Well Done, Nigeria

The world is full of uncertainties as we all know. Several countries have been bedeviled with chaos and conflicts at certain times and in all these cases the civilian population bears the brunt of those in power and those fighting to kick them out. Women and children are the most vulnerable when in times of conflict. The African continent is no exception to these upheavals as in several African countries there is chaos and confusion before, during and after general elections.

The Ivory Coast went through such an experience when the incumbent President, Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept the outcome of their general elections and accused the opposition led by Alhassane Outarra of rigging the elections. This further degenerated into a conflict with both sides committing atrocities. Gbagbo had to be forced out and he is now at the International Criminal Court in the Hague facing trial for war crimes.

Whenever there is going to be an election in any African country, the whole world especially the International Community watch with skepticism as to what will happen before, during and after the elections. Some investors tend to relocate their valuable investments from that country after assessing the situation to see whether there will be chaos and confusion after the results have been announced. It is also very rare in Africa for an opposition party to win an election as the ruling party abuses the power of incumbency to the fullest to win the elections. But Nigeria proved the whole world wrong as the opposition party, the APC defeated the ruling party, the PDP for the first time since independence in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

It came as no surprise as it happened in Ghana during the 2000 general elections when the opposition NPP defeated the ruling NDC and there was a peaceful transfer of power. Nigeria also picked up from there as the defeated incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan called the newly elected president, Muhammadu Buhari to concede defeat and congratulate him. This single act put the doom sayers to shame as most of the international media were just ready to report anything negative as a result of the outcome of the elections.

Nigerians have really shown maturity and the chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega must be highly commended for remaining calm and cool in going about his work. I will like to take this opportunity to wish the new Nigerian  President elect, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari all the best in ruling Nigeria.  The world will be shifting their attention to Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo, where elections will be held later this year. Lets pray and hope for peaceful, free and fair elections in these countries. I pray and hope all Nigerians will join hands with his government and chart a new course for the country. God bless Nigeria, God bless Africa. Well done, Nigeria, from Ghana, we say "ayeekoo".

Gbagbo was Abducted, Jerry Rawlings.

Ex-president President John Rawlings has criticized the ongoing prosecution of former Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo.

Describing his prosecution as “abduction” the ex-president minced no words in expressing his utter disgust in the prosecution of the deposed Ivorian leader.

In a statement Mr Rawlings called on all Africans to ponder new ways of bringing justice to its own citizens rather than handing them over to the ICC.

Gbagbo was captured after months of disputed election violence in Ivory Coast which left thousands dead and several hundreds fleeing the once peaceful West African Country.

Newly sworn-in president Allasane Quattara promised justice and national reconciliation but shortly after taking over the reigns of power he handed over his adversary to the ICC for prosecution.

This Mr. Rawlings considers unfortunate stating: “This transfer followed a procedure so hasty that it could be rightfully described as abduction.”

“My suspicion grows even more, when the prosecuting attorney claiming to be targeting six officials in Cote d’Ivoire, unduly focuses on Gbagbo, the one who is least likely to escape due to his being already in custody,” he added.

While Mr. Rawlings would not condone any form of arbitrary leadership by any African leader, he said, “No one is trying to evade justice. But when such justice is drenched in a sea of humiliation and abuses, so as to be governed by self-righteous hatred with its untenable logic, it only befits human conscience to stand up against it for the good of all.

He said all well meaning Africans must speak up against this injustice.

The following is the full details of Mr. Rawlings’ statement.


STATEMENT BY H.E. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS ON THE
TRANSFER OF PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO TO THE
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

I have learnt with dismay reports that deposed President Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire has been transferred to The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, November 29th, following a speedy indictment, in total violation of relevant international code of procedures and in total disregard for the demands of peace in Cote d’Ivoire.

This transfer followed a procedure so hasty that it could be rightfully described as abduction.

My suspicion grows even more, when the prosecuting attorney claiming to be targeting six officials in Cote d’Ivoire, unduly focuses on Gbagbo, the one who is least likely to escape due to his being already in custody.

This eagerness to indict and transfer Gbagbo, who did not run in the face of the bombing of his palace like a common criminal, defies logic and the quest for true reconciliation and sustainable peace in Cote d’Ivoire.

After fifty years of independence, Africa should have all the know how to bring justice to its own citizens and do away with imported justice.

What kind of prosecution would rather be in haste to bring to justice the victim of an attack, and be lenient on the perpetrator of the attack?

No one is trying to evade justice. But when such justice is drenched in a sea of humiliation and abuses, so as to be governed by self-righteous hatred with its untenable logic, it only befits human conscience to stand up against it for the good of all.
We will not be silent about this because we must not be silent about it as participating members in this human drama.
From: www.myjoyonline.com

Gbagbo's Woes, Ouattara's Gains.

The former Ivorian Presidnet, Laurent Gbagbo is now being kept in detention in the northern part of the country he once ruled by the government of Alhassane Ouattara. Was Gbagbo trying to be more African by fighting for what really belonged to his people? He was trying to be a hero for his people, but the whole world saw him to be a villain and in the end, he nearly paid for his life. Lets look at certain facts. Gbagbo wanted to do away with the Post-Colonial Pact signed between the French-Speaking West African countries and their colonial master, France. This pact stipulated that, the French-Speaking West African countries should deposit 80% of their annual GDP in a common bank controled by France. If they needed money more than $20million for development, premission would have to be sought from the French authorities before they could withdraw money more than that amount for any development project in their countries. Gbagbo was just trying to put an end to that. These African countires had no right to allow any foreign country to exploit any natural resource discovered in their countries. France was to be given the first opportunity to exploit before any other country could come in and exploit. Gbagbo wanted to protect the rights of the Ivorian peoples property.  But the French would not allow him to do that. Gbagbo had invited the Chinese and the Russians in to exploit the newly found oil reserves off the Ivorian coast. The French would have none of that. The elections in Ivory Coast were rigged the moment the registration exercise began. The UN looked on as the northern border with Burkina Faso was opened for Oattara's kinsmen (Burkinabes) to register in their numbers. Gbagbo could not do anything about this situation, because he had no control over the northern part of the Ivory Coast which were in the hands of rebels loyal to Ouattara.The French and the UN saw Gbagbo as a stumbling block in their attempt to launch a new era of colonization in Africa. Alhassane Ouattara was seen to be easily manipulated by France and her western allies, since he has been on their payroll before when he served as the deputy IMF president. Now the ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has been in Ivory Coast pretending to be investigating crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the Post Electoral conflict. But, we all know that, Gbagbo is their main target, Oattara's forces would be left off the hook, no matter what. Ivorians would one day remember Laurent Gbagbo for trying to be an African and not kowtow to the whims and caprices of France and her western allies, posterity would judge us all especially the African Union. This organization should bow down its head in shame.