Obama/Clinton: We are good people, great nation

A certain school of thought wondered why Barrack Obama, a product of America’s will to change from an exclusionist inclined idea to one of inclusion, with the whole world, including Nigeria pouring out emotional and even financial support to help secure victory for him, all in the hope of healing the world and making it […]

A certain school of thought wondered why Barrack Obama, a product of America’s will to change from an exclusionist inclined idea to one of inclusion, with the whole world, including Nigeria pouring out emotional and even financial support to help secure victory for him, all in the hope of healing the world and making it a better place as Michael Jackson succinctly put it.

Before he tasted victory YES WE CAN was the slogan, he promised to withdraw US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, he offered the Muslim world an olive branch, to Africa, partnership and cooperation. The whole world stood still in celebration of what was perceived as the charting a new ear, a time to sheath swords, a time for reflection, a time for re orientation, a time for starting over and a time for change; his exploits seem to send a so far so good message world over, yet his cold shoulder towards Nigeria, Africa’s giant is a cause for concern. I make my case against him in favour of a “good people great nation”. I read the reactions of Nigerians to Mrs. Clinton’s comments over the failure of governance in Nigeria and I will never take sides with a foreigner against my nation.

Obama may have chosen to journey from Italy to Ghana for any of the following reasons which I don’t find convincing enough:

•  The period he would have loved to visit Nigeria coincided with the peak of Militant/JTF face off and his security aides took note knowing Obama’s hostage value, in fact he could have represented a major jack pot for Militants had they laid hands on him. But if only Obama had wanted to be reasonable, he would have consulted then with Mike Okiro for a deployment of battle ready mobile police detachments, armed to the teeth with Nigeria’s entire armory as it is always done when PDP is holding her meetings for maximum security and what if anything had even happened sef?

How much will it cost to bail him even if he was abducted, how much? Has he not heard the President’s in-law, Alhaji Yuguda’s largesse? What about the Education Minister? If he could spend one hundred million naira just for a party, how much more for an important personality like Obama;

•     Secondly, maybe he had a lot of commitment back home and needed to have his phone charged while he was away, since he had never charged it with generator powered light before, Ghana seemed a better option. I wonder if his phone is more expensive than those owned by any of our Presidents daughters’ still they charge theirs with generators.

•    Thirdly, the money collected by Ndi Okereke from unquestioned sources was seized, not remitted, not returned just vanished. Haba Obama, a dollar is going for nearly N180 now, just convert it and you will realize it’s not even up to your pocket money.

•    Fourthly, the fear of Air Force One, having to queue up to buy fuel may also have been a source of worry for the Americans, black market was not an option in case of injector blockage since their mechanic wasn’t on board.

Another reason may have been his phobia for potholes while driving within Nigeria. I thought Americans were intelligent enough to know that the Aso Rock Villa has a private fuel dump, not to mention that the Presidency would have made arrangements to fill pot holes and paint every highway he was likely to have used.

Jerry Rawling must have forgotten to tell a biased Obama that Yar’adua ensured a free and fair election in Ghana? A hard earned trait borrowed from his brother, the late Sani Abacha, who was known for exporting democracy (which we didn’t have), and importing oil (which we had).   

Hillary Clinton’s visit, I must say, didn’t show much regard to the Nigerian Government, but what can I say when the picture of the trio of Clinton, Yar’adua and Maduekwe (Any Government In Power) on page 2 of The Nation, caught the honourable Minister’s eyes stuck on Mrs. Clinton and he seemed to say, “I cant stop loving you America, please come here often Ma, or perhaps, always invite me over”.

I appreciate David Mark for his boldness, the Justice Zainab Bulkachwa’s historical and miracle judgment in Plateau State is not enough for America to think he’ll play second fiddle to them, worst of all through a woman.

For Mr President, there’s no cause for alarm. You are on course, especially now that the honourable Minister of labour has recently, through a generator powered microphone declared a war on unemployment, I hope he will be steadfast enough to succeed at least to the extent of his employer’s power emergency.

Finally, I stand with the President on his rejection of the electoral reform, the masses of Nigeria are strongly behind him. If any one is in doubt Maurice Iwu should be allowed to conduct a plebiscite along with Iyawo Ayoka Adebayo (Mrs) to guarantee fairness. Who is afraid of Obama after all the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) and the Democratic Party (US) are all DEMOCRATS. If Americans say GOD BLESS AMERICA, Dora Akunyili says NIGERIA GOOD, PEOPLE GREAT NATION.

Hembe wrote in from Abuja