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EXCLUSIVE Commentary for
USAfrica The Newspaper, Houston
USAfricaonline.com and NigeriaCentral.com

CNN, Obasanjo and Nigeria's struggles with democracy

By JONATHAN ELENDU

I was appalled by Jeff Koinange's report on CNN, but I cannot claim, in good conscience, that he invented those people he interviewed. They are Nigerians who see increased insecurity, hunger, poverty, and thuggery as the only fruits that have been borne by democracy since 1999. CNN did not cause our problems. Obasanjo and Tinubu should get serious and stop looking for scapegoats in the media. The Obasanjo administration and indeed Nigerian politicians should not use this single episode as an excuse to step on freedom of the press. Every individual has a right to ask for whatever type of government he or she wants. This is not illegal. Obasanjo should counter negative reports in the media by doing the people's business as he promised he would. Nigerians need jobs, security, a conducive atmosphere for business to grow, and efficient basic amenities.

The self-acclaimed world's news leader, Cable News Network (CNN) is, again, drawn into a heated controversy in Nigeria. This followed a recent report by its Nigeria correspondent, Jeff Koinange, which sparked off government-managed/inspired protests across some cities Nigeria. In the said CNN report, Jeff interviewed ssome Nigerians, showed pictures of some Nigerians with placards calling for the army to return to power as a mechanism to to sort through the murderous conflicts in different parts of the country. Some of the placards were shown besides the Gov. of Lagos State Bola Tinubu. Somehow, Jeff's report left some people with the conclusion that he was championing the view for a return to military rule.

While we admit that some Nigerians in expressing their frustration with the ineptitude of the Obasanjo administration, had suggested that things were better under military rule, that does not in anyway suggest that the majority of Nigerians were asking for a return to military rule. It is a well-known and accepted fact that CNN is loved by Nigerians, especially the elite. The global media giant however has continued to cover Africa like an afterthought. One can count on one hand the number of times our continent has been given positive coverage. We cannot deny that Africa has had its share of problems; Africa has some of the poorest people in the world. Diseases, inter-and intra-tribal wars are commonplace in this part of the world. Yet, there are some positive things that occur daily in Africa, but all the world sees is our ugly side. One would be naive to expect the Western media to give us equal coverage as they do for countries in Europe and the Americas, although all we ask is that they give our continent fair coverage.

Before now, most of the news about Nigeria concentrated on corruption and fraud. The advance fee fraud, also kinown as '419', was treated as a design by the entire Nigerian citizenry to fleece rich Europeans and Americans. What these reporters and analysts fail to tell the world is that, like any other business, it is a two way street. I am not aware that any European or American went on trial for trying to defraud Nigeria. While we cannot excuse the activities of criminal elements in Nigeria, we can say, without fear of contradiction, that those who have fallen prey to the advance fee fraud are greedy individuals with criminal tendencies.

People are told that there are millions of dollars belonging to the Nigerian government waiting in bank accounts all over the world. These Europeans and Americans are asked to supply their bank account numbers for this money to be paid into them. After a while, they are asked to provide money for the bribing of government officials. Once the money is paid, the story changes as the criminals at the Nigerian end disappear. Their counterparts across the Atlantic raise hell and the Western media picks up this story and runs with it. The level of corruption and fraudulent activities in Nigeria and Africa are no more than we find in Europe and America. If truth be told, one can claim that these are part of the lessons we learned from the Western world. The fraud and corruption in Africa cannot equal what is going on with the Enron Corporation in Texas.

More people are killed in violence and crime on the streets of America than die, yearly, either in ethnic clashes or religious riots in Nigeria. Yet, reporters still show the good things that happen in America. Nobody in the Western media highlights the milestones that happen in business, commerce, arts, sports, and technology in Africa. Nobody reports on inventions by Africans that have positively affected humanity. How many people in America know that the fastest computer for oil exploration was invented by a Nigerian? How many news organizations reported that a Nigerian company now manufactures computers in Lagos?

Yet the story of alleged fraudulent exporting of computers to Nigeria made headlines even when there is no concrete evidence to support such a claim. Western journalists don't report that investments in African businesses yield higher and faster returns than anywhere else in the world. No, such stories are not salacious enough. Positive stories don't fit the African profile. Instead, hunger, poverty, diseases, destruction and fraud ignite the media. That, in the mind of Western journalists, is our story, our whole being.

CNN claims to be the news leader and I agree. Since January of 2001, the American media has lost all claims to objectivity. Some argue that the media succumbed to the bullying of the right wing of the Republican party. I don't think so.

I think they are now showing their true colors. I have been reading Marvin Kalb's One Scandalous Story. The book has confirmed my belief that the American media is mostly peopled by opportunists who will get into bed with anyone, including Lucianne Goldberg, just to byline a front page story. If people's lives are destroyed in the process, too bad. I also know that there are hard working and conscientious practitioners of this trade. Just like in Nigeria, the bad ones give all of them a bad name.

George W. Bush has not taken interest in Africa until just recently. Even at that, his interest is knowing if there are remnants of Al Qaeda in remote parts of Africa so that he can add those areas to his "Axis of Evil." Hence, CNN's reports on Africa since after September 11, has been about terrorism, destruction, and violence. After a long absence, America has renewed its interest in Somalia. The documentary, Blackhawk Down, has aired on CNN more than five times in the last three weeks. Christianne Amanpour and Jeff Koinanage have reported live from various parts of Africa since the beginning of the New Year. Jeeze, I wonder why! America prides itself on being the strongest democracy in the world. That is not surprising. America claims superiority in everything it engages in.

Despite the fact that the last Presidential election was determined by the Supreme Court and the man with fewer votes was judged the winner, America still claims that their democracy is the best in the world. It does not matter that an American President was disgraced, harassed by the press and an out of control prosecutor, ridiculed before the whole world, and finally impeached. Yet, America still wants to tutor other countries in the art of democracy. There are Americans, like the late Timothy McVeigh, who do not believe in their government. Yet, the media does not report that majority of the people want a change to another kind of government.

A few people in Idi-Araba expressed their discontent with the civilian government in Nigeria and CNN translates that to mean that Nigerians want a return to military rule. Had the CNN reporter done his homework, he would have known that Idi-Araba is less than ten percent of Lagos State. Lagos State is less than five percent of Nigeria. Therefore, even if the whole of Idi-Araba were to demand a return to military rule, it would still be wrong to say that Nigerians are clamoring for military rule. Is this an honest mistake by Jeff Koinange?

Is he an African who has been blinded by the lure of Western values and benefits? Is this a deliberate attempt by CNN to confuse Nigerians? Or is it part of a wider agenda by the Western Press? I believe CNN does not stand for a return to military rule in Nigeria. Military rule or dictatorship of any kind goes against the principles we have come to cherish in CNN.

Thisday newspaper of Wednesday February 13, reported that the Nigerian Minister for Information, Jerry Gana, has asked CNN to withdraw Jeff Koinange from the country. Another report in a different newspaper states that the governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has directed the State Attorney General to look into the possibility of suing CNN and asking for damages. The said report also indicates that a protest letter is being sent to CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Gana and Tinubu are being ridiculous and laughable. This is a typical approach of the military era. We believe it is a wrong decision. Government or its officials should not pick and choose who works in a media house. It is counterproductive and trivializes the issue at stake.
Elendu is a contributing editor of USAfrica The Newspaper, USAfricaonline.com and NigeriaCentral.com. February 17, 2002

Obasanjo's government and apologists should respect CNN and Freedom of the press in Nigeria. By Nkem Ekeopara.
There is no doubt that the news and current affairs managers of the global information network at the CNN are reasonably concerned about their undeserving bashing in Nigeria. Sadly, the Nigerian government orchestrated anti-freedom of the press chant and demonstrations was spearhead by retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo's cronies following the reporting of the facts, I repeat the acts of the violence unleashed by Obasanjo's government on Nigerians, inter-ethnic conflicts and killings, violent explosions in Ikeja; all of which have led to the deaths of almost 10, 000 or more Nigerians. The foolish anti-CNN campaign continues to be fuelled by the government and its propagandists spearheaded by a self-proclaimed Gen. Obasanjo partisan and apologist, kinsman and "journalist" Reuben Abati of The Guardian newspaper of Lagos. In the final analysis, the issue of Jeff Koinange and CNN in Nigeria is an issue about the freedom of the press. No attempt should be made by the likes of Abati and other Obasanjo apologists to muzzle it. February 14, 2002


Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria's return to democracy and Obasanjo's slippery slide. By Chido Nwangwu
Since 1958, Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" set a standard of artistic excellence, and more. By Douglas Killam.
STEALS and DEALS: Investigating Marc Rich and his deals with Nigeria's Oil.
By Chido Nwangwu

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

Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa  
TRIBUTE
A KING FOR ALL TIMES: Why Martin Luther King's legacy and vision are relevant into 21st 21st century.
How Obasanjo handles Ige's murder will be telling.  By Dr. Acho Emeruwa.
'We've killed Uncle Bola.' By Jonathan Elendu. Elendu is USAfricaonline.com contributing editor.
Why Ige's assassination demands better security for all. By Rev. Augustine Ogbunugwu.  
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
Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston.
Cheryl Mills' first class defense of Clinton and her detractors' game 
It's wrong to stereotype Nigerians as Drug Dealers

Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No. By Chido Nwangwu

DIPLOMACY Walter Carrington: African-American diplomat who put principles above self for Nigeria (USAfrica's founder Chido Nwangwu with Ambassador Carrington at the U.S. embassy, Nigeria)
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.
Ige's murder is another danger signal for Nigeria's nascent democracy.  
Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu
Obasanjo's outburst at Ikeja Bomb scene is wrong and unpresidential. By Emmy Ekjekam
AFRICA AND THE U.S. ELECTIONS
Beyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics.
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.
22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting
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
In a special report a few hours after the history-making nomination, USAfricaonline.com Founder and Publisher Chido Nwangwu places Powell within the trajectory of history and into his unfolding clout and relevance in an essay titled 'Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency.'
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's burden mounts with murder charges, trials
Private initiative, free market forces, and more democratization are Keys to prosperity in Africa

Apple announces Titanium, "killer apps" and other ground-breaking products for 2001. iTunes makes a record 500,000 downloads.
Steve Jobs extends digital magic