African Leaders at the 68th UN General Assembly: A Prodigal Tale. Just like its predecessors, the 68th General Assembly of the UN has arrived. Her arrival, as expected, also occasioned the arrival of hundreds of World Leaders. Leaders of both big and small nations; leaders of both strong and weak nations; leaders of both prosperous and poor nations; leaders of both first world and last world nations; and leaders of both countries who understand the moment the General Assembly signifies and nations who simply see it as another opportunity to go on a jamboree. Everyone congregates in the United States where the UN is permanently headquartered, and for just one week, the American economy makes more money than what the Nigerian economy, crawling on her knees before foreign Oil companies in the Niger-Delta, would make in a year. No wonder the American government is such an amazing host! In a rather bizarre manner, half of that money would not come from the rich and prosperous nations of Europe, countries who understand the core Principles of Economics, principles they invented, still principally teach in their Business Schools, and principles that today stand as the reason for their prosperity. It will not come from Asia, a region saturated with countries strictly indoctrinated in the Samurai concept of discipline, dignity and honour to your country, where profligacy is a crime and where corruption in whatever guise is treason (Ask Bo Xilai in China). It will not come from South America, the emerging giant region of the world, where a disciplined application of Socialist-welfare theory of home-grown economics, is fast becoming a big threat to the West. Rather, and characteristically of course, a major chunk of that money would come from the staggeringly poor countries in Africa, who though carry the yoke of having close to 70% of their population living below the poverty level alongside dingy infrastructures, are ruled by stupendously rich and arrogant leaders, who are nothing but accidental public servants, having slept one night as ordinary men fit only to head a Primary School, only to wake up the next day as Presidents in Oil rich nations. These African leaders are the ones who would lodge in the costliest of hotels, though their countries run on a jalopy electricity system; they are the ones who would rent the most expensive limousines to cruise around, even though half of the Federal roads in their country cannot compete with corners streets in the land where they pose; they are the ones who would arrive the venue with the largest entourage, even when half of the persons making up their contingent are either charlatans or persons whose hands are soiled in deep corruption. Sadly, even though these ones are the most in number, they are usually the most inconsequential in terms of importance. The powerful nations who call the shots, simple have them around as the many who are called to make up the number. Their presence pulls no strings, and their words make no strong statement. Their sessions are usually dry and unattended, while they come appearing in all manner of heavy attire, not comfortable for the occasion. The sum of this is that they are regarded with little importance even when they talk about being part of the global war against terrorism, save that they must be accommodated for formalities sake. However, there are a microscopic few, who though are Presidents of small nation, yet are big people. They are the few who though aware of the limitations of their political influence internationally, yet have chosen not to be little when history knocks on their door. These ones, having kick-started the prosperity of their country at home via sound economic policies, rapid industrial growth, prudent government spending, massive infrastructural development, and zero tolerance for corruption, appears at the UN General Assembly to deliver the best speech the world has ever heard and thus, re-write history. Such leaders do not push their goodluck by attending a serious international event with a bandwagon team of party loyalists and political diehards, living a reckless life of affluence abroad while their people gnash their teeth in poverty back home. Such leaders do not stay at posh hotels, when they know they have done a good job of putting the suites in their country’s foreign embassy in good shape, fit enough for lodging high-ranking officials. Such Presidents do not tag along with Oil subsidy thieves, and can never be caught mispronouncing simple English words, when making a speech of historical importance before an international audience. Such leaders, understand firmly (because it took them years of preparation before getting into office), that making an address at the United Nations General Assembly is considered very historic in the life of any country. Such leaders therefore, are armed with an unrivalled charismatic consciousness that tells them that delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly, is an occasion where for about 45minutes, or less, the most prepared of Presidents take charge of the UN platform and arrest the attention of the whole world, announcing the arrival of their country. Such leaders are so presidential as to know that such are moments when Presidents deploy a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to make great speeches that make their country stand tall, no matter how inconspicuously inconsequential they may geographically be represented on the world map. Such leaders know for sure that, it is a time when the boys are separated from the men. Verily, anyone who saw President Barack Obama’s delivery before the UN General Assembly, and that of President Goodluck Jonathan, would better understand without equivocation, why ASUU is on strike. Is it not a notorious fact, that even those in government are poorly educated?
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:06:02 +0000
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