Transcript CNN International Interview with Nigeria's President Obasanjo and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu on Democracy and Security Issues



Nigeria, a terrible beauty

 Special to USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston
USAfricaonline.com, The Black Business Journal and NigeriaCentral.com

The conclusion of the first stanza of the masterpiece poem about Irish nationalism by William Butler Yeats, titled 'Easter 1916', goes thus:

"All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born."

To be sure, Nigeria has been transforming into some sort of a terrible beauty! What with the bizarre twists and violence which dogged the 2002 Miss World pageant and orgy of killings in the largely Muslim, northern Nigeria, and burning of, at least, 10 churches since November 21, 2002, and 210 dead, after 5 days.

Hence, to make sense of the murderous collision of religion, social life, media viewpoints and politics in Nigeria with the country's bizarre fumble at hosting the Miss World 2002 pageant, you must see today's Nigeria along the trajectory of the events of September 11, 2001. It is vital to note (as I have argued on this same page, in the recent past), the feeble geo-religious foundations of Nigeria reflect, largely, the assaults of both the domestic and international sponsors of 'holy' terror in the country.

Why is this sense of perspective important?

While New Yorkers, Americans, millions of Africans and the civilized world mourned and cried for the victims of the attack on the twin-tower, the same zealots and rag-tag goons of bigotry in Nigeria's Kaduna (and its environs) took out a few days, daily, to chant in fevered, grandiose praises and demented adulation the name of Osama bin-Laden and al-Qaeda, suffused with the litany of 'Allahu Akbar'- 'Allah is great!' and anti-Semitism bile.

In the same Nigeria, the same week in the staunchly Christian, republicanist Igbo south east (defunct Republic of Biafra, 1967-1970), many mourned and demonstrated against the bin-Ladens and their ilk, chanted in support of the U.S. and the security of the state of Israel.

The government of Nigeria, led by retired General Olusegun Obasanjo, the preferred and selected candidate of the predominantly Muslim North and his fellow retired generals in 1999, sent out members of the Nigerian armed forces to "quell" the Igbo youth and elders who were exercising their own views, peacefully and constitutionally.

My key points?

• Nigeria is, at its core, one country with two or more diametrically opposed values, clashing ethos and oppositional worldviews fuelled by ancient hatreds, contemporary marginalization of ethnic nations and groups and persons who/which can fuel the rebirth of the country.

•More significant is that it took Nigeria's zealots of mayhem only a few hours to show and dramatize the operational weakness of both the Obasanjo government and the communications/informational incapacities of the same government. The zealots, sadly but essentially, destroyed Nigeria's long, hard march back into the comity of law abiding societies and westernization since Obasanjo took over government, the second time, in May 1999. Who will now sell tourism and international investment campaigns for Nigeria?

•In one weekend of theocratic exertion, Nigeria's mullahs and ullemahs did not mince words in showing (not just telling) retired Gen. Obasanjo and his handlers that different Nigerians belong to different Nigerias: the increasingly factional One Nigeria versus the other Nigeria where quasi-Talibanism and what I call religio-mobocracy (rule by fanatical mobs who make bonfires of other human beings like live steak to appease their gods). They diminish the civilization index of the so-called Africa's giant. By the way, the same mullahs and ullemahs who sentenced two Nigerian Muslim women to 'death by stoning' have since passed a 'death sentence' (fatwa) on the endlessly apologetic publisher whose reporter suggested that the Islamic prophet Muhammad would have taken a wife from among the beauty queens. Obasanjo's government has since arrested the editor….

•The well-oiled Islamic religious and political forces inside Nigeria (and potentially outside patrons) have shown Obasanjo and the world where the real power resides, and how to show. My thesis, however provisional is this: Nigeria's federal center, events and policies can be made to bend (or in Obasanjo's case, stand at ease, almost) in the face of raw, decisive, naked domestic force as evidenced in the past 148 hours by the northern Nigeria's religious fundamentalists and militants. Anyway, the 'North', the Igbo 'South East', and the minorities of the 'South South' voted and worked Obasanjo into power while Obasanjo's kinfolks of the 'South West' ensured he not only lost his own regional home base but even his own local council ward election!

•In one heady weekend, the fundamentalists have since swept aside Obasanjo's grand policy talk about having 'restructured power' in Nigeria. Now, the beauty pageant violence and impositions by the zealots have recast the political equation for the 2003 elections in the country of 120 million boisterous citizens.

•In one weekend of orgy of violence, the so-called 'ordinary' Nigerian and the middle class Nigerian relived, first-hand, the emptiness of the dizzying shamanist mantra called 'dividends of democracy.' Those dividends have been promised endlessly by political desperados and partisan hustlers who care more about their election, re-election and state-sponsored privileges than the basic protection of lives and properties, fostering an enabling environment which for the pursuit of liberty and freedoms of expression.

Those clashes, killings and hideous power play surrounding the controversial pageant have forced the event, ironically, to be moved to the metropolis of Nigeria's colonial rulers, London.

All those compose defining moments for a country declared on paper, constitutionally, as a secular republic, facing what the distinguished Prof. Samuel Huntington calls a "clash of civilizations."

Nigeria, what a terrible beauty!

Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa's writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu APPRECIATION A young father writes his One year old son: "If only my heart had a voice...." USAfricaonline.com NewsArchive: Sharia-related killings and carnage in Kaduna reenact deadly prologue to Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967. By Chido Nwangwu. Transcript CNN International Interview with Nigeria's President Obasanjo and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu on Democracy and Security Issues SHARIA SHOWDOWN: Nigeria's government formally declares as illegal and discriminatory the action of 12 governors and state assemblies who instituted the Islamic Sharia law in their states. Godwin Kanu Agabi, Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, sent a letter stating "The fact that Sharia law applies to only Moslems or to those who elect to be bound by it makes it imperative that the rights of such persons to equality with other citizens under the constitution be not infringed. A Moslem should not be subjected to a punishment more severe than would be imposed on other Nigerians for the same offence." He argued that "Equality before the law means that Moslems should not be discriminated against". And in a pointed manner, he addressed the states' chief executives: "As an elected governor, I am certain that you would not tolerate such disparity in the allocation of punishment. It is not only against the Constitution but also against equity and good conscience." Nigeria's president retired General Olusegun Obasanjo had faced criticisms for avoiding for 2 years dealing with the issue, from such distinguished Nigerians as Prof. Wole Soyinka. Obasanjo recently told the BBC that Sharia controversies and arguments about its sanctions were issues of individual rights, and that those who felt aggrieved or harrassed by the Sharia laws should go to court. Implications of Obasanjo's late wake up to the challenges of Sharia in Nigeria. By Ken Okorie Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and Africa's stability. By Chido Nwangwu SAFIYA GETS REPRIEVE FROM ISLAMIC COURT: Safiya Husaini, a Nigerian Muslim woman who had been convicted of adultery under Islamic law and sentenced to death by stoning has achieved a reprieve from a Sharia court in the country. The lady who was divorced in Sokoto when she had her young baby has drawn international interest from civil rights activists and the media. She said what seems a well-known point in northern Nigeria "Others have committed worse crimes, but because they are men and because they have influence in high places, they are not punished."Another Muslim woman, Amina Lawal, has been sentenced to die by a Sharia court at Bakori in Katsina State. She she confessed to having had a child while divorced. Sex and hypocrisy of Gendered Justice And the Rocks Cried Out (For Safiyatu). By Effenus Henderson November 21, 2002: Explosion, fire at Lagos Airport cargo wing leaves 5 dead. A massive explosion ripped through the cargo wing of Lagos airport in Nigeria's commercial capital on Thursday, leaving 5 persons dead."The explosion tore through the building,'' a witness told Reuters. "The place is till on fire with smoke rising high. Ambulances have raced to the scene and a helicopter is flying overhead.'' There was no immediate explanation for the blast at the complex, which is usually crowded with cargo agents and clients. Nigeria's president Obasanjo's outburst "Shut up.... I don't need to be here..." comments stun Nigerians; many charge him for insensitivity, nonchalance over bomb blast; House of Reps pass motion against his leaving the crises for another foreign trip; Lagos newspapers, individuals criticise him. The rather belligerent attitude of Nigeria's president retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo toward the stunned survivors and family members of the Lagos bomb blast has been drawing equally harsh headlines and responses to what many characterize as Obasanjo's insensitivity and nonchalance. OIL in NIGERIA: Liquid Gold or Petro-Dollars Curse? Nigeria: Impeaching the President. By Fubara David-West DIPLOMACY Walter Carrington: An African-American diplomat puts principles above self for Nigeria  USAfricaonline.com Founder Chido Nwangwu with the U.S. former Ambassador Carrington (right) at the U.S. embassy in Lagos during a courtesy visit. COUNTERPOINT Tiger Woods is no Nelson Mandela! By Chido Nwangwu SPORTS: Tiger Woods makes more history with another golf Masters win. He shot 12-under-par 276 and a final round 71 at Georgia's Augusta National Golf Club event and collected $1,008,000, on Sunday April 14, 2002. With it, the world's golf phenom added another green jacket to his array of championships and titles, placing him, in this instance, in the same respected Masters' league as Nicklaus (winner 1965 and 1966) and Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990). The three are the only men to win back-to-back Masters. At 26, Woods has since become the youngest golfer to win his seventh professional major championship. He was joined by his parents and his 22 year-old Swedish model girlfriend, Elin Nordegren. DEMOCRACY'S WARRIOR Out of Africa. …The cock that crows in the morning belongs to one household but his voice is the property of the neighborhood. -- Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah. An editor carries on his crusade against public corruption and press censorship in his native Nigeria and other African countries. By John Suval. Biafra-Nigeria war and history get fresh, critical look from a survivor. By Alverna Johnson and Vivian Okeke.   'Biafra: History Without Mercy' - a preliminary note. By Chido Nwangwu ODUMEGWU EMEKA OJUKWU:"It was simply a choice between Biafra and enslavement! And, here's why we chose Biafra" Biafra: From Boys to Men. By Dr. M.O. Ene African Union: Old wine in new skin? Sharia, Sex and hypocrisy of Gendered Justice. By Chika Unigwe, columnist for USAfricaonline.com And the Rocks Cried Out (For Safiyatu). By Effenus Henderson OIL in NIGERIA: Liquid Gold or Petro-Dollars Curse? NEWS INVESTIGATION: The Marc Rich Oil Deals in Nigeria Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No AFRICA AND THE U.S. ELECTIONS Beyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics. Osama bin-Laden's goons threaten Nigeria and Africa's stability What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? Africans reported dead in terrorist attack at WTC September 11 terror and the ghost of things to come.... Arafat's duplicity, terrorism at the heart of Israeli-Palestinian crises. By Barry Rubin Will religious conflicts be the time-bomb for Nigeria's latest transition to civilian rule? Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa  Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's burden mounts with murder charges, trials Conflicting emotions, feeling of disappointment, timing of revelation that Rev. Jackson fathered a child with former aide lead to charges of "right-wing orchestration." Nigeria's Presidential Election: Is it just for the Highest Bidder? Nigeria at 40: punish financial thuggery, build domestic infrastructure Is Obasanjo really up to Nigeria's challenge and crises? By USAfricaonline.com contributing editor Ken Okorie. Commentary appears from NigeriaCentral.com Wong is wrong on Blacks in Houston city jobs Why is 4-year old Onyedika carrying a placard against killings in Nigeria? How Nigeria's Islamic Sharia crises will affect the U.S. USAfrica INTERVIEW "Why African Catholics are concerned about crises, sex abuse issues in our church" - a frank chat with ICCO's Mike Umeorah Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slipperyslide Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu The Economics of Elections in Nigeria HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY How far, how deep will Nigeria's human rights commission go? Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria's Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? COUNTERPOINT 'Why is Bill Maher spreading racist nonsense about HIV/AIDS and Africa on ABC? USAfricaonline LITERATURE As Chinua Achebe turned 70, Africa's preeeminent statesman Nelson Mandela, Toni Morrison, Wole Soyinka, Ali Mazrui, Leon Botstein (president of Bard College), Ojo Maduekwe, Emmanuel Obiechina, Ngugi wa Thinong'o, Micere Mugo, Michael Thelwell, Niyi Osundare, and an army of some of the world's leading writers and arts scholars joined to pay tribute to him at Bard College in New York. (Achebe is in pix with Morrison). Meanwhile, the Nobel committee has, again, chosen a relatively less known (globally-speaking) Chinese novelist, Gao Xingjian, rather than Achebe for the Literature prize. Achebe was seen as a top favorite for the 2000 award. What the Swedish Nobel committee will not give, Achebe has, for well over 30 years, won in the hearts of millions in 53 languages. By Chido Nwangwu Literary giant Chinua Achebe returns "home" from U.S., to love and adulation of community Hate groups' spin by Lamar Alexander benefits anti-Blacks, anti-Semites, and racists Annan, power and burden of the U.N The Civilianizing of African soldiers into Presidents At 39, Nigerians still face dishonest stereotypes such as Buckley's, and other self-inflicted wounds. JFK Jr.: Death of a Good Son 'Why is Bill Maher spreading racist nonsense about HIV/AIDS and Africa on ABC? National Summit on Africa, Congresswoman Jackson-Lee hold policy forum in Houston '100 Black Men are solutions-oriented' says Thomas Dortch, Jr., Richard Johnson and Nick Clayton II as they share perspectives with USAfrica's founder on the national organization. ARTS The Life and Irreverent times of Afrobeat superstar, FELA     TRIBUTE Tanzania's founding president Julius Nyerere       Nnamdi Azikiwe: Statesman, Intellectual and Titan of African politics Community Service Awards bring African-American, American policy and business leaders together with African community at Texas Southern University 110 minutes with Hakeem Olajuwon Cheryl Mills' first class defense of Clinton and her detractors' game  Nigeria, Cry My Beloved Country Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. BUSINESS Dr. Anaebonam's strategic vision for BREEJ is a model for business excellence and empowerment. Pope John Paul, Abacha and Nigeria's Christians TRANSITION General Tunde Idiagbon:  A nationalist, an iron-surgeon departs Abiola's sudden death and the ghost of things to come   Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua's prison death, Nigeria and The Ghost of Things to come .....  Soni Egwuatu, Houston businessman, joins his ancestors

Nigerian-born Nobel literature laureate Wole Soyinka: 'The roof is already burning over President Olusegun Obasanjo's head. But he thinks it is not." Will the rash of Ethnic Violence disrupt Nigeria's effort at Democracy? INSIGHT Religious tensions have been raised in Nigeria by three years of flickering sectarian violence since the end of military rule. Aspiring politicians, seeking increased regional autonomy, have been blamed for inciting much of the killing. How Obasanjo's self-succession charade at his Ota Farm has turned Nigeria to an 'Animal Farm.' By Prof. Mobolaji Aluko Is Obasanjo ordained by God to rule Nigeria? And, other fallacies. By Prof. Sola Adeyeye Obasanjo was not sworn in merely to "mean well" for Nigeria. By Obi Nwakanma HEALTHWATCH Pros and cons of the circumcision debate. By Ngozi Ezeji, RN EVA champions efforts to combat AIDS among Nigerian youth. By Jessica Rubin POLITICS Good riddance to a loose cannon called Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe' By Dozie Ikem Ezeife in Oakland, California The Democratic Party stood for nothing in 2002 election cycle. By Jonathan Elendu in Chicago. TRIBUTE Prof. Chimere Ikoku: Remembering the legacy of a pan-Africanist, scientist and gentleman. By Prof. Chudi Uwazurike   Can Africa live a future without war? An Open Letter to Mandela. By Fubara David-West, USAfricaonline.com contributing editor THE FIRST POPE of RECENT AFRICAN ORIGIN? To our Brother Cardinal Arinze: May your pastoral lineage endure! INSIGHT Why Martin Luther King's legacy and vision are relevant into 21st century. Impeachment process shows Nigerian democracy "is alive... being tested." Nigeria's president retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the impeachment process shows that "democracy is alive, is being tested, and being tried.... What they (the legislators) have tried to do in the democratic way, which is not easy, would probably have been done by taking arms or by -- with bullets. So, but with democracy, of course, some people feel that this is the way this should be, and then I have an opportunity to defend myself. There is discussion. There is dialogue. There is a decision. There is fairness." He made these comments when he appeared on Tuesday September 17, 2002 on CNN International to discuss the issues of impeachment facing him, the allegations of corruption, abuse of the constitution and deployment of soldiers ina civilian environment which led to the "massacre of civilians" in Odi (Bayelsa) and Zaki Biam (Benue). On the charges by international human rights organizations and Nigerian media that his government has been involved in actions which have led to the deaths of thousands of Nigerians, the retired General gave a surprising answer. He was asked that "as many as 10,000 people, it's being reported, have been killed in Nigeria (in) communal rivalries, and the number is believed to be increasing. And people are saying that although President Obasanjo has done a lot of good for Nigeria, you're accused of not -- accused of failing to halt that spiraling violence." Obasanjo: Let me say this to you, when you put the question of 10,000 -- 10,000 people dying in Nigeria, of course, for a population of over 120 million people...." But USAfricaonline.com Founder and recipient of the Journalism Excellence award (1997), Chido Nwangwu, who appeared on the same program as as a CNN International analyst (Africa) pointed out that "when (President Obasanjo) answered that in a country of 100 million that 10,000 people are said to have died, as if that was a small number, that in itself reflects a disconnect with the concerns of Nigerians. The second one is that when the risk is civil disagreement, the police are required to intervene in the country. And the deployment of the armed forces of Nigeria requires at least some consultation, however modest, with the parliament." Nwangwu, former member of the editorial board of Nigeria's Daily Times continued that "the third factor that is equally important to underscore is that the armed forces of Nigeria moved in for a punitive action rather than just containing a civil disagreement." He noted in USAfricaonline.com backgrounder "it was revealing and interesting interesting discussing Nigeria's issues with its leader - under the current circumstances of an increasingly out-of-schedule elections and the gathering storm of an impeachment process by a majority of the members of the National Assembly, predominantly by Obasanjo's party members." See rush transcript of the CNN International news program. Obasanjo facing corruption and ineptitude impeachment charges, again since the parliament, a few weeks ago, passed a motion carrying a majority of the members of Obasanjo's party, the PDP. INSIGHT: How Obasanjo's self-succession charade at his Ota Farm has turned Nigeria to an 'Animal Farm.' By Prof. Mobolaji Aluko Is Obasanjo ordained by God to rule Nigeria? And, other fallacies. By Prof. Sola Adeyeye Obasanjo was not sworn in merely to "mean well" for Nigeria. By Obi Nwakanma Obasanjo's 'prayers' and the Abacha path of staying in power. By Nkem Ekeopara RELIGION AND ETHNIC CONFLICT: Sharia-related killings and carnage in Kaduna reenact deadly prologue to Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967. By Chido Nwangwu It's wrong to stereotype Nigerians as Drug Dealers. By Chido Nwangwu Nigeria as a Nation of Vulcanizers Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency. Africa suffers the scourge of the virus. This life and pain of Kgomotso Mahlangu, a five-month-old AIDS patient (above) in a hospital in the Kalafong township near Pretoria, South Africa, on October 26, 1999, brings a certain, frightening reality to the sweeping and devastating destruction of human beings who form the core of any definition of a country's future, its national security, actual and potential economic development and internal markets. By Chido Nwangwu 22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting What has Africa to do with September 11 terror? By Chido Nwangwu One year after: Reflections on September 11. By Jonathan Elendu PUBLIC POLICY Private initiative, free market forces, and more democratization are keys to prosperity in Africa. The Civilianizing of African soldiers into Presidents Maduekwe, Nwachukwu clash over Obasanjo at World Igbo 2002 convention in Houston. USAfrica Special report USAfrica The Newspaper voted the "Best Community Newspaper" in the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is in the Best of Houston 2001 special as chosen by the editors and readers of the Houston Press, reflecting their poll and annual rankings. USAfrica FORUM IN THE HOUSE OF MANDELA: A SILLY CRY FOR REPARATIONS By Prof. Chimalum Nwankwo DEMOCRACY DEBATE CNN International debate on Nigeria's democracy livecast on February 19, 2002. It involved Nigeria's Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana, Prof. Salih Booker and USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. Transcripts are available on the CNN International site. Steve Jobs and Apple represent the future of digital living. By Chido Nwangwu Apple announces Titanium, "killer apps" and other ground-breaking products. iTunes makes a record 500,000 downloads. The coup in Cote d'Ivoire and its implications for democracy in Africa. By Chido Nwangwu (Related commentary) Coup in Cote d'Ivoire has been in the waiting. By Tom Kamara Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. CONTINENTAL AGENDA Bush's position on Africa is "ill-advised." The position stated by Republican presidential aspirant and Governor of Texas, George Bush where he said that "Africa will not be an area of priority" in his presidency has been questioned by USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido Nwangwu. He added that Bush's "pre-election position was neither validated by the economic exchanges nor geo-strategic interests of our two continents." These views were stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of 'Inside Politics 2000.' Nwangwu, adviser to the Mayor of Houston (the 4th largest city in the U.S., and immigrant home to thousands of Africans) argued further that "the issues of the heritage interests of 35 million African-Americans in Africa, the volume and value of oil business between between the U.S and Nigeria and the horrendous AIDS crisis in Africa do not lend any basis for Governor Bush's ill-advised position which removes Africa from fair consideration" were he to be elected president. By Al Johnson HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY How far, how deep will Nigeria's human rights commission go? Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria's Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? 110 minutes with Hakeem Olajuwon Cheryl Mills' first class defense of Clinton and her detractors game  Seriously, is your web site a Turkey, too? Get Solutions PetroGasWorks Shell picks Leslie Mays as VP Global Diversity EndGame in Kinshasa: U.S must boot Mobutu for own interest, future of Zaire and Africa Why Powell's mission to the Middle East failed. By Jonathan Elendu BULLET Versus BALLOT The bloody stain of military coup, on Friday December 24, 1999, sullied the once unique history of democratic rule in the beautiful and historically democratic, French-speaking west African country of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) by General Robert Guei (inset). USAfricaonline report and commentary. COMMUNITY INTEREST Why the revisionist forces of racist oppression in South Africa should not be allowed to intimidate Ron and Charlayne Gault. Index of Founder's Notes (1) Index of Founder's Notes (2) Index of other Viewpoints USAfricaonline contributors and columnists on the issues