members of the Hisbah corps also arrested deviant youths with crazy haircuts during the festivities.
Yola said that apart from those arrested for prostitution, more than 40 male and female youths were also picked up during the festive period for “misconduct’’ at places of leisure across the state.
According to him, the parents of some of those arrested were invited to the board for discussions and advice and most of the youth were later released.
“For those who had mischievous haircuts, the board made sure that they had clean haircuts before they were released.
http://www.medianigeria.com/38085/shariah-hisbah-police-arrests15-prostitutes-youths-crazy-haircuts/

FG to buy made-in-Nigeria vehicles

By BusinessNews Staff on October 4, 2013

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan for the country.

The decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Through the policy, the government hopes to significantly reduce the high vehicle importation bill, which stood at $3.4bn (N550bn) in 2012.

As a first step, the Federal Government said all vehicles purchased by it would be from local assembly plants, except they were specialised and could not be produced in the country.

The ministers of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed; and Industry, Trade and Investment,  Olusegun Aganga, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Aganga said the policy was aimed at transforming the Nigerian automotive industry and attracting investments into the sector.

He said a situation where the nation spent N4.2bn on the importation of vehicles into the country in 2010 was eating deep into the foreign reserves.

Aganga said in arriving at the policy, which took about nine months to put together, the government got the input of some car manufacturing giants like Nissan and Toyota.

These companies, he added, would soon announce their investments in the country.

He said, “A transformed automotive industry will realise its potential as a major driver of economic growth and diversification, job creation, local value addition, and technology acquisition.

“These recommendations were adopted at various conferences and consultations with stakeholders, including some original equipment manufacturers. After deliberation, the Council approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan.

“Council also approved that the government should direct that all vehicle purchased by the government should be from the local

 assembly plants unless it is specialised in nature and the NAC has certified that it is not produced in Nigeria

“The Council approved that the recommendation should be backed by appropriate legislation to give comfort to investors that there will be no abrupt change in policy.”

He added that his ministry had taken note of what led to the collapse of similar policies in the past and had taken measures to avoid the same fate for the new policy.

According to the minister, highlights of the new policy include the establishment of three automotive clusters across the country, the revival of the metal/steel sector and the tyre manufacturing industry to support the sector.

Aganga added that the government would work on tariff to encourage local manufacture and discourage importation of vehicles.

Mohammed said the Council also approved the rehabilitation and expansion of the outer Southern Expressway in the FCT from the Villa Roundabout to the OSEX/Ring Road 1(RR1) junction, including five interchanges, in the sum of N39bn.

He said the project was aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic and significantly reduce travel time in and out of the city.

The minister said, “The existing segment of the OSEX from the Villa roundabout to RR1 is only partially developed with a two-lane main carriageway and one two-lane service carriageway as against the 10-lane expressway provided in the Abuja Master Plan.”

http://businessnews.com.ng/2013/10/04/fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles

Female police officer stripped naked in Onitsha

By Joe Chukindi on September 14, 2013

There was pandemonium on Saturday at Bridge Head, Onitsha when a female police officer, identified as Inspector Tochukwu was allegedly abused, molested and almost stripped naked by a famous wealthy man.
The much dreaded man, Ngozi Okpagu had also allegedly slapped a commissioner of police last year.
An eye witness who gave his name as Tunde alleged that Offoegbu was on duty when the ‘big man’, who owns a park in Onitsha approached her threatening to facilitate her removal from Onitsha as he did to one Archibong.
“At that point, the female police officer demanded from him what she did that would warrant her removal and in reply he slapped  her for daring him. His boys also joined and immediately they tore the female officer’s uniform, almost revealing her nakedness.
“She ran for her life into the police post to avoid the peering eyes of the public. The Area Commander, Benjamin Wordu asked all of them to come to the area police station Onitsha.

“That man cannot be arrested because last time he slapped the CP because of motor park matters and the Governor later closed the park’’, the source further alleged.
When contacted the DPO Fegge where Offoegbu works, Muikdi Shehu said he would not speak on the matter, insisting that the PPRO was the only person authorized to speak.
The PPRO Emeka Chukwuemeka when contacted on phone said he was in Onitsha Area commander and would get back to this reporter on the issue.
CP Balah Nassarawa was said to be out of the state as at the time of filing this report.
However, reacting, the coordinator Campaign for Democracy, Dede Uzor A Uzor demanded for the immediate arrest of the suspect and thorough investigation into the matter.
The group gave the commissioner of police 7 days to arrest the man or face protest.

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Nigeria 2-0 Malawi:

Nigeria 2-0 Malawi: Emenike & Moses give Eagles play-off ticket

The African champions saw off the challenge of the Flames to earn passage into the final stage of qualification for next year's World Cup

Olumide

Nigeria earned passage into the final round of Caf qualification for World Cup 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Malawi in Calabar on Saturday.

The Super Eagles were helped by goals from returnee striker Emmanuel Emenika and a penalty from attacker Victor Moses.

The game began on a very competitive note with Liverpool loan signing Moses and Ahmed Musa tormenting the James Sangala-anchored Malawian defence. As early as the second minute, Limbikani Mzava was booked for a rough challenge on Moses who was on a goal-bound move. Despite gaining most of the ball possession, Nigeria failed to get the curtain raiser as they failed to create clear cut chances.  The attack-minded Eagles did not relent as they challenged Tom Santifiet’s men for every ball.

In the 11th minute, Musa saw his opportunity declared offside after he got a well-tailored cross from John Obi Mikel. Few minutes later, Ogenyi Onazi's shot went just wide as Stephen Keshi's men continued their search of the early goal.
Malawi shot-stopper, Simplex Nthara repaid the faith shown in him by Tom Saintfiet to start the game with a brilliant save off the boot of Efe Ambrose followed by another super effort in the 26th minute to deny Moses the opening goal.
As the first half petered out, Emenike put Nigeria ahead with a very cool finish off a pinpoint cross from Onazi. Despite resolute defending from the Malawians, they allowed the Fenerbahce striker sneak in to chip the ball past Simplex to calm the nerves of the hosts.
In the early minutes of the second half, Musa failed to double Nigeria’s lead after missing a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper who gathered safely to keep the Flames in the game. Shortly afterwards Emenike was denied by the same goalkeeper.
The Eagles, however, put the game beyond the reach of the Malawians in the 51st minute after Brescia forward Nnamdi Oduamadi was forcefully brought down by Flames skipper James Sangala. Moses shot the resultant penalty past Simplex to give the Eagles a comfortable lead.

A few minutes later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men after Limbikani Mzava was sent off for a second yellow to compound Malawi's misery.
Musa's battle with the Malawi goalkeeper continued in the 68th minute as he was unable to score again in a one on one situation. Even with the introduction of Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi for his competitive debut, Nosa Igiebor and Uche Nwofor, Nigeria failed to get the third goal after missing several scoring chances.
With this result, Nigeria are now through to the final play-off round of World Cup 2014 qualification and will know their opponents when the draw is made in a few days.

Stella Damasus and Senator Yerima on Al-Jazeera Network THE STREAM