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Obama and his Nigerian Brethren
Muti ThisI love Obama for what he stands for, and for what he has done, to get to where he is today. And I will most likely vote for him for those reasons, not because he is black, like me.
But this is not how some of my countrymen in Nigeria see him. He’s their brother; he’s black; he’ll save Africa!
One of those people is Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Ndidi is the Chairman of the Africans for Obama 2008, a Nigeria-based pro-Obama group. Speaking in Lagos while inaugurating ‘Africans for Obama Presidency’ in June, she said, “the policies of Obama will have effect for Africa, not only the world, because he believes in Africa.”
On August 12, Ndidi and her friends held a fund raising dinner for Obama at the MUSON Center Lagos.
The price tag?
About $2,500 to 20,000USD per plate!
Their goal is to raise 100 million Naira (about 1 million USD) to mobilize the five million Africans in United States to support and vote for Obama in November.
There are many things wrong with this. Even if there are five million Africans with American voters registration cards, is it legal for a non-American pressure group to embark on political advocacy projects within America?
Was Ndidi and co aware of “The US Foreign Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1974?”
I don’t think so.
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.
In fact, the Obama campaign organization has issued a disclaimer stating the “Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee will not accept any funds raised at this event or through the fundraising activities of this group.”
One thing is clear about many Nigerians, including our dear Ndidi: An obsession for foreign ready-made products. This obsession manifests in every facet of life in Nigeria. Now some have seen Obama as a prime object for that obsession.
Did Obama get to be the first American black presidential candidate because he had people like Ndidi supporting him?
But Ndidi, an American green card holder, is convinced she is doing the right thing. “Nobody was forced to attend the event” She was quoted in a national daily, excerpts:
I have paid N10m for a table at a concert; nobody was forced to pay. The event was a private thing and I used my own money to put it together. Some people like to sit in front of the television and watch history in the making but we chose to mobilise people to vote for someone we believe in.
But wouldn’t it be make more sense if the Ndidis of Nigeria (and their rich friends) re-channel their obsessive energy toward something more practical and relevant to their immediate society?
Rather that obsessing over an ‘American Obama’, how about helping to create a local system that would produce a ‘Nigerian Obama’, say within the next five years?
Article first appeared on GrandioseParlor.com. Republished with some modification
What others are saying, see:
Misi | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
This is really ridiculous. A table for the event ranged from $2500-$20,000 - in a country where millions are below poverty level. This makes me question how these people reason? And it shows the true demon of wastefulness. I heard Obama’s campaign have rejected Ndidi’s offer, so what happens to all the money she has raised? Who gets that? I think this was another (Obj fundraising was the first) opportunity for her self-enrichment.
Henry | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
This is really weird.
I used to think this woman was smart, but I’m wrong.
This just goes to show how rotten our system is in Nigeria if this woman, the president of the Nigerian Stock exchange, could goff so badly, and so openly and yet has the guts to defend her actions, so majestically.
Kai! we are in trouble in Nigeria!!!
Akin | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Hello,
This probably represents the fact that high achievement and responsibility does not remove the basest Nigerian instinct from the said people.
Just as Ambassador Sam Edem spent $4 million on witch doctor services you have this woman pursuing additional validation by this busy-body activity of buying a table for N100 million.
They are so intellectual and far removed from Nigerian issues that they are effectively useless and make a laughing stock of Nigerians the world over.
Expect to see more very intelligent people with integrity, modesty and self-esteem, trying to intimidate us with their PhDs.
Regards,
Akin
NB: Thanks for the mention
Linda Excel Okun | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
OK, this is arrant nonsense, a mere ostentation of wealth. Nigeria is in a huge mess. It is so dishearten that this ridiculous attitude is coming from a woman or a mother. What is going on? I mean, women are psychologically based as more expressive or sensitive to the immediate or cogent needs of the society.
To think that people are out on the streets hungry, homeless or jobless and then a human being , a woman for that matter decides to spend such money on a mere table, creates an impression that Nigeria has a long way to go as far progress is concerned. This is sad and reproachful.
Sonie | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
Misi, some of us in Nigeria don’t even know if life is actually what we had in mind. Every day, we live in fear of life. Yes, everything isn’t just right. As a graduate, i went around for years without a job, I went to some of our so called leaders for assistance when i lost my father for assistance to continue in school without success. i strugled on and rounded up only to be jobless for so long(I was doing menial task for 10 years).
Nigeria needs a re-direction. It hurts me to see what a blessed country like Nigeria is turning into due to unforcussed leadership.
Misi | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
Quick update besides Obama campaign rejecting Okereke, EFCC has invited her over the N100m raised. Here is part of the news:
“The Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke is to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] in Abuja by 2pm today Wednesday August 20, 2008 for an interview and/or soft interrogation over the N100million supposedly raised for the Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.”
Omotaylor | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
Sorry for the late input, ave been away on ~Evangelical mission. First the Obama campaign have done THE RIGHT THING by rejecting the money raised by Ndidi (for it is blood money - metaphorically). In a country where millions are dying of poverty and millions more living below the poverty line, Ndidi who said she had brains and “good” ideas should have raised the money to help the starving and less fortunate Nigerians. To Ndidi I say wake up for AMBITION IS MADE OF STERNER STUFF. Obama wont be recognising you for being so daft in your professional standing. The Bible does say that the wisdom of the foolish wise would be so confounded that their counsel will turn to foolishness for it is not a Godly counsel but one for cheap popularity. Thanks to EFCC for the invite. Hope more sordid secrets would be revealed. Nigeria will be clean one day by the grace of God. Most of those representing Nigeria internally and externally in such debased ways will be annihilated by the grace of God.
Hope this serves as a detterent to would be foolish sycophants who would do anything to gain cheap popularity and what have you. Nigeria is a God blessed nation with many intelligent people who have decided to take the back seat because of the likes of Ndidi, Agagu, OBJ etc etc. God is wiping them out, slowly and surely. The Godfearing, people loving and dedicated Nigerians will be on the increase to turn Nigeria around, if not there will be a Nigerian Jerry Rawlings to do the work, but because God loves Nigeria He is giving us a softer option. Peace.
Omotaylor | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
A question for the likes of Ndidi and others who want to learn more about the rewards of trying to gain cheap popularity:
Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of God in the book of 2nd Samuel chapter 6 (pay attention to verse 7)? This same Lord blessed Obedodom when the Ark was abandoned in his house.
There are Uzzahs and Obedodoms in Nigeria. Pray you choose the right name and live by it always. If Ndidi does not repent of her ways and start thinking right, Uzzah will be her name.
Misi | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
A very funny and true comment on this issue by Dr. Val Ojo:
AN ADDENDUM:
This is a very good illustration of the PLIGHT of the Black race.
Let us look at this again.
Professor Dr. Mrs. Okereke-Onyuike is by any stretch of the imagination, a
very accomplished human being - a Harvard graduate, a professor, held many
high positons, moves in the best circles, and is currently head of the
Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Clearly, one of our ‘best and brightest’!
Yet this is what she is capable of - this major ‘faux pas.’
The Yoruba have a very apt saying for what befell her - rightly, or wrongly:
‘Eniti a fi oro lo, ti o ni ti oun baje’.
Translated roughly: ‘The sympathizer who is weepinmg more than the briefed.
In more recent times, there was a post-colonial variant of this wise saying:
‘Oyinbo mu oiti, oti npa kuku’.
The white boss is the one doing the drinking, but African cook is the one
getting intoxicated and acting drunk.
Applied to Prof. Dr. Mrs. Okereke-Onyuike?
Bear with me a little more…
The Americans are holding their presidential elections in the U S of A.
everything is going just fine, no one has yet been arrested for anything,
not even those who threatened the lives of the candidates.
In far away Nigeria, a very accomplished and distinguished African woman
is getting herself arrested for something that’s really none of her
business in the first place, and which admittedly, may have been a serious
error of judgment and total lack of ethical or morfal standards
(collecting money from a very poor country to finance elections in one of
the wealthiest countries in the world), rather than anything purely
criminal.
However, if such a distinguished and accomplished Nigerian woman - maybe
even an over-achiever - can deliberately make such a serious error of
judgment as to find herself under arrest, do we then now see the caliber
of people we have in charge of things in most African nations - people who
are NOT in any position, despite their education and exposure, to make the
‘right calls’, and who end up getting themselves into a deep and avoidable
mess.
This why Africa is failing.
And sadder still, some eminent Nigerians have come out to attempt to
justify this unconscionable act under the guise of some cockamamie
legalisms and of being seemingly committed to the defense of ‘freedom’.
While conveniently forgetting, that society does not run on a bi-polar
‘legal or illegal’ alone.
Other equally important factors also play into the equation:
- moral
- ethical
- functional
- sensible
- intelligent
And not only ‘legal’ or ‘illegal’, ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
There rae more parameters to life, and to living.
Dr. Valentine Ojo
Misi | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
Update on Ndidi: “Okereke-Onyiuke’ s passport seized
By Oluwole Josiah and Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
Published: Friday, 22 Aug 2008″. The story provides that:
“It was gathered that the travel document was collected from her on Thursday when she reported at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC as requested on Wednesday.
Our source said, “ When she honoured our invitation on Wednesday, she was interrogated by our team and she has written a statement. We have collected her international passport from her. But I don’t know if she would go home today(Thursday) .”
joseph willombe mitchell | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
hallloooooooooo am i the only person who can see that barack obama is not black so why does this chick say he is its very sick shit he is created by white and black people not just blacks he is mixed race..it gets worse every day