CHINA: THE DANGERS OF A DYING DRAGON 

Adeniyi Ologunleko 

.. In the Beginning

Since the 15^th century European exploration of West Africa till date, the sub-region has not known true peace and prosperity. The Europeans looted (and are still looting!) our treasures, enslaved (and are still enslaving!) our people and committed (and are still committing!) several unprintable atrocities. Up till now, the golden throne of the King of the Ashantes in Ghana has not been returned. Instead of Europe to show genuine repentance and be contented with the resources God has given them, they continue to invent newer ways to steal from Africa. It appears that, in spite of all their acclaimed wisdom and learning, this shameless Europe just can’t find a way to prosper without stealing from Africa. They must steal our oil, our gold, our bauxite, our cocoa, our people and everything that can be stolen.

Certainly, God will someday deliver us from France, Germany, Finland, Britain, Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium but we don’t know when and how yet. 

..Enter the Dragon

The main thrust of this article is however not on the iron yoke called Europe but on the crippling burden called China. This wild Dragon has tasted and discovered that Africa is really sumptuous. Of course, there must be something special in a continent that has endured Europe’s plunder for 600 years and is still breathing. The slavery and suffering of the Jews in the hands of Egypt’s Pharaoh for 430 years that used to be the world record has since been shattered. China is not going to sit by and watch this great feast from the sidelines. There is an old adage that asks a rhetorical question that if you don’t plunder a foolish man’s treasures, is it the wise man’s own that you will plunder? With 1.4 billion hungry people to feed and a failed economic system that is founded on an outdated ideology, China must join the party quickly and Africa is where it’s happening.

China is one country that will never be a signatory to original thinking. In fact, dragons are not thinking creatures but copying ones. And having perfected the art of stealing technology and information, there is nothing else that can’t be stolen – not even governments! Why not just steal the Presidencies, Senates and Judiciaries of African countries and you beat the Europeans to their own game.

Enter the Dragon – the latest colonial master. 

..And the Dragon died

In spite of the empty noise and deception of the last two decades however, the rulers of China secretly knew that their house is built on a sandy foundation. It was only a matter of time before the long-awaited collapse. But they were determined to hang on till the last drop of blood.

China had the opportunity to provide sound education to her citizens so that they can compete at the thinking level with the West. This is a long, narrow road that would have delivered enduring national prosperity. In the “wisdom” of their rulers however, they chose the easy and broad path of stealing information and data, then cloning every western invention. And for a while, the world praised them because of the resulting short-term successes.

The recent financial meltdown was the last stroke that broke the Dragon’s jaws and sent it to the grave – where a cozy apartment had been reserved for it since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

With unemployment rising in US and Europe, the production plants that were outsourced to China are now being brought back. If, in spite of the great boom of the last three decades, China is still a third world economy, we can only wonder what rating it will get in the next decade.

You cannot build a national economy by copying. It is not sustainable. 

..Fist of Fury

Now that the old Dragon is finally dead, the news must be kept top secret. The Chinese believe that the Dragon, like Samson of old, can still slay more in its death than it did when alive. Again, they must go offer monkeys to the “Munguns” of Africa. The only difference is that, this time, they will be much more ruthless.

In Nigeria, the furious arms of the dying Dragon are already at work:

• Billions of dollars for the railway project. Where are the trains?
• Billions of dollars for a communications satellite. Where is it now?
• Billions of dollars to establish a local handset factory. Where are the phones?
• Killing of innocent Nigerians all over China by state forces
• Refusal of visa to genuine Nigerian businessmen
• Absolute disrespect for the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives

..Whither from here?

We need not go very far at all. The classic recipe for a Rabbit stew begins with “First, get a Rabbit”.

In the same way, the recipe for salvation from the heavy burden of China begins with “First, drive out all the Chinese”.

But, are we man enough? 

May God have mercy on Nigeria and hear the cries of her people. Amen. 

Adeniyi Ologunleko,

Plot 272/273, Central Area,

Abuja.

Robot  # 1 | 26.12.2008 13:17

CHINA: THE DANGERS OF A DYING DRAGON Adeniyi Ologunleko .. In the Beginning Since the 15thcentury European exploration of West Africa till date, the sub-region has not known true peace and prosperity. The Europeans looted (and are still looting!) our treasures, enslaved (and are still enslaving!) our people and committed (and are still committing!) several unprintable atrocities. Up till now, the golden throne of the King of the Ashantes in Ghana has not been returned. Instead of Europe to show genuine repentance and be contented with the resources God has given them, they continue to invent newer ways to steal from Africa. It appears that, in spite of all their acclaimed wisdom and learning, this shameless Europe just can’t find a way to prosper without stealing from Africa. They must steal our oil, our gold, our bauxite, our cocoa, our people and everything that can be stolen....Read the full article.

chrisog300@yahoo.com  # 2 | 26.12.2008 14:03

Thanks for the write up! I may no:not be able to respond to these article because of the senstive nature.I live in china and will really like to communicate with you personally!Remember iam in china and u could be easily censored! Hope u will let me know hw to communicate with you cos , i think u have the eyes , unlike our leaders! and i have seen it all and had continue to see it , it wont be long before we nigerians and africans will be routed out from our continent by the chincs, Happy xmas! No time for merry!

Ispy  # 3 | 26.12.2008 17:21

This is certainly the beginning of another chapter in the checkered history of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. China seems to be the inheritors of the rape of Africa from the British and Americans and as long as our leaders remain shortsighted and bereft of ideas that vacuum will always be there begging to be filled. This having been said i however do not think China is built on sand as the author insinuates in the article. Even if only for the sake of serving as a lesson for our leaders on one way to steadily build a country when a conscious effort is made by its leaders as was made by Deng Xiaoping. It is pertinent to highlight some positive steps taken by china towards its development. America today remains indebted to china to the tune of around $1.5trillion dollars and still rising. The curent economic downturn in china and most asian countries(Japan, South Korea etc) is due primarily to lack of demand of goods manufactured in these countries from countries such as USA and Britain due to their self induced credit crisis.The Dragon i am afraid is far from dead,rising umemployment in USA, Britain unfortunately will not translate to industries moving back to these countries. Running industries in USA etc is no longer economically rewarding for industrialists, Americans,Britons are just too 'spoilt' demanding higher salaries for less work as against what obtains in China and co. I would rather say the Dragon is actually better poised to become the economic superpower of the world.Our leaders need to take a cue from this and get some of these industries to outsource to Nigeria by providing the enabling environment eg steady power. India has taken this cue and really doing well. For instance, I was shocked whilst studying in the UK a couple of years back to find out that the Chinese form the highest number of foreign students in my school (Nigerians coming a distant second)and infact all over the UK. There were departments where the Chinese form as high as 80% of the students. American schools i am told is no exception. I spoke to some Chinese fellow students and was told this is a conscious effort on the part of their government and this is evident in the fact that unlike Nigerian students almost all Chinese students return home after their study. I was also told Chinese universities are fast becoming world class, tapping from the ideas and knowledge brought back by returning Chinese some of whom go straight into the academia. I was told there would begin to be a reduction in the number of Chinese students in a couple of years as Universities back home become even better.It was also explained to me that unlike in Nigeria there is a laid down rule in china that all expatriates in china are given a specific time after which they must train and handover to Chinese citizens. In Nigeria you have foreign technicians lording it over our graduates for years whilst we are fooled there is something extraordinary they do!! Though China's foray into The Nigerian economy and some African countries(Congo, Sudan etc) makes for some serious cause for worry, i can only blame our corrupt leaders who do not make conscious efforts to empower their people. If we drive out the Chinese believe me their are numerous countries waiting to take their position top of which is America and Britain who have for decades brought nothing but disguised suffering to Africans as well.At least the Chinese do not make unreasonable demands before investing in a country. Before an American or British man will agree to come to Nigeria he must first be provided with tens of private policemen, a penthouse in VI or Lekki, huge salary etc. The Chinese from my observation are not afraid to get their hands dirty, working under the sun like every other person etc even if they seem to also collude with corrupt leaders just like Britain and America have done for years. I also believe strongly that a counterbalance superpower is needed to checkmate the Americas and Britains of this world Finally though, not having whether it is china, America or Britain plundering our economy would be the desirable situation, however the current situation does not encourage this. The Solution?? Selfless African and Nigerian Leaders

Onari  # 4 | 26.12.2008 21:14

Mr Ologunleko, Good one and good questions begging for answer. The point here I will like to make is that there are more questions to ask Nigerians about what we are doing with China than asking the Chinese these questions. Like Martin Luther King(Jnr) said "A man can't ride your back unless it's bent." China saw weakness and opening in our system and they took advantage...same is happening in Sudan and Somali. I still strongly believe that blaming other countries for all our problem seems to me to be delusional. If you are asking questions about Chinese, what of questions for South Africans, Indians, Lebanese business men and women…they are also taking over our businesses and economy. The problem of Africa and especially that of Nigeria lie squarely on the shoulder of Nigerians to do the needful. It is time for us to look inward, be introspective and do the fundamental things like justice, dignity, respect, hard work and honesty by every Nigerian to move our country to the fore front of progress, shared prosperity and shared responsibility. Please let’s clean up our house before we look at how dirty the neighbor’s house is. I leave you with another quote from Martin Luther King Jnr again “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”. The silence of well positioned Nigerians in the face of unprecedented corruption, hatred, injustice and inept leadership remain appalling. Nigeria will be rebuilt and rise again.

sammyduyo  # 5 | 27.12.2008 04:50

Between the cntributions of Ispy and Onari, there is nothing more to add.

gbengaismail  # 6 | 27.12.2008 05:35

We brought all these on our own heads. A nation that is not self-reliant will end up depending on opportunists such as these. International politics is replete with issues such as these. Nobody provides free lunch for anybody. Not even in London.

valteena  # 7 | 27.12.2008 06:12

Interesting write-up by Adeniyi and two great responses from Ispy and Onari. Well said guys

aguabata  # 8 | 27.12.2008 07:31

China has a GDP of about $3trillion (US:$13trillion), with a population of about 1billion people they have a very small per capita income, thus China is doing everything it could to survive, the world is about the survival of the fittest, if Africa is fair game, she will be looted and raped by those who can. We have ourselves to blame, nobody should watch our backs for us, Zimbabwe had a GDP of about $25billion (Nigeria:$164billion)when things were good, for such a small economy to challenge western financial powers is suicidal, how the world bank and other financial institutions crippled their lines of credit is in the history books for those who care. we need to put our acts together first before fighting neo-colonialists.

John Igoli  # 9 | 27.12.2008 08:48

It is said 'nothing is free in Freetown'. The only line in our Lord's prayer that is recited by all (including atheists) is 'give us this day our daily bread'. China and indeed all superior nations are only sourcing for daily bread for their nationals when they come to 'partner' with our less developed nations. It is for our leaders to also source for our daily bread from those nations in return, but corruption and hope of personal gains/greed do not allow this! Hence the relationship becomes a one way valve as the author has pointed out. In Nigeria our only source of daily bread now is the crude oil and it is becoming volatile as the price is evaporating so fast our 2009 budget my disappear with it. The question for us now is: what other source of daily bread can we develop?

Danmeka  # 10 | 27.12.2008 12:31

Nice article, the Chinese took the advantage knowing how poverty has diminished our thinking by offering all sort of programmes and loans for our resources and dump sub standard goods into our market(China Town Doctrine-Fortune Magazine 2006).They have even copied the Ghanian Akwete and now mass producing them, Aso Oke is next. When are we going to have leaders with vision for the nation, still waitiing

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