By Charles Achodo
Special to USAfrica The Newspaper,
Houston
The
Black Business Journal
USAfricaonline.com
and NigeriaCentral.com
As we celebrate the Christmas and look forward to a new year, let us also not forget the misery of countries in Africa. I have been to and seen some of them which have been ravaged by senseless conflicts. Those conflicts that have destroyed our social capital, decimated our population, spurned the cycle of HIV/AIDs and earned Africa the title of a 'Useless Africa' - courtesy of the Economist magazine, a publication which has become better known for its non-stop negative adjectives for Africa.
With Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the goodwill it brought to christendom and mankind. But I lookforward to the day His divine hands will spread across this continent of Africa, giving hope to the hopeless, joy to those in despair and freedom to those who are under bondage.
No one can save our dear continent but us. When Africa starts to raise men of sound public good who are ready to demonstrate and make meaningful impact on the livies of others then we can sing hossanna.
It takes such men to build good school, solid infrastructure spanning the road network, telecommunication system, clean water and environment, habitable housing etc. These are the foundation of economic development. Economies grow and fall on this foundation to thrive.
Let us think, let us reflect during this period how we can move our continent out of the crippling consequences of rebel wars and position it for a meaning place in the comity of nations. It is our continent and we have no other to claim as ours but Africa.
Merry Christmas to our suffering population be they in Sudan,
Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ethiopia, Congo , and others. Hope
must be born on a new bright day.
Achodo is an international and humanitarian development
specialist in Africa
|
You know, somehow, those "problems" are headaches of the supremacists....Lest I forget, it was Mark Twain who, never met or hoped for a Trent Lott and members of the U.S Congress of the Lott variety wrote with profound insight: "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself." Hey, should I repeat myself; nah! Unless the Lotts of
racism continue to ruin the promise of America; if they act
and think that persons like me are
children of a lesser God; if they continue to spit at
the glory and blessings of a fruited plain known as God's
own country. God bless America! By CHIDO
NWANGWU  Nigeria,
a terrible beauty. By
Chido Nwangwu
OPINION: Destruction of property and human massacres are always traumatic events in a community, saddening and enraging, but the organizers of the beauty contest, as well as the participants, must understand that they are totally free of guilt. The guilty are the storm troopers of intolerance, the manipulators of feeble-minded but murderous hordes of fanaticism. By Prof. Wole Soyinka DEATH TOLL RISES TO 215 IN LATEST RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN KADUNA, AND ABUJA IN NORTHERN NIGERIA...  Churches
burned, cars vandalized and stores looted since Wednesday
Nov 21, 2002, when Muslims started a riot over World beauty
pageant in Nigeria. Mosques have been added to the bonfire
in bloody killings further sparked by ThisDay
newspaper article which suggested Prophet Mohammad would
have "probably" taken one of the contestants as a wife.
Conservative Muslim leaders in Nigeria have sharply
criticized the December 7, 2002 beauty pageant, saying it
promotes sexual promiscuity. Nigerian officials said they
fear the violence could spread to other cities in Nigeria's
mostly Muslim north, especially the region's largest city,
Kano, which has been a center of unrest in the past.
ThisDay has since apologized on its front page,
twice, for publishing the article. Muslim protesters burned
the newspaper's office in Kaduna because of the commentary
by a writer. "Some churches have been burned and people have
also been killed, but I have no figures," a senior police
officer who asked not to be named said."I have counted no
less than 10 churches burned," said one resident who toured
the city. "I
have seen and filmed two dead bodies on the
streets."
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 EndGame in Kinshasa: U.S must boot Mobutu for own interest, future of Zaire and Africa PetroGasWorks
Shell picks Leslie
Mays
as VP Global Diversity
Why Powell's mission to the Middle East failed. By Jonathan Elendu Sex and hypocrisy of Gendered Justice And the Rocks Cried Out (For Safiyatu). By Effenus Henderson  Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa's writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu 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. Pope John Paul, Abacha and Nigeria's Christians 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.
APPRECIATION A young father writes his One year old son: "If only my heart had a voice...." 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. 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
BUSINESS
Dr. Anaebonam's
strategic vision for BREEJ
is a model for business excellence and
empowerment.
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 |
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 special as chosen by the editors and
readers of the Houston
Press,
reflecting their poll and annual rankings.
Reuben Abati's fallacies on Nigeria's history and secession. By Bayo Arowolaju How Abati, Adelaja and others fuel the campaign of hatred against Ndigbo. By Jonas Okwara "Obasanjo, secession and the secessionists": A response to Reuben Abati's Igbophobia. By Josh Arinze, USAfricaonline.com contributing editor. Abati and other anti-Igbo bigots in Nigeria. By Chuks Iloegbunam, USAfricaonline.com contributing editor and author of Ironsi Investigating Marc Rich and his deals with Nigeria's Oil Through an elaborate network of carrots and sticks and a willing army of Nigeria's soldiers and some civilians, controversial global dealer and billionaire Marc Rich, literally and practically, made deals and steals; yes, laughed his way to the banks from crude oil contracts, unpaid millions in oil royalties and false declarations of quantities of crude lifted and exported from Nigeria for almost 25 years. Worse, he lifted Nigeria's oil and shipped same to then embargoed apartheid regime in South Africa. Read Chido Nwangwu's NEWS INVESTIGATION REPORT for PetroGasWorks.com DEMOCRACY DEBATE CNN International debate on Nigeria's democracy was 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. WILL
ARINZE BE THE
FIRST
POPE of RECENT
AFRICAN
ORIGIN?
To our Brother Cardinal
Arinze: May your pastoral lineage endure!
The Democratic Party stood for nothing in 2002 election cycle. By Jonathan Elendu HEALTHWATCH EVA champions efforts to combat AIDS among Nigerian youth. By Jessica Rubin Pros and cons of the circumcision debate. By Ngozi Ezeji, RN 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 INSIGHT Why Martin Luther King's legacy and vision are relevant into 21st century.
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. 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. 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
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
Will the rash of Ethnic
Violence
disrupt
Nigeria's effort at Democracy?
Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. |
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A
What has
Africa to do with 