As my old 80-year old sagacious landlord (Baba Ijebu) of Palmgrove, near Yaba, would have asked: "Colonial Mentality Ke?"
I heard a funny story when I "schooled" in the Queendom (UK)! Baba Ijebu and I used to relish in that
story when we were enjoying early late breakfast of dodo, baked fish or fried goat meat, jollof rice, ogi, French toast and hot chocolate! Baba Ijebu called it, "Living well, well...!"
The funny story is that an African political leader from West Africa was facing a tough re-election campaign. To court prestige from Buckingham Palace (on the advice of his diplomatic envoy in London, he took with him a decorative wooden box with a couple of pure gold bars and some pieces of expensive diamonds to visit Her Majesty, the Queen, and Prince Philip in the Palace.
The Queen received him alright! "Old boy, what is in the box", Prince Philip enquired!
"Some gold bars and diamonds for Her Majesty"! The African leader reportedly said politely.
"Are you the one, who wants to be made "Sir" or "Lord"? Prince Philip further asked.
"Yes, Sir, Prince Philip," he answered smartly.
The Queen, who does not receive gifts in her own hands (in case they are tainted), asked that the box of gold and diamonds must be taken away by one of her Butlers, in-charge of precious ornaments.
"You may contact my Prime Minister to nominate you for a Knighthood. The throne does no directly make the nomination," Her Majesty told the obviously dejected African political leader.
A.B. Assensoh.
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 5:26 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Chatham House and RAS host Buhari tomorrow in London
True but Dasuki is not running for the office of president. Buhari is.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ibrahim Abdullah
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 4:34 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Chatham House and RAS host Buhari tomorrow in London
Buhari's presence in Chatham House is an issue? What about Sambo Dasuki Jonathan ' s filthy Security Adviser? Was it not at Chatham that he announced Jonathan ' s plan to push for rescheduling the elections?
Both candidates worship at Buckingham Palace!
---On 23 Feb 2015 21:57, "Chikwendu Christian Ukaegbu" <c-ukaegbu@northwestern.edu> wrote:
Very well said Sir Gozney, very well said. Colonial mentality is the worst type of dependency. Every set of Nigerian leaders since the end of the civil war has exhibited that tendency to defer to the erstwhile colonial master or to foreign interests. I react to this piece not because of Buhari or Jonathan, but because of the general principle of national progress so evident in the feeling of disappointment expressed by Gozney. Nigerian leaders have failed to keep Nigerians' destiny in Nigerians' hands, says Gozney. It is refreshing that a descendant of the people who created the impossible country called Nigeria is calling Nigerian leaders to jettison the crippling effect of colonial mentality and 'look inward for solutions and resolutions of Nigeria's problems'. This is similar to what I once said in this forum, i.e. development has never been a gift from one developed country to another undeveloped other. There is no case in history where a country received development as a gift. The people of a society must work for it through leaders that know what development is and how to get there. Development is what societies do for themselves by themselves. Nigerian politicians currently engaged in electioneering campaigns should be made to read Gozney's piece below and answer his questions. They will find that solutions to Nigeria's problems begin with the emergence of a group of independent-minded and inward-looking leaders working together to shepherd the society to the path of progress.
Seeking unnecessary international visibility as many Nigerian leaders did and currently do can't cut it.
C Ukaegbu
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Anunoby, Ogugua
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 12:52 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Chatham House and RAS host Buhari tomorrow in London
26 Feb 2015 - 10:00 to 11:00
Chatham House, London
Africa Programme, Nigeria Project
Participants
General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential Candidate, All Progressives Congress, Nigeria
Chair: Sir Richard Gozney KCMG CVO KStJ, British High Commissioner to Nigeria (2004-07)
I am worried by Buhari's sojourn in London. Why does Buhari and his party find it necessary to participate in what a British Think Tank calls "Nigeria Project"? Who own this project? What are its objectives? Who are the true intended beneficiaries? Why is it necessary for Buhari to try to sell himself and his party to Britain? Why is he wasting valuable time seeking legitimacy in Britain when his legitimacy as a candidate is questioned by some Nigerians? You would expect "The Nigeria Project" to be a turnoff for serious Nigerian leaders. It apparently is not to Buhari and his cohorts. Why Buhari and the APC have chosen to make Nigeria smaller and more exploitable by foreign interests than she needs to be is baffling to me. Is this another depiction of colonial mentality? If it is, how and when will it end?
The advertised program chair is a former UK High Commissioner to Nigeria? He clearly must be considered in Britain to be a resource person- expert on Nigeria and a potential lobbyist, which may be one reason he was chosen for the role, in anticipation of a Buhari election victory. He probably knows Buhari and other senior APC leaders well from his time in Nigeria and is being used to secure and maintain his country's and other international interests' economic and political leverage on Nigeria. Why is Buhari (and the APC) not ashamed to be part of a meeting in London on "The Nigeria Project". Why are the meeting organizers this interested in Nigeria's state of affairs. Would Britain accept or worse still, tolerate a reciprocal interest in British affairs by a Nigerian political party? Would a potential British prime minister and his party attend a meeting on the "Britain Project" anywhere outside Britain? Of course not and rightly so. What is Buhari going to say to his British audience at the meeting that they do not know already? Why does he not know that by participating at the meeting, he is subordinating himself to avoidable undesirable foreign influence, possibly compromising his personal integrity, and worse still compromising Nigeria's independence? Should serious leaders of a developing country not see through the fog of pretended interest that is taking place in London? How will Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from the meeting? Does anyone know? Buhari and the APC could meet Nigerians in London without the agency of a British Think Tank. Why through Chatham House?
When will Buhari and the APC realize that Nigeria is in the mess she is in today partly because Nigeria's leaders will not keep Nigeria's destiny in Nigerians' hands. Why do they prefer to seek and receive the approval of foreign powers when what Nigerians and their leaders need to do is be proud, stand tall, work hard, and look inward for solutions and resolutions to Nigeria's problems.
Nigerians should be angry, very angry with Buhari and the APC. They should be very worried too.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Shola Adenekan
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 6:49 AM
To: usaafricadialogue
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Chatham House and RAS host Buhari tomorrow in London
To those of you living in London town. Please go to this event and ask General Buhari important questions. And yes, you can see if he is fit enough or not!
http://www.chathamhouse.org/event/prospects-democratic-consolidation-africa-nigerias-transitionOverview
The postponement of Nigeria's fifth election since its return to civilian rule in 1999, together with fierce political competition, a security crisis and severe economic challenges linked to the drop in oil price, have thrown into sharp relief the challenges of conducting this essential process in such a complex environment. While there is widespread speculation as to the reasons for the delay, there is also widespread acknowledgment of the necessity that national elections do now take place as scheduled on 28 March.
General Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler (1983-85) and now opposition presidential candidate, will discuss the importance of democracy for Africa's future, and in particular why delivering dividends of elected government matter both to Nigeria and internationally.
LIVE STREAM: This event will be live streamed. The live stream will be made available at 10:00 GMT on Thursday 26 February.
ASK A QUESTION: Send questions for the speaker by using #CHAfrica on Twitter. A selection will be put to him during the event.Please apply to attend by midnight on Tuesday 24 February. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
Entry to this meeting is restricted to e-ticket holders only.Event contact
Chris Vandome
- See more at: http://www.chathamhouse.org/event/prospects-democratic-consolidation-africa-nigerias-transition#sthash.MWxP3whZ.dpuf
--Regards,
Shola Adenekan, PhD.
Postdoctoral Researcher in African Literature
BIGSASBayreuth International Graduate School of African StudiesUniversity of BayreuthD-95440 BayreuthPhone: ++49-921-55 5108Fax: ++49-921-55 5102Web: http://www.bigsas.uni-bayreuth.dee-mail: olorunshola.adenekan@uni-bayreuth.deEditor/Publisher:
The New Black Magazine - http://www.thenewblackmagazine.com
--
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