Daily Independent (Lagos)
Sunny Igboanugo, Daniel Kanu and Austin Oboh
13 July 2009
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has asked the Nigerian public office holders, federal and state, to gird their loins for the challenge thrown by the United States President, Barrack Obama, who wants Africa to end tyranny and fight corruption to ensure the common good.
Nnamani noted how Obama demonstrated why he went to Ghana at the weekend to highlight good governance and warn on the danger posed by the forces of tyranny and corruption.
"His position is quite explanatory, and if we must move forward in Nigeria, there is the need to put into practice that young man's declaration in Ghana," he stressed, saying the call is for African countries to strengthen institutions rather than individuals, to have internal democracy not built on personalities and individuals.
"Obama harped on the danger of corruption which has been the bane of many governments, not only in Nigeria but in other African governments. But the message there is that corruption or corrupt practice is against the spirit of good, and if democracy must be deepened corruption must be eliminated from the polity where it exists."
Incessant "failed" elections and the security issues that come with rigged elections, which have to stop, were all raised by Obama and "we must not ignore those issues for us to move forward," Nnamani counselled.
Obama's visit to Ghana is a message for democracy and good governance, Senator Olorunimbe Mammora added in a separate interview.
He said he could not fault Obama's choice of Ghana as his first port of call in Africa, as Ghana has demonstrated exemplary adherence to democratic tenets with two successful peaceful transitions.
It is instructive, he remarked, that the past two democratic transfers of power in Ghana have been from a ruling party to an opposition, recalling that Jerry Rawlings handed over to the opposition party candidate, John Kuffour, in 2000, and eight years later Kuffour handed over to John Atta Mills from an opposition party.
To Mamora, Obama going to Ghana is a lesson to all despots in Africa, including Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya.
He maintained that Nigeria belongs to the group of undemocratic nations since its elections are mired in violence and manipulations.
Said he: "The two successful transfers of power in Ghana in the last decade have been from the ruling party to the opposition, yet the transitions were peaceful and devoid of manipulation.
"There was never any desperation to hold on to power as you find in Nigeria; so, Ghana has demonstrated the readiness to establish a buoyant democracy, and that puts it way ahead of many African countries.
"Obama's visit is an endorsement of the example of Ghana, and the challenge he threw to African leaders in his speech underscores his basic concern; the message is clear - African leaders have been called upon to embrace democracy and good governance."
Former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwemeka Ezeife, reiterated that Obama's visit to Ghana instead of Nigeria, "so-called giant of Africa," shows that "we are a shame to black Africa."
He said Obama is justified because Nigeria has not done anything in the last 10 years to suggest the country wants to take the lead history entrusts on it.
"We've had 10 years of democratic retrogression instead of progression. The 1999 election was not good, but we managed and said let it go. Then the 2003 election was really bad, but again we said, after mourning, that it should go.
"Then the 2007 election came. It was the worst in the history of this country. So, how could anybody who is coming from the clime of Obama look in the direction of Nigeria? It is not fair to expect him to come here."
Obama insisted in his address to the Ghanaian Parliament on Saturday that "no business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 per cent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt.
"No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end."
That made it clear, in his own words, why he shunned Nigeria when he dashed with pride onto the continent of his ancestors for the first time as an African-American President.
"I am proud to be a Ghanaian today because Obama has made us proud," said Kojo Sakyi, a taxi driver in Accra.
"I have heard the news that Nigerians and Kenyans are angry that he has chosen to come to Ghana. Well, the message for them is they should do what Ghanaians are doing so that they would attract U.S. Presidents like we have done so far."
Obama added: "I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great powers. I travelled to Italy, for a meeting of the world's leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well."
This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are "overwhelmed by our connections," he said, because "your prosperity can expand America's. Your health and security can contribute to the world's. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere."
At the heart of Obama's message is that African nations, crippled by coups and chaos, like Ghana has been in the past, can reshape themselves into lawful democracies.
He said it takes good governance, sustained development, improved health care. And that the moment is now. "Africa doesn't need strongmen. It needs strong institutions."
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