If a family meets in a room, members give themselves pecks, exchange polite greetings, make flowery speeches and emerge laughing for group photographs, likely, they have not been truthful to themselves. That was my impression following the 37th Summit of the African Union, AU, from February 17–18, 2024, in Addis Ababa. After attending a few Read More…
Owei Lakemfa
World Bank and IMF: In the shadow of their talons.
The American World Bank and the European International Monetary Fund, IMF, in the past few weeks, circled Nigeria like vultures waiting for the prey to die. The twin organisations have become more active and quite audacious since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power on May 29, 2023. They are like predators, ready for the Read More…
How they want to govern eight billion people
Eight billion human beings entered 2024, a few days ago with hopes of a better world. But that may be largely determined by rulers across countries who may not even share the same vision. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose forces have sustained some 70,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries, does not seek a peaceful resolution. Rather, Read More…
Diplomatic hostage, Alex Saab, returns in triumph
Venezuelan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union, Alex Nain Saab Morán, who, against the established diplomatic practice of immunity, had been illegally detained in Cape Verde for sixteen months and in the United States for two years, was freed on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. He was exchanged for ten American prisoners in Venezuela who Read More…
Cuba: Where dedication to humanity is like religion
THE Israeli bombs that rained down on Gaza have killed over 200 health workers, with 215 injured. In Havana, Cuba, 10,953 kilometres away, Palestinian youths being trained as medical doctors gathered to mourn the human carnage in their country and vowed to take the next available flight back once they complete their studies to replace Read More…
Once upon Weah
George Oppong Weah is the story of an African child who rose from the slums of Clara Town, Monrovia to glittering heights in Europe and America but never lost his sense of purpose. Rather, after he had become quite rich and famous, he returned home to give back part of his wealth and overcame serious Read More…
Masters of the game: Britain plucks Cameron to regain balance
The British are known masters of diplomacy and politics. This is exemplified in the quote by its former Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said: “’Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.” That was how Britain, an island in the North Read More…
On Judgement Day, I will say, I stood for humanity
If, on Judgement Day, the Lord asks me what I did while the Palestinians were being exterminated like flies, I will say that I stood up to protest and to campaign against the genocide. I will say I wrote against the world leaders who want an eye-for-an-eye, a tooth-for-a-tooth. “My Lord,” I will say, “ Read More…
John Shinkaiye: An African great straddles world stage
The bright stars of Nigeria shone again when two famous African-Americans and two illustrious Africans last Saturday received the Medal of Glory Award, MOGA, in Miami, United States. It is a prestigious award by the Foundation for Democracy in Africa. Past recipients include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi, Abdou Read More…
Clara Pulido: Daughter of Fidel, friend, sister, comrade
CARLOS Trejo Sosa was perhaps the friendliest Cuban Ambassador I ever knew. He was a wise, widely travelled man with deep knowledge of Cuban sayings and proverbs which he said mainly emanated from Africa. When in 2016, he received the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, he told him: “We are the same family. I Read More…