I 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.
One thing is clear about most 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?
Wouldn’t it be great 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?
I read about this and couldn’t help thinking that this is one of the most ridiculous ones yet by Ms Okereke-Onyiuke.
August 16, 2008 at 1:00 am
Shallow and empty sounding words by Ndidi. Dont blame Obama campaign for not wanting anything to do with a deranged, uneducated sounding “black” woman from Nigeria. A crying shame - and a Prof!!!
August 21, 2008 at 1:41 pm
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=120257
August 21, 2008 at 9:18 pm
test run
August 24, 2008 at 4:52 pm
[...] journalist”, has a rejoinder published in Guardian Newspapers online to the failed Okereke-Onyiuke-led Africans for Obama initiative. Excerpt: Taking into consideration the fact that Nigerians are a very sensitive lot, given the [...]
August 28, 2008 at 1:49 am
Yes Ndidi made a mistake. But lets no over blow this issue.
Look everybody makes mistakes, even you reading this. Some of you have done worse sef. I see no reason for people to overly criticize her. Haba.
In times like this, people forget all the good things one has done. As the bible says, the fly really makes the apothecarys ointment to stink.
That woman has spearheaded the Nigerian stock exchange over the last serveral years. If not for the recent downturn in the market due to some govt policies (or lack there of), the NSE has grown steadily under her leadership. She has done a lot to strenghten the economy.
But people quickly forget that.
You can have her head on a plate if you want. But remember that with the same measure you mete, it shall be meted out to you.
Chikina!
August 29, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Somebody, you are kidding me right? How do you guys come up with stuff like this. Little wonder our country has remained like this for a long time.
August 29, 2008 at 2:24 pm
halooooooooooooooooooooooo am i the only person in the world who can see and knows that barack obama is not black he is mixed race half/cast its like he dosent have a white mother if white people never exsisted on the planet either would obama he is created by whites and blacks im also the same as obama from two backgrounds white and black..when will people get more educated?????
November 1, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Hi Joseph,
Yes Barack Obama is Mixed Race (am told half/cast is now a derogatory word). Nevertheless, from time past and up to the present day, the black half of mixed race men and women, have always been given pre-eminence. Its been either that you are black or you are white or other. Which would you prefer to use? Whatever your choice, poeple will have to accept what you tell them. I dont see Barack Obama denying that he is black, so we accept he is black, that’s all. If he has insisted on Mixed Race, people will have to accept it, but at the same time, people could chide him for appearing to be ashamed of the black half in him.
Am happy you are pointing this out. Maybe we should quickly tell all American Voters to remember to vote for the white in Obama,- as well as the black.
Black or white or mixed, we are all the same and have RED BLOOD running through our veins. We should be proud of what we are. I love mixed race and have a few very loved ones in my family.
Remain bleesed.
November 3, 2008 at 2:23 am