Yes, why will the white man not look down with condescension and superciliousness on the black man ? Why will the white man not call the black man's country under-developed, underdeveloping, ignorant, 3rd world, colony, protectorate, emerging market, dumping ground, disease and war-ravaged, etcetera. The black man sold his own people into slavery to foreigners, who took them away to far and unknown lands to labour without emoluments nor solatium and to be completely stripped of his identity, culture, customs and traditions. Black slaves were completely denied their identities, dignities and self esteem. That was an era of social bastardization, economic stagnation, mass psychological trauma, genocide and generational decimation. Now are you still wondering, and asking why the white man has no respect for the black man. Please tell me what you thought the black man got for selling his people into slavery. Oh well, he got beads, bangles,cassocks, gun powder and muskets to enable him do more aggressive hinterland raids to meet the white man's need for African slaves.

Are you still wondering and questioning why the White man calls the black man under-developed? The black man must be underdeveloped, to have pumped billions of crude oil dollars into infrastructural developement and energy generation projects and have completely nothing to show for it. If you travel from Lagos to Benin City, you will have to offer a thanksgiving mass, if you are a catholic or do a special thanksgiving if you are a pentecostal, should you arrive Benin City in one piece. Same applies to all the roads in Nigeria's road network.

Nigeria's rail system is as backward as stone age hunting tools. The Indians and the Chinese have been invited at various times to revamp the rail system, yet the rail system is still as as comatose as the dodo. I guess the next folks the government will now invite to attempt to fix the rail system are the Sudanese and the Togolese. Come to think of it, Nigeria, as a black nation must be third world to have 51 billion dollars in foreign reserves, while the country is suffering a desperate need for infrastructures and other social welfarist amenities.

Talking about foreign reserves, it is my suggestion that Nigerian leaders should visit Dubai to see how oil money was spent in developing infrastructures and creating a safe investment haven. Our leaders should also understudy the system there, to see how oil money was made available for investment to local and even international businesses and businessmen for investment in Dubai. Today, Dubai has become a world -class financial and investment center. Many companies from around the world are moving their head offices and operational bases to Dubai. Dubai has successfully been transformed with oil money. Learn Nigeria learn. The white man will really think thrice before calling the people of Dubai underdeveloped or 3rd world. Less than 20 years ago, Dubai was depressingly a mere 'oasis' in the desert. Then, the leaders put on their thinking caps. If Dubai can do it, why can't Nigeria do it. Even India and China have so wonderfully used their resources to develop their infrastructures, that in addition to the attraction of their cheap labour to businesses and investors; the Western world, have no option but to transfer, much of their manufacturing and even service bases to these countries. I just hope, our leaders will learn. I doubt, if any white man will be comfortable calling China or India third world or underdeveloped countries.

Truly, just like Governor B. Fashola of Lagos State cried out the other day, what is the logic behind keeping $51bn as reserve when there are no motorable roads nor a functional health care system, and our educational system is in shambles? Our energy sector is nothing to write home about, Nigerians have no drinkable water. Our airports are death traps, no proper rail nor road systems. No functional medical system. Our seaports need a critical and thorough modernisation and expansion. Yet we have our money in foreign countries, for the development of such foreign economies, polities and peoples. Ask me, why will the white man not call the black man ignorant and 3rd world, when it is only the black man who will steal his country blind and take his loot to the white man's country to be used for the economic empowerment of the white man. How many white men have robbed their countries and brought their loot to any black country to be kept in banks in a black man's country and be made available for investments and the economic empowerment of the black man.

Why will the white man not call Africa, 3rd world, when  5  million children die every year from Malaria. Diseases that have long been wiped out in more civilized climes are still causing serious devastation in the black world. The percentage of HIV / AIDS cases among blacks, whether in the U.S.A or in Africa is fearsome and worrisome. In fact HIV/AID is referred to in some quarters as the blackman's disease. Any wonder, some weird and quacky scientists claim HIV/AIDS originated in Africa. What about Ebola?. The problems hindering the health care sector in Nigera are legion as they are monstrous. Fake drugs, for instance, you will ask yourself, why folks will want to make money by selling adulterated medicine and in some cases completely dud products. A particular market in Onitsha is notorious for that. The few medical practitioners who have resolved to stay by Nigerians are not even encouraged. They are either too poorly paid that they have to rely on better income from performing abortions or they have no proper medical facilities to work with. Many thus become discouraged and get attracted by the 'Get out of Nigeria Syndrome'. This scenario is true for all Nigerian professionals, and indeed the whole black world.

Haiti and the U.S.A were founded the same year. One was managed by whites and the other by blacks. Today, the USA is the richest country in the western hemisphere and Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Is the black man's backwardness among the comity of nations and races genetic ?. No. The problem is with the leadership. Consider Eastern Europe, before the fall of the Berlin wall, Eastern Europe was in a state of the ugliest and most impoverished decay in contradinstiction to Western Europe and the USA's affluence and modernisation. However with the fall of socialism and communism, Eastern Europe suddenly embraced capitalism and the whole world can see the upsurge in the financial, infrastructural developement, foreign investments, modernisation and developemental initiatives and prospects all over the old Eastern Europe. Some would want to argue, that the system determine the prospects. Nope, we must realise, the leaders determine the system and the leaders also apply the system.

Is Africa's backwardness as a result of religion. Nope. Japan with its Shinto religion is doing very well up there. Japan rubs shoulders with the Western powers as equals. God is not a partial God, nor a respecter of persons. If you apply God's principles as taught by the Holy Bible, you will be blessed. Whether persons or nations. How many Africans can read and write ? This is one of the problems that must be solved, if the blackman is to get out of the doldrums of poverty, wretchedness, failure and stagnation. How do we explain, the fact that Nigeria with all the huge sums of money derived from the sale of crude oil over the years, is still one of the most educationally backward countries in the world. We must realise, that there is a direct relationship between Nigeria's educational backwardness and the country's inability to conduct free and fair elections. We must also realise that until we are able to educate our people, our people will not have enough knowledge to know their rights and the responsibility of government vis-a-vis provision of social amenities and infrastructures. In 1962, the literacy rate in Japan was ninety eight percent. That explains, why in such countries, democracy, free press, free elections and transparency in government business, functional  infrastructures and the provision of basic social amenities are common place and taken for granted. When the people are educated and enlightened, then, there will not be a platform of fear and ignorance atop which, 'one-eye in the midst of the blind' gangsters in the community could operate freely as political godfathers and kingmakers. Where ghetto political godfathers are firmly in place, democracy, especially a culture of free elections can never develop roots. Elections will be by clandestine, brigandage, bravado and thuggery-backed coronation. State funds will be embezzled and the polity will be made ungovernable. The picture is frightening, sad and ugly, but then, that is the scenario, where ever, you find members of the black race, any where on the face of the earth.

Whither the black race?, Is the black race a sinking race?

Is the black race simply naive or oblivious of its embarrassing politico- socio and economic standing among the races?

How do we intend to rescue our race from the abyss of under-developement, ignorance, disease, squalor and poverty?

Anthony Okosun (tonyosun@yahoo.co.uk) writes from the USA

Robot  # 1 | 20.02.2008 22:52

Yes, why will the white man not look down with condescension and superciliousness on the black m...Read the full article.

naijalove  # 2 | 21.02.2008 00:02

Every once in a while, and too often, we have a stupid article like the one you wrote, full of hysteria and alarming about the deplorable state of the black race and why we deserve to be discriminated against. You spineless fools sit from the comfort of your chair and forever dissect the state of the black race without offering any clear solution. But my question to you is: WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS??? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you know in whither direction to point the black race? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you have a clear road map to prevent the black race from sinking, that we have refused? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you know how to rescue our race from the abyss of under-developement, ignorance, disease, squalor and poverty? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Your article is simply the 1000th article to bash black people, and you are yet another member of a generation of spineless vision-less people who have not been able to apply their intelligence (or probably lack any intelligence) to creatively think outside the box and provide a solution.

Abujaboy  # 3 | 21.02.2008 02:01

I'm glad to see articles like this every so often, in the (perhaps vain) hope that it will stir more people to action. But I must echo others and ask, well, what WILL be done about it? It's true that Nigerians are still unbelievably content in their squalor, and perhaps it's better to have $51 billion sitting in a bank rather than have it stolen in the time-honored Nigerian fashion. But, when will Nigerians rise up? When will they hold the thieves and murderers accountable? When will they demand to be treated as human beings by their own government? Foreign governments treat Nigerians, both in and out of Nigeria, far better than the Nigerian government does.

Jah Guda  # 4 | 21.02.2008 05:40

Our problems get bigger and more difficult to put right with every passing hour. I was in Nigeria last week, a brief visit, only stayed for 5 days. What hit me is the number of Nigerians living under terrible conditions. I could not quite work out why things are not being put right; where to begin? In my opinion cleaning the Country should be the first task. The amount of filth in our cities is incredible, it makes a depressing sight and it’s not the right environment to bring up our children. Being poor is one thing but to be poor and live in squalor extinguishes all hope. The government should purchase thousands of JCB’s, Caterpillars and Garbage Trucks; clean Nigeria, remove garbage from our cities, educate the masses, identify the good things in every individual, provide scholarships, lets learn to be self-sufficient and look after our country. I just cannot understand the mentality of our leaders; have they given up? In their eyes, is Nigeria a basket case? Why don’t they start fixing the Country? It’s always the same old story; they pull wool over our eyes while they stuff their pockets. That’s why I have no interest in News on Nigerian politicians and politics, it’s all a fraud, a sham, and our politicians are full of hot air and utter empty sentences. In two years we shall all celebrate half a century of hopelessness, with population explosion and lack of education and training, the next fifty years does not look promising, unless we change the political climate and club of “chosen” leaders. We need a real leader, not one from the same old group of clueless and heartless men.

jojo  # 5 | 21.02.2008 07:13

naijalove respond to this article makes me want to throw up. Is she saying all issues been talked about in this article are not true picture of entire black countries? she was saying someone sit in his comfort zone, tell me if u truely love Nigeria according to your name why leaving her in the first place ? even ablind man can see what most Nigerians are facing everyday in other to make ends meet. for the past 40 years now na e go better dem dey take decieve us

Oghre  # 6 | 21.02.2008 07:22

=naijalove;4294990377>Every once in a while, and too often, we have a stupid article like the one you wrote, full of hysteria and alarming about the deplorable state of the black race and why we deserve to be discriminated against. You spineless fools sit from the comfort of your chair and forever dissect the state of the black race without offering any clear solution. But my question to you is: WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS??? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you know in whither direction to point the black race? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you have a clear road map to prevent the black race from sinking, that we have refused? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Do you know how to rescue our race from the abyss of under-developement, ignorance, disease, squalor and poverty? Give us a solution or forever shut up your mouth and hold your peace. Your article is simply the 1000th article to bash black people, and you are yet another member of a generation of spineless vision-less people who have not been able to apply their intelligence (or probably lack any intelligence) to creatively think outside the box and provide a solution. Well said Naijalove, People like the writer remind me of those Nigerians, (the types), who assist external agents to pour scorn on their own nationality and existence. No matter how Nigeria later turns out they will still remain “déclassé” They have no solution (even little ones) to offer but will remain “sat” in their ignorance throwing stones from afar and using cheap language. He writes about Nigeria, and in his daftness not realizing he is actually a model Nigeria who ignores (or at least refuses to propose any remedies) to the issues.

Wayfarer  # 7 | 21.02.2008 07:31

=Abujaboy> Foreign governments treat Nigerians, both in and out of Nigeria, far better than the Nigerian government does. Sadly, this is a fact that no amount of self-denial can shield us from. Another fact that is equally inescapable, in my opinion, is the responsibility all Nigerian citizens, and not just our leaders, bear for the renovation of our country. I just saw a news report in the main section which claims that Nigeria made $55 billion dollars from oil exports last year. $55 billion dollars! Even to America, $55 billion dollars is nothing to sneeze at, yet we, the rank and file Nigerian citizens, have done nothing to find out how this $55 billion dollars was disbursed. I am no economics expert, so I will not try to impugn our much ballyhooed foreign reserves without understanding the motivation for maintaining the amount we currently do. I do know, however, that we need roads, bridges, hospitals, better schools and well-equipped policemen today. Besides, I read a report a while back suggesting that the amount of foreign reserves claimed might be far less than the actual amount we have. So when are we the supposedly educated and unmistakably loquacious Nigerians, going to ask our government what they do with the millions of dollars they recieve daily from the sale of oil? When are we going to ask our leaders to discuss substantive issues like product and infrastructural development in the Assembly, rather than prattling over asinie bills like dress code bills? The responsibility still rests with us.

overdryv  # 8 | 21.02.2008 08:53

No, not so Naijalove. We need such articles even on weekly basis to remind us of our failures.You are asking of solutions, what have our governments been doing with solutions proffered so far? I am not a political scientist but it continues to amaze me that people cant read between the lines to figure out the enigma that is Nigeria. Why is it difficult for people to see that Nigeria can never function as a forced state? As long as we refused to define our nationhood, we shall continue to grope in darkness. Our greatest undoing is the oil that has becloud our sense of judgement. We cant even look at issues of true federalism and resource control talkless of addressing them. The worst part of it is that our so-called elite who live in europe and America, the bastions of true democracy, would not lend their voice to instituting true democracy. They reason that they or their people would have a lot to lose should the regions be made autonomous. The author displayed some glaring ignorance by telling us that we have to practice biblical principles before making any headway. This is the falsehood sold to us since the missionaries imposed their incomprehensible religion on us. Why are the japanese who dont owe allegiance to the biblical god prospering? It is also the height of stupidity to tie good elections to literacy. Our failure at organizing free and fair elections is traceable to our lack of patriotism, greed and criminal nature. On the issue of our backwardness, we must accept that we are inferior to the white man. No amount of racial grandstanding would change that. All what we are today is because of the white man. He wrote our alphabets, gave us our educational, economic, social and political system. He even named our lands. When the white man arrived our shores he looked at us as savages just the way we see gorillas in the jungle. Our people who have excelled in various fields are still a shadow of the white man. No matter how good you are, you can never get up to his level. You are at best a pseudo intellectual. Like I mentioned in various posts, maybe our backwards is spiritual, maybe our time will come in a thousand or million years. If you think the black man is equal in intelligence to the white give your reasons. Shikenna!

Palamedes  # 9 | 21.02.2008 10:08

What a load of MUMBO JUMBO! The article is a cocktail of issues, and a combination of discordant topics; it is full of ignorant assertions and the author clearly lacks an inquiring mind—He is unable to think deep and ask himself questions; the article is churlish, puerile and depicts a world as a child would see it. Granted that the whole is the sum of its parts , and assuming the author is a Nigerian, he can contribute to Nigeria rank in the world by improving his own knowledge of the things he talks about. It is so sad that any grown up can write such rubbish. On a related issue. I have noticed that these kind of articles are mainly written by Nigerians in the Diaspora—usually venting their personal frustration on Nigeria and Nigerians. You left Nigeria for the bright lights in the West. Now you have seen the sepulchre and have realized that all that glitters is not gold. Now you must GO BACK HOME and start a new life. It is no good taking your frustration on Nigeria and Nigerians.

jojo  # 10 | 21.02.2008 22:15

pam i think you need to go home first b4 the cold kill you

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