If Obama Were A Nigerian

What if Mr. Barrack Obama were a Nigerian?

Keep in mind: this man is in his 40s. He went to school. He principal tool are his intelligence and his ideas. He does not come from a wealthy oil family. He is not affiliated with a billion-dollar-stealing former Head of State. He does not come from a pre-eminent family or ethnic group.

And this Obama, Nigerian, wants to be the president of his country. And he opens his mouth, advocating “change”. And he announces he wants to run for office, seriously. In Nigeria.

Every Nigerian knows it: he would have been dead long ago.

If Obama were a Nigerian, they would have sent him to have his head treated. They would have told him how stupid he was, and pointed out this was not playground politics and not a kindergarten class. They would have asked him who he thought was going to be giving him money.

If Obama were a Nigerian, they would have advised him to run for Local Government Chairman, State Assembly or even House of Representatives, but never to whisper a word about the presidency. They would have told him to shut his mouth before he annoyed party elders.

If Obama were a Nigerian, they would have accused him of sacrilege and challenged him to spell “change”. Then as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, they would have slapped his face and told him to shut up. They would have threatened him with treason for seeking to change the country.

If Obama were a Nigerian, they would have questioned his name, and “discovered” he was Cameroonian or Chadian. They would have deported him to the nearest country, left him there, and arrested his family. 

If Obama were a Nigerian, the press would not quote him twice, having assessed he depths of his pockets and connections the first time they saw him.

But we are talking about a real man, the real Obama, whose gripping story has found such roots in Nigeria that a fundraiser last week, allegedly for the candidacy, raised N100 million.

If he were to lose the election in November, Obama would still leave a deep imprint on history. But I believe that his time has come, and he will the next president of the United States. He is virtually a newcomer to the game, but his appeal, advocacy, oratorical presence and indeed his quick blossoming as a national politician have eminently more substance than those of his opponent. 

By themselves, those attributes might have been enough to attract attention. But Obama has come to command the notice of the world principally because he is a black man in a country that his people first entered as slaves. A country where, when he first went to school, must have compelled him to learn the meaning of “segregation” quite quickly. A country where there are still people who think that in Africa, people of his colour live on trees.

It is this incongruence that makes Obama’s such a compelling story around the world. It is what makes every black man in the United States, including those who do not intend to vote for him, walk with their heads held a little higher.

It is also what is making world leaders sit up and take notice, as Obama’s recent tour of Europe and the Middle East showed. He is of this age, but his story is for the ages. He is of the United States, but his appeal is worldwide.

In Nigeria, Obama would statistically have the largest black support anywhere. But ours is not a voting block; we can only offer good will. To vote, you have to be a United States citizen. And to offer financial support, you have to be a citizen or green card holder. Even then, there are clear limits as to what an individual or corporation can donate. 

Apparently, there are some people who think that regulations of this nature amount to nonsense. Among them is Ndidi Okereke-Onyuike, the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. She is responsible for the recent “Africans for Obama 08”, allegedly to aid the Obama campaign. The event was a success, but only when you consider that it raised N100 million.

In real terms, however, the event was a disaster: not only is it illegal under United States law to accept money from foreigners, the “Africans for Obama 08” fundraising is capable of damaging Obama’s chances at the polls. And it is capable of enhancing the remarkably negative image of Nigeria. 

What makes the so-called “Africans for Obama 08” scheme such funny business is the Wright factor. No, not Reverend Jeremiah Wright, I hope, the pastor who almost succeeded in pulling down the Obama candidature during the primaries, but another: Eric Wright.

Mr. Wright, reportedly a South African, was presented at the fundraising event as “representing” the Obama Campaign, said reports, and as the ”Obama policymaker for Africa.”

The obvious contradiction is how a campaign that cannot possibly accept funds from a foreign constituency send a representative to, in effect, help collect damaging financial support. 

Something stinks, and Okereke Onyiuke ought to provide a better explanation than “’Africans for Obama’ is simply telling Africans in the Diaspora to vote for Obama because he is their brother.” 

But I know we are not going to get the truth out of her because she seems to hold decency and the law in contempt. In 2003, taking advantage of her position at the NSE, she contributed to the rigging of the presidential elections by leading “Corporate Nigeria," into making vast but illegal contributions to the Obasanjo/Atiku war-chest. She has never expressed remorse.

Okereke-Onyiuke has profitably mixed businesses and politics since then. As chairperson of the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria she helped Obasanjo commit assorted incest in the looting and manipulation of the company’s shares, and in mobilizing funds for the Obasanjo Presidential Library.

But she did become chairperson of Transcorp, proving that if you rig the law “right”, you can go home a winner. It is this talent that she now seems poised to export abroad, with the effect, possibly, of converting the Obama story from a historic ascendancy to a historic collapse. Hopefully, Obama will survive even the Okereke-Onyiuke demons in his path.

It is people like this who have perpetuated our unfortunate situation as a nation where we are forever romancing power and money. When we see talent that is not 100 years old or bathed in money and parentage, we eat it alive.

• sonala.olumhense@gmail.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 If Obama Were A Nigerian What if Mr. Barrack Obama were a Nigerian? ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 17.08.2008 01:22

Dewdrops  Villager

# 2 =Robot;4295084499>If Obama Were A Nigerian What if Mr. Barrack Obama were a Nigerian? ...Read the full article. Every Nigerian knows it: he would have been dead long ago. By poison definitely. By someone from his own village. Posted by Dewdrops| 17.08.2008 01:29

philipikita  Villager

# 3 In Nigeria? There can never be an Obama in a political system that is choked by People Deceiving People (PDP). Posted by philipikita| 17.08.2008 02:02

TEchi  Villager

# 4 There has to be an exception to the rule. I am sure there must be some Obamas in Nigeria who are still gathering courage to come forth to sacrifice their lives in the alter of Nigerian politics. As for Okereke, most of us in the US knows that her campaign for contribution for Obama presidency are all for her own pocket since none of it will ever get to him. It's terrible and upsetting considering the amount of jobless graduates in Nigeria and here she is ripping millions from her fellow crooks for herself instead of creating jobs.:sad::sad::sad::sad: Posted by TEchi| 17.08.2008 02:41

akuluouno  Villager

# 5 First let me ask all of us to congratulate Usain Bolt, the thunderbolt for doing Jamaica and hummanity proud at the Beijing Olympics. If you have not watched the race, please do watch it before you die:D:D:D All progressive sections of hummanity celebrate excellence except of course Nigeria. That is why this article was written. Nigeria holds excellence in awe but hates to latch onto it for reasons I cannot be able to reel out at this time. However thanks oncemore SO for the article:D:D:D Posted by akuluouno| 17.08.2008 03:59

philipikita  Villager

# 6 =akuluouno;4295084527>First let me ask all of us to congratulate Usain Bolt, the thunderbolt for doing Jamaica and hummanity proud at the Beijing Olympics. If you have not watched the race, please do watch it before you die:D:D:D Yes Akuluouno: I have watched that drammatic race more than 50 times over. It was electric! And the "boy" did 8 laps spreading his arms out and thumping his chest in celebration, he probably would have done a sub 9 seconds timing! I think Bolt has Nigerian roots! We are naturally endowed with the fastest limbs on earth...but without "horning" our natural endowments with careful planning and training programs, we cannot make it anywhere! Posted by philipikita| 17.08.2008 08:49

aguabata  Villager

# 7 Usain bolt has nigerian roots!!!!!!!! Visio genetic expert!!!! Naija! we dey too much!!!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Posted by aguabata| 17.08.2008 09:56

Exponent  Villager

# 8 Usain Bolt is JAMAICAN - and those people hail from the Senegal-Gambia cost. Nigerians are always trying to claim something. Are your self-esteem that low? Posted by Exponent| 17.08.2008 11:05

Omowa2  Villager

# 9 Before NVS commentators 'Bolt' away into his roots lets come back to Obama. If you are Yoruba you will notice that Oba is King and ma is the beginning of will. In short this is King Will or a Kingly Willingness. I wish he were a Nigerian true true. I can imagine what Ali Baba or Late Funwontan king of jokes would do with his name on radio. I can also imagine what Basket mouth will do with a Macain's name...will they also talk about a macAbel or don't chain me? I pray America does not end up with a John the BapChain ...are Johns not supposed to be the ones heralding the coming of the King? Ok ok ok... Lets take a quick look at these two unrelated paragraphs: The first appears to be true of America as well. The guy who wrote Obama Nation has attempted pretty much the same thing and Americans have trooped out to buy the book in their thousands (abi na millions) considering the fact that it is number one of the Bestsellers list. Look my friends Americans are capable of doing worst things. Did the blacks not argue this man was not black enough...abegi give me chance make I see road. What of Rev. JayJay I mean Jesse Jackson...did he not want to cut off balls? Lets not forget that our father's farm of scum is not the largest. When it comes to not wanting to change Americans in rural areas are no better than Nigerians. At least I understand the roots of our problem. We are not used to non-divine enthronement of rulers/leaders/ kings...this new thing called democracy is like a disease struggling with our cells (1) Now that a new Demon has been identified and given a name too, should we not take O-O D )Okereke-Onyiuke demons) to the throne of grace? Where are the prayer warriors? Can they help bind this new but hefty demon before it helps itself to another person's victory? O-O D I say to you be....... (2) Posted by Omowa2| 17.08.2008 11:48

RAYNOSA  Villager

# 10 =philipikita;4295084513>In Nigeria? There can never be an Obama in a political system that is choked by People Deceiving People (PDP). Listen to PDP'S ATHEM YouTube - Osayomore Joseph : Forever - 1 (PDP) Posted by RAYNOSA| 17.08.2008 12:10

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