Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner

Although I’d like to witness an Austrian Obama – I do live in the country – but Vienna, the capital of Austria, has just this year been ranked 1^st in a survey carried out by Mercer, to assess the cities with the best living standard. For this reason, I am more concerned about the manifestation of the Nigerian Obama for the simple reason that Nigeria needs an Obama much more now more than Austria does.

 “We need a revolution in Africa. Every major positive change in other nations the world over has come about as a result of one kind of revolution, or another,” is another argument I often hear at these gatherings.

A revolution, however, does not happen in a vacuum. Lots of actions, often self-sacrificial ones, are needed to engender any change of worth. Barrack Obama began his own grassroots revolution, when he took up the case of the disenfranchised of the south side in Chicago in 1985 where he worked as a community organizer for the Development Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious Conference. In complete contrast to one of the woes which seems to dodge the footsteps of African policies and projects, taking up the job had nothing to do with any religious orientation; he was not even a member of any church at the time he opted to work on the project. What prompted him to work on the project was a personal need to serve the community and to engender progress for the good of the whole. To that end, he was willing to ignore the gratification of his own momentary comfort in order meet the needs of others. How many of our ‘leaders’ in Nigeria, or Africa, can be said to possess such wisdom?

This is not to say that we do not have intelligent men and women in our country and continent who have the ability to think along the same line as Barrack Obama did, but the real question is, are they willing to do so?

 A strong willingness to serve others begins with deep self-examination and the saying by the great Socrates that a life that’s not constantly examined is not worth living, emphasises this point. The greatest of our woes in Africa today, is that our leaders have lost this important virtue of self-examination; examination of decisions we take and their likely outcome and effect on others, examination of the long-term effect of those decisions. Today, our leaders make policies based on self-preservation and the continuation of the prevalent negative status quo. No one ever wonders or asks himself what legacy such Machiavellian tendencies would leave behind for his or her children. They assume, wrongly, that their children’s peace of mind and safety are guaranteed because of the huge amount of money they have looted and dumped in foreign banks. But as all the Abachas, the Samuel Does and the Charles Taylors of Africa have witnessed, money may guarantee you comfort – albeit a prison-like one – but it does not also guarantee peace of mind. This is the one lesson our leaders have failed to grasp, and only true and critical self-examination can make them aware of that salient fact.

Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner is the author of Pathways of Life 

Robot  # 1 | 04.06.2009 22:55

://sarahudohgrossfurthner.com/images/sarah_1.SarahUdoh-Grossfurthner Although I’d like to witness an Austrian Obama – I do live in the country – but Vienna, the capital of Austria, has just this year been ranked 1stin a survey carried outby Mercer, to assess the cities with the best living standard.For this reason, I am more concerned about the manifestation of the Nigerian Obama for the simple reason that Nigeria needs an Obama much more now more than Austria does. “We need a revolution in Africa. Every major positive change in other nations the world over has come about as a result of one kind of revolution, or another,” is another argument I often hear at these gatherings. A revolution, however, does not happen in a vacuum. Lots of a...Read the full article.

OLIET  # 2 | 05.06.2009 04:22

Your thought is very rich. But the trouble is because Nigeria has been ridicled due to lack of an effective governance, it will be very difficult for such dream. However, there is only one possibility. During the campain period, there were a lot of doubts with Obama's nomination. Since He is a prepared messiah, his victory was swift so also his methods and approaches. Base on the above alone, all hopes should not be lost. Everyone can still remember the time of Abacha too, no doubt, the miracle is also on the way. Otherwise, Nigeria should go to Kenya and import Nigeria Obama. Idogho Emmanuel http://www.oliet.us

eire  # 3 | 05.06.2009 04:27

Another example of lack of foresight among some black people. 1, What has Obama actually achieved that we have to replicate him? He is only a hundred of so days in office. 2, why does the destiny of Nigeria or Africa has to be tied to the work of a western black person who is busy trying to change the fortunes of his people and his society in far away west? 3, what are Nigerians so lazy and backward that they cannot fight their own battles themselves without calling for someone else to do it for them. obama...obama...there are 140 million Nigerians in Nigeria (all writing articles) but cannot take the step of resistance and mass revolt to send a BOLD message to seize the destiny of their own country. I am tired of reading these articles, they are boring pieces of example of African stupidity and ignorance

The Poet  # 4 | 05.06.2009 08:32

Although I understand your frustrations Eire, i'm afraid I have to disagree with you. The name 'Obama,' is much more than enonomic achievments. It is about a man who was able to beat all odds, even one as terrible as racism, to engender true acceptance, even from some, who would sooner have spat on someone of colour than look at him. Though it was obvious he wanted to win the election, he chose to preached a different message than one based on segregation, for the purpose of garnering the much desired votes - something we are very good at doing in Africa. =eire;361039>Another example of lack of foresight among some black people. 1, What has Obama actually achieved that we have to replicate him? He is only a hundred of so days in office. 2, why does the destiny of Nigeria or Africa has to be tied to the work of a western black person who is busy trying to change the fortunes of his people and his society in far away west? 3, what are Nigerians so lazy and backward that they cannot fight their own battles themselves without calling for someone else to do it for them. obama...obama...there are 140 million Nigerians in Nigeria (all writing articles) but cannot take the step of resistance and mass revolt to send a BOLD message to seize the destiny of their own country. I am tired of reading these articles, they are boring pieces of example of African stupidity and ignorance

nomolyz  # 5 | 05.06.2009 09:01

eire, what exactly is stupid about this article? What have you contributed in redressing the myriad societal imbalances in Nigeria? You think say na you be the most frustrated person due to the failures of our nation? Chill and redirect that energy positively...

sagas  # 6 | 05.06.2009 11:05

My brother u just hit d nail on the head.Until we Nigerians put our destiny in our hands, we will continue to wait 4 an Obama that will never come.We have to stop that belief that 2moro will be better bcos it can never be beta if we refused to resist the wicked policies of our so called leaders in dis country. We Nigerians are tired and frusted bt none of us want 2 make the ultimate sacrifice by shedding blood and allowing ours to be shed in the belief that after dat the next generation will be better off.Its so annoying when we complain without action. Look at ordinary Kenya.When elections were rigged,look at the revolt from the ordinary Kenyans,they refused but here in Naija,look at the blatant rigging at Ekiti and the previous ones,we just relax that we should leave the politicians alone and God will leave us alone since we refused to question them. I rest my case.I am tired of our collective slavery.Suffering and smiling.:no::no::no:

aguabata  # 7 | 05.06.2009 13:27

After reading long gospels and dissertations from writers like Don Thomas Osuji and his likes I thought i was in for another long dive. I feel embarrassed that i expected more from this writer because of the bold and nice picture. However, never judge a book by its cover, i've heard that so many times but i still havent learnt.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:feeling sorry for myself:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Anioma777  # 8 | 05.06.2009 20:18

Its not really about a Nigerian Obama. For Nigeria to begin to progress we need to COLLECTIVELY WANT CHANGE AND WORK TOWARDS IT. The problem I think is that most Nigerians don't realise or choose to ignore it that wanting change starts from their normal every day behavior. There is a deep rooted cancer of "which one consine me" attitude from the "support worker" ( house girl/boy ),driver,policeman,bank manager, LGA Chairman, Governor and President.

Patience Bafor  # 9 | 07.06.2009 15:15

Hallo, i think there are surely a lot of People whom might be the Obama of Nigeria. I think what Nigeria needs is a change. Till today we always have Hausa or Yoruba ruling Nigeria, but we have not try from the Tsekiri and the Urhobo Kingdom. I have seen there are a Lot of Intelligent Educated People in the Delta State, but less in Population. Delta State is the Richness of all State in Nigeria and have Enough Intelligent Rulers. I don´t understand why are they not in the President Candidateship? We here from a lot of people from all over the World that Nigeria is very Rich, so if Nigeria is very rich, then we need very Intelligent Educated People for the Presidentship, not just only Presentative! I think a Vote with a Test of knowledge and Smartness is the best for Nigeria!!! best Wishes Patience

Anioma777  # 10 | 08.06.2009 14:40

@Patience Bafor I think other parts of Delta ( Delta North, Anioma ) and the other 36 states can also stake a claim to wanting to rule Nigeria. One could also argue that with Goodluck Jonathan a true Niger Deltan has just been a lame duck so far. Personally I do no care who and where the man or woman comes from so long as the have A GENUINE DESIRE TO MOVE ALL OF NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS FORWARD.