Thursday, 17 May 2012
Gbagbo: We must Say NO To Colonialists Pretending As Our Helpers!
By Debo Onifade
The federal government was too hasty in its decision to back Alassane Ouattara. I had great pity for Africa when I saw Gbagbo’s arrest and read various commentaries on it.
Why must we allow the international press and colonialists to influence our thought pattern? I am very surprised that no Nigerian journalist has attacked the federal government on this issue, and I have now decided to write on it. I spoke to my Ivorien friends and I also did several studies and searches on the internet before I came up with my position, and this is the least I expected Dr Goodluck and his advisers to do. Ghana refused to take sides at the beginning though I am not sure if they also eventually bowed to international pressure. Is it legal for foreign military to arrest a sitting president without a UN resolution or international warrant that is enforceable? Under what law will Gbagbo be tried? Clearly, what has happened in Ivory Coast is a military coup that has been sponsored and clearly executed by France and their allies. The UN mandate in Ivory Coast is very clear – PEACE KEEPING !!! It has nothing to do with regime change. In fact, it is believed by many Ivoriens that Ouattara has killed a lot more people than Gbagbo did. The reason that the Ivory Coast case did not quickly become a civil war was because Gbagbo hesitated with the use of force.
Please do not get me wrong – I believe Gbagbo was a stubborn leader that also did not want to leave power, but this man’s problem actually started because he fell out with the French, after they found him uncontrollable. I believe we all know that the French remain very powerful and in control in most francophone African countries – unlike what we have in Anglophone. Gbagbo survived a coup and in his bid to retaliate, he ‘mistakenly’ killed some French soldiers. What did the French do in return? They destroyed the whole of Ivory Coast air force. The global press did not blow this out then, did they??
Before now, the north had been controlled by the rebels. And Gbagbo says that the north rigged the election for Ouattara with good help from the French military (this is believable, based on rebel and French antecedents in the country). He called on the international community to come for a re-count but everybody said NO. I really wondered why nobody was ready for re-counting, and I thought Nigeria should have displayed some good reasoning at that time. A lot of Gbagbo’s people left him eventually because they knew he couldn’t muster enough support to stay in power. Even Chief Obasanjo suggested to Gbagbo to leave because nobody in the international community was ready to accept him. But nobody bothered to really find out what the Ivorien people wanted. From my own ‘little’ investigation, more than 50% of ‘real’ Ivoriens prefer Gbagbo to Ouattara. They say that Ouattara’s family is unknown and he is actually a migrant from Burkina Faso. Aside this, Ouattara is like an alien to the land, he lived abroad a lot and is a typical IMF ‘boy’. He was once a Prime Minister and all he had were western ideas. Ivoriens preferred a nationalist that would liberate them and give them greater voice. They would prefer someone different from the two but many felt Gbagbo was still a better option than Ouattara. One thing that puzzled me was that none of the articles I read about Gbagbo issues bothered to talk extensively on who was really a preferred candidate by the Ivoriens. Nobody acknowledged that it was indeed possible for the elections to have been rigged at the rebel-controlled north by Ouattara boys and the French colonianists who were desperate to oust Ouattara? Why did many people vote for Gbagbo across the country? The French captured Gbagbo and handed him over to Ouattara, but now they are telling lies that they just aided the capture. Which UN resolution gave them the right to effect a regime change???? Even Nigeria (the power house of Ecowas) had not given a go-ahead for using force to oust Gbagbo.
As for me, I feel serious pity for the average Ivoriens that are grossly unhappy with the turn of events in their country – foreigners (including the Nigerian government) dictating to them who should lead them. If PDP rigs the coming election and our dear president wins, will Dr Goodluck be ready to allow the US or UK government to send troops to Nigeria to oust him?? I know even Mr Obama and Mr Cameron will not dare it! They will just speak lots of ‘English’ and everything will die down.
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The wider picture
Submitted by Dimeji Awoyemi (not verified) on April 14, 2011 - 23:06.
I think we need to get to the root of the matter- leadership, conspicous abscence of leadership.The usual help from 'abroad' cannot be removed or rejected until African leaders rise to the challenges of 21st Century development. Neither Quattara or Gbagbo are bold enough to present a progressive plan for the nation. They are all stooges, including their home-based allies.
Imagine the number of lives lost and now the difficult process of reconciliation. There is a fundamental vacuum of leadership qualities in African and we have just begun to see more 'negative and selfish intrusion' from the West.
Just like a typical Nigeria
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2011 - 10:20.
Why would you conclude or be compelled to believe in something that is baseless? Obviously you have a defiled mind because many people in and outside ivory coast share the same view with Debo but that does not mean that we benefit crayfish from him. Who were the innocent people that were massacred by Gbagbo?? Is it Mr Gbenga in Ogbomosho? Or is it Mr Okechukwu from Ihiala?
Who is right in Nigeria?? The Boko Haram or the Nigerian goverment? The MEND or the federal goverment?? Shouldnt it be the same gave in Ivory Coast when a sect of people took up arms against the goverment and start killing people?? When has it been a crime to go to court if you feel marginalized?? Gbagbo went to court and the court declared him winner. Last night, I spent my night asking God why evil prevail on earth, this morning I got the answer that it is because like you are on earth. I am sad
Your article is an inconsequential nonentity
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2011 - 09:33.
Please if you have nothing to write just concentrate on your electioneering thuggery and stop delving into issues you know nothing about. This is the problem in Nigeria, and African union. People see the truth and cover it up..
You want the international committee to stand by and watch a repeat of Rwanda occur in Ivory coast- God forbid, NEVER AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!!
These interventions should come handy for criminals who cling onto power in the name of ruler-ship. The list in Africa is endless.. Cameroonian, Zimbabwe,Uganda, Libya, Ethiopia, PDP, etc
It is BETTER FOR COLONIALIST TO STEAL ALL THE RESOURCES FROM SALVAGED COUNTRIES THAN INNOCENT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF SELFISH RULERS THAT WANT TO RULE FOR LIFE AND STEAL THESE RESOURCES FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILY.
OUR LEADERS ARE POOR IN MIND AND SPIRIT..IDIOTS!
Osuorah D.I.C
divinfavour4eva@yahoo.co.uk
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Your article is baseless.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2011 - 03:48.
Your article is baseless.
Stooges of the West
Submitted by VERITAS (not verified) on April 14, 2011 - 00:44.
I commend your reasoning!
The West does not want intelligent people who will break free from systematic oppression. Gbagbo is a professor of history and refused to be a stooge!
Gbagbo refused to bow to imperial France, instead he started establishing more beneficial business links with China - so France was determined to get him out!
Ouatarra has been a boy of the West, a proper stooge! It is unfortunate!!!
Who says slavery and colonialism are over?
The Western crusaders
Submitted by tundeOmoOgun (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 23:59.
4 those who still believe d western (CNN)
Propaganda. Why don't we have western
Troops in somalia and sudan.
How wld foriegn troops unsit a president of a soveriegn state.
And this is a dangerous trend.look @ wat
Is happening in libya, Sakozy was in Libya
A few yrs ago, the UK released the lokobie
Bomber 4 oil deals,suddenly his an enemy.
if you are not Playing ball,the west arms a few rebels
And invade and capture your president in
The name of protecting civilians....
Its obvious the people they are protecting
In libya are armed rebels and not civilian
Africans shld wake up.this is colonialism.
they don't care about Civilians and might leave ur country worse
Than they met it as in the case of afghani
Tan
Fela Anikulapo Kuti said it best:
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 23:47.
As Fela said, "... the reasons of our suffer im don dey show im face to us ..."
... the facts of the
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 23:44.
... the facts of the case.
There was an election. The results of that election were disputed. The Constitutional Court ruled in favour of Gbagbo but Outarra's imperialist supporters (in France, the United Snakes and the UN) decided to trample on the sovereignty of Cote D'Ivoire anyway.
Why?
1. Because they can. Might is right.
2. Because they rule the world.
3. Because they created Cote D'Ivoire anyway.
4. Because there are many Outarras in Africa, ie many such traitors and megalomaniacs who would sell their own mothers for power and western support. Incidentally, this is why Africa is in the condition that it is in today.
5. Because we are niggers, powerless people whom they dont have to worry about because we cant do anything about it anyway.
Contd. How can anyone respect
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 23:40.
Contd.
How can anyone respect such people, people who dont have shame enough to keep quiet and do some research before they start typing?
Dont they realise that they are actually advertising their ignorance or are they so ego-driven and unmindful of the impressions they make that they dont care - they just want to speak and to be heard regardless of such petty considerations as history, economics, international relations etc?
Of course, there is also the possibility that many such contributors are actually in the pay of our enemies and are on a mission to confuse and mislead us. Oh, well ...
@Akin 1 The problem, as you
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 23:39.
@Akin 1
The problem, as you have rightly pointed out my brother, is that too many people love the sound of their own voices and are determined to have their say whether they have anything of value to say or not.
I am constantly amazed at the sheer stupidity and ignorance of many commentators on this site. It's as if they dont read or study any subject beyond what they see and hear on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera etc.
I am compelled to believe
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 22:25.
I am compelled to believe that Debo might have benefitted from Gbagbo's rule. Where were you when innocent people were being massacred by Gbagbo and his military men? When are we Africans going to learn that political offices are never meant to be permanently a family right? Why cling to power so desperately without any sense of empathy if not guilt for those lost lives, even if the election was rigged in favour of your opponent? Why not say "this position is not worth the life of one person, just one person who voted me in" and bow out like a hero, a stateman? Even if the French have ulterior motive, at least they came under the guise of saving those poor people of Ivort Coast from slaughter. Is anybody's blood worth spilling for any reason? Let us all learn to cherish our people's lives and care first for their well being rather than pointing accusing fingers to those who have come to protect the lives of the innocents we sacrifice without second thought for our selfish ambitions.
Gbagbo never truly loved his
Submitted by johnson Washington DC (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 21:59.
Gbagbo never truly loved his country and people. If he did then after 10 yrs as president of Ivory Coast, he should have ceded power to Quattarra in peace after Quattara was declared winner by the whole world. Just imagine the number of human lives and properties that would have been saved if Gbagbo had respected the position of the whole world.
All right thinking Ivorian people owe France a debt of gratitude for assisting to remove Gbagbo and thereby saving the Ivorian people, young and old, women and men especially children, unnecessary death and terrible suffering!
I regret to say that Mr Onifade and his ilk have lost their basic common sense. The question to ask is why can't black people govern themselves well?
Your Argument Is Flawed
Submitted by kday (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 21:34.
You claimed Gbagbo is a Nationalist, but I seriously doubt that based on his actions which, mind you,started these entire crisis. Even after many lives had been lost, he refused to concede defeat and you want to blame France for that? A Nationalist would not sit idled and watch his people die for selfish ideology. This "hold on to power" mentality is not exclusive to him alone. A lot of our so called African leaders find it extremely difficult to relinquish power once they have tasted it and that is why we always have interference from the West. And they have to, if only to prevent another Rwanda. Gbagbo had his chance at power, so why won't he respect the result of the election? Well,he is fortunate not to have receive the Samuel Doe's treatment.
I am compelled to believe
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 20:47.
I am compelled to believe that Debo might have benefitted from Gbagbo's rule. Where were you when innocent people were being massacred by Gbagbo and his military men? When are we Africans going to learn that political offices are never meant to be permanently a family right? Why cling to power so desperately without any sense of empathy if not guilt for those lost lives, even if the election was rigged in favour of your opponent? Why not say "this position is not worth the life of one person, just one person who voted me in" and bow out like a hero, a stateman? Even if the French has ulterior motive, at least they came under the guise of saving those poor people of Ivort Coast from slaughter. Is anybody's blood worth spilling for any reason? Let us all learn to cherish our people's lives and care first for their well being rather than pointing accusing fingers to those who have come to protect the lives of the innocents we sacrifice without second thought for our selfish ambitions.
most people speak out of mere
Submitted by Akin 1 (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 20:24.
most people speak out of mere ignorance. i have lived in Abidjan before. from Electricity , to water , to air force is controlled by france. it is a pity the average ivorien is depressed and cowered , they cant do anything ...they try fighting back and this is what they got . like someone said they will be haunted by this . it is saddening that africans are keeping quiet ..especially tghose4 of us in the south , zuma went to libya and was calling gadaffi his brother ! the Ecowas presidents all lined up with their tail in suit and try convincing gbagbo to allow the french rape his country...may be ..may be that is why they call these guys super power ....we need to start looking for other way of stopping this oppression ....
most people speak out of mere
Submitted by Akin 1 (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 20:24.
most people speak out of mere ignorance. i have lived in Abidjan before. from Electricity , to water , to air force is controlled by france. it is a pity the average ivorien is depressed and cowered , they cant do anything ...they try fighting back and this is what they got . like someone said they will be haunted by this . it is saddening that africans are keeping quiet ..especially tghose4 of us in the south , zuma went to libya and was calling gadaffi his brother ! the Ecowas presidents all lined up with their tail in suit and try convincing gbagbo to allow the french rape his country...may be ..may be that is why they call these guys super power ....we need to start looking for other way of stopping this oppression ....
@Masamba Masanga
Submitted by paul.skin (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 20:00.
@Masamba Masanga ............seems you are not even a Nigerian,issues of war are past tense in our nation.Now we think majorly on building our economy like China......Mark my words in the next 2020 you will see that Nigeria will not be in your cadre anymore as we are now heeding to a sable Democracy..However if you are a citizen of ivory coast i want you to realize that an influenced westerner is better than a greedy nationalist, because i am rest assured that the 12years your so called Gbagbo used was noting to write home about.........
Please, please be done with
Submitted by MEKINA (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:59.
Please, please be done with this self pity/ colonization/conspiracy theories that people like you weave. There was an election one person lost and did not want to relinquish power. Typical story in African politics. How did the french get involved? Through the UN nations a body set up for such purposes and of which many countries have signed treaties to regarding peace and security. Please, please if you want something to write about something, stick with romance!We as Africans must take responsibility for ourselves and our future. Asians have, and see how empowered they are.The West can do very well without us, but can we say the same? who stands to gain more from the relationship with these countries. Let the truth be told.
to assume that western powers
Submitted by okonkwo kennedyy (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:58.
to assume that western powers can solve our problems in africa is delusional...even though mr. gbagbo has been nipped in the bud,we must all accept that he fought the good fight.the struggle was much than mr.gbagbo as a person,but more about resistance to foreign powers bent on subverting the sovereinty of independent african states..the writer adeptly captured the essence of the whole thing and we are glad that not all africans have been compromised.think about belarus and you will find out that these western powers only target the weak.
Gbagbo: We must Say NO To Colonialists Pretending As Our Helpers
Submitted by Winston (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:28.
Really? There might have been some flaws in the way that Gbagbo was ousted, what happened to any of these leaders to just try to be magnanimous for once! Just once! For the sake of their people and country! Why do so many people have to die just for one guy to stay in power for so many years? This is what you see all over Africa, the leaders that take themselves so seriously, believes they are the only one that can rule their country. Everyone wants to complain when the "colonialists" wants to change things! When the so called "colonialist" was mistreating Africans, everyone was screaming and shouting all over the place,when they-(The native born or Africans) take control of power,they turn around to kill their own people to stay in power.They want to rule forever.They now do worse, the people suffer through their ineptitude, wickedness-(I say)
No matter what we want to call it, someone needs to stop these guys, they would not stop on their own!
could do this in this age
Submitted by Ibeagwu (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:27.
It is indeed disheartening that the French could do this in this age and get away with it. One should feel sorry for Africans south of the Sahara, especially for Africans like this Rommel here, who were civilized by those Europeans.
SABOTAGE
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:16.
We African people will be recolonized if we continue to SABOTAGE ourselved. We hate ourselves and adopt foreign use of destroy Africa Unity.
gbagbo
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:13.
Mr Onifade at best sounds like one who will want to stay in power after almost 12 yrs too, like Gbagbo or would bet for a government of national unity as is the case in zimbabwe and kenya. Pls no body should make any excuse for Gbagbo, five yrs is enough for any leader to make his mark and leave the stage, the presidency of Ivory Coast is not his fathers property and he was never any divine intervention as claimed by his wife. On a serious note if african leaders and power brokers in all can not manage themselves, then better the colonial masters come back.just see all the african countries, what future do we youths have...just wasted generations...and
Research...
Submitted by Nna (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 19:03.
Debo... Am sorry to say this but your research is baseless.
Ouattara being alien in Ivory Coast and yet was once a prime minister? Has he not lived enough to become a citizen of Ivory Coast?
On what grounds do you speak for Gbagbo when more than 50% of Ivoriens rejected him?
Have you thought about the over 500 citizens killed?
Was it not the same UN that called for Gbagbo to step down when he refused? What the French did was in order and that was a last resort. Where were you when ECOWAS and AU repeatedly sent emissaries to Ivory Coast? Again, where were you when the electoral commission set up by Gbagbo declared Ouattara as the winner and Gbagbo in turn decided to head for the supreme court which upturned the decision of the electoral commission in his favour?
How could you possibly correlate Ivory Coast's situation to that of Nigeria when there is no such situation?
Maybe you should get your facts right before ranting. I hope you do the same for Libya?
Balderdash...
Well said brother! Gbagbo was
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 18:57.
Well said brother! Gbagbo was not civil. He ruled for 11yrs! What a cheek!
Gbagbo will be vindicated very soon
Submitted by Elijah Komontey Gbarweay (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 18:52.
After reading this article, I felt really proud that many thoughtful africans are looking beyond the lies the "international community" has been selling to unsuspecting listeners who are not willing to do their own critical analysis of what is going on right now in Cote d'Ivoire.
Gbagbo is paying the price for being a nationalist. He will continue to be the unifying force for the dignity of the average Ivorien who has been deceived since independence by the french colonialists with closed collaboration with their local agents of darkness , including the imposed President Ouattara. The coming days will tell whether Ouattara was "elected" by the Ivoriens or the international community. I laugh and at times feel happy when the very western trumpeters called Ouattara "internationally recognised president" but indeed not the "elected and recognised president of Cote d'Ivoire.
Africa the time is ticking,, wake up from self destruction
Submitted by segun adetunji (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 18:47.
The questions are: who will be ruling Ivory Coast? Alassane Ouattara ? French through Alassane Ouattara? What happened if he too turned his back against them??? The lesson we Nigerians should learn is all these tribal sentiment(all tribes, we mostly all do it) we practice should be stopped. Cause home that is not unite is an easy target for invader… lastly to all your selfish leaders in power happy to be wealthy whilst the others live in poverty my message to is as you can change your skin colours, on occasions like this black men and African has fail…
Mark my words, you will see a
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 18:47.
Mark my words, you will see a replay of the Ivorien situation in Nigeria. The same conditions exist in Nigeria and the same imperialists will find a way to insert themselves - and dont forget, unlike Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria has oil - in huge quantities.
Remember Iraq? Or Libya right now?
"Even Nigeria (the power
Submitted by Masamba Masanga (not verified) on April 13, 2011 - 18:43.
"Even Nigeria (the power house of Ecowas) had not given a go-ahead for using force to oust Gbagbo".
Dont be ridiculous.
Which kin powerhouse? For where? Powerhouse that can provide jobs for it's people and young graduates? Powerhouse that cant produce or manufacture anything other than matchsticks and brooms (igbale)? A powerhouse that cant guarantee 1 hour of constant electricity on any given day ... where bomb explosions are going off left, right and centre and the State is totally clueless about what to do?
Dont make me laugh. Powerhouse ko, powerhouse ni.
