U need to read this:
Gaddafi and the United States of Africa By Kingsley Ogbuji
THE
proposition for a United States of Africa being spearheaded by the
self-acclaimed King of Kings, Maummar Gaddafi of Libya, has been
attracting reactions from various quarters around the continent. This
idea, which is solely Gaddafi's, canvasses for a federal or central
government for the whole continent, a common currency and common
passport, among other ideas. What he (Gaddafi) has not disclosed to
heads of states is that after he succeeds with his current agenda, the
next line of action he will pursue will be a case for common official
language, which will be Arabic. This idea will make it mandatory for all
federating units within the so-called union to make Arabic their
official language, including making it the language of instruction in
schools.
What is enigmatic about this weird idea is not only the
hidden ploy to make Gaddafi the King of Kings of the United States Of
Africa, but the fact that the Arab world, which seems to be advancing
this cause, using Gaddafi as a tool, does not even have the interest of
black Africa at heart. It is the same Arab world instigating the
genocide in Dafur that is also propagating the conscription of too many
African countries with substantial Muslim population into the
Organisation Of Islamic Countries (OIC) despite the tension this will
generate in such countries among the various religions that make those
countries pluralistic.
If African Heads of States cannot read
the legible hand writing on the wall, at least the vigour and vehemence
with which Gaddafi is pursuing this idea should make them suspicious. If
a country like Nigeria (which multi-ethnic diversity has made it
cumbersome for the people to come together as one indeed), is still
grappling with its practice of federalism, how much more cumbersome will
it be for a continent with more than 5,000 ethnic groups to achieve
this illusionary idea of a federation?
One wonders about this
sudden enthusiasm which has overtaken Gaddafi given the fact that his
government has been involved in brutality against Africans from other
countries who found themselves legally or illegally in Libya. A lot of
Nigerians and other Africans in search of greener pastures have been
brutalised, dehumanised and tortured; some killed while the lucky ones
got deported. If Gaddafi had shown some iota of mercy to these Africans
who sneaked into Libya, maybe we would not have read much meaning into
this idea being touted by him. If he has had this dream of a united
Africa for a long time, then it contradicts the treatment he metes out
to young Africans who find themselves in Libya in search of livelihood.
This
is the time for African leaders to rise against this "absolute
monarchy" which Gaddafi is trying to enthrone, as what we know about
this idea is far smaller than what we are yet to know about it, which
ultimately will be the greatest mistake of the century. What Africa
needs at this time is a commitment by her leaders in their individual
countries to be more responsive to the plight of their citizenry;
leaders who understand that strong and massive infrastructural
development is one of the panacea to our problems of underdevelopment
and unemployment; leaders who understand that the natural endowments and
resources in their countries were deposited by God for the common good
of the people; leaders who know that the greatest evil that can be
perpetrated against humanity is to starve them in the midst of plenty;
leaders who understand that power belongs to the people and the
opportunity to serve is mere privilege.
What Africa and Africans
need at this time is focused and empathetic leadership in their
individual countries, with policies that make it easy for trans-regional
interaction and business transaction, not an Africa under a single
government with Gaddafi as the King of Kings.
Ogbuji lives in Texas, United States
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=130209&ptitle=Gaddafi%20and%20the%20United%20States%20of%20Africa
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