1. Posted on Wednesday 5 March 2008 - 15:58

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   Chris

   

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   Its always a great opportunity for me to sit and write an article for this blog.And like before, I come back on here with my opinion and thought about how things should work especially on the African continent.
   This time again, having a glance at our beloved son of this continent and what he can do to change Africa, if he so wishes.
   Deep down my heart I believe that Mr. Barack Obama can do more and better for Africa than the USA where he is vying for the presidence.Indeed, it is in anyone’s dreams to be in the white house given an opportunity, let alone being the president of the states. But if really Barack is the Change that he preaches and passionately adores, it’s more visible and a realization in Africa. And he has that ability and chance to do it.
   
   I’m not in any way saying that he can’t not be a US president NO. But America being what it is, has many people of the kind. Which down here we don’t.Mr. Obama is a world and top citizen who could redeem Africa. Africa needs him more than the US. I mean, he is the only true Afro-American who really knows where his exact roots are. That Kenyan brother of ours did us proud by toiling to migrate to America and bring out a person of Obama’s type. It’s a very DIFFICULT, EXPENSIVE and an almost impossible dream to make it to the states from Africa. Therefore, I believe that Kenya would be precisely priority NUMBER one for Mr. Obama given the status he has. If im wrong someone correct me on this. But I see senator Obama becoming an East African Leader fast than a US President. I do solely believe in his ability to be US president but not at this time. I feel the change he has can work well here and change this region come 2013 when we think that we may have a single president for the five East African countries. That is Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. And indeed he can help fast track this dream to reality before even that proposed time. To a greater extent the majority in East Africa are ready and excited about the union. But it’s the politicians that are dragging their feet for individual interests.
   I write this with a lot of thought and spirit as I believe that Africa can only be saved by its sons/daughters and this INCLUDES all those in the Diaspora as well. This was the point and reason behind the formation of PAN-AFRICANISM by great people and thinkers like Marcus Garvey and Dr Dubois. I have written before on this blog that the monies spent by our Afro-Celebrity brothers in the Diaspora can help move this continent to even a better place than the US or any other western country with time. Africa is being manipulated by many not because its poor, NO.But because of lack of good will to move it forward. And I see this will, in people like mr.Obama who is not only respected/recognized internationally, but a direct outcome of Africa who actually knows were his grand parents are.
   
   Sometimes I don’t blame people like those many Afro-American celebrities for shunning Africa because they don’t know where exactly they originated from. Apart from some believing in west Africa. But with gentleman like senator Obama it’s different and there is no reason to “forget” about Africa. So I say that senator Obama can do more for Africa than America. And given the way the voting is going on now with Mrs. Clinton starting to win her way back, I think its high time senator Obama thought of becoming the first East African president. And then he can put the change he passionately calls for in pragmatic terms. He can surely influence countries like America to do more for Africa if he is in top political office here in East Africa. And I believe the world will thank him more and appreciate his efforts more if he took on a challenge like this one.
   
   Otherwise me I won’t be one of those who will “mourn” for senator Obama incase he does not get through to represent the democrats again senator McCain. But like any other peace loving citizen of the world, I really wish him well and hope he goes to the white white as America’s next president.
   
   O

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Reactions

1. Posted on Monday 10 March 2008 14:46

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   Alex

   

   alex mutebi
   1 berichten
   Lid sinds March 2008

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   [b]This is my artical in response to Chris,s artical about OBama.
   
   Africans should trust africa
   
   Let’s get one thing clear: Barack Obama is an American. He is 10% American. He is not an African. He is not a Kenyan. Half of his genes may come from a Kenyan who left him when Baby Barack was barely two but a fundamental philosophy of the US is that, no matter an individual’s historical background, all people,can go into the melting pot and become totally loyal US citizens. Such is Barack Obama: he may have become a worldwide celebrity but don’t doubt it, he is all American.
   
   And that’s just fine because Africa doesn’t need Obama to solve Kenya’s political problems when it has the people of the quality and status of Kofi Anan, born and brought up in Ghana. So Chris, if you are first and foremost an African, show more respect for Africans. Trust the African Anan to be as good a peacemaker as anyone else. Trust the people of Kenya, almost all of whom voted for either Kibaki or Odinga. Instead of overturning the democratic will of the people and getting rid of both of them as you suggest, isn’t it better to have one as President and the other as Prime Minister?
   
   And Chris, you may have lived in Kenya for two years but I regret to say that I don’t think that you know what you’re talking about. When was Kenya “the real hope for democracy in Africa”? Kenya was until recently the land of Daniel Arap Moi who turned Kenya into one of Africa’s most corrupt kleptocracies and is still the land of huge poverty and squalor amidst great wealth. That obscene inequality rather than tribalism is the real cause of the tragedy that befell Kenya. If we want a “basic humanitarian turning point” you and Africa must indeed, as you say, believe in the democracy we preach. So support Kibaki and Odinga and Anan and all African

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2. Posted on Friday 21 March 2008 13:25

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   John M

   

   John Mahoro
   54 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   Dear Alex,
   
   I am not totally of your opinion regarding the peace-making influence that Obama could have on Africa if he were president. You will agree with me that most wars and conflicts in Africa are engeneered and fuelled in the West. Any informed person knows that Clinton lit fire in Rwanda and the DRC. If Obama comes in, there is no doubt that the American diplomatic philisophy for Africa would change.

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   Et in terra pax hominubus...

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