Of
all the continents in the world, Africa is undoubtedly the most retrogressive
and primitive continent which has failed to take a leap where others have been
running, at least. The continent has done little to shrug off the notion that
it is a dark continent, where life began at the period the white man stepped
into it. Africa was shared among the western power after centuries of ungodly
occupation. It is on record that many Africans were wasted in the sea, serving
food to the sea animals as they fell sick or died on their way to servitude.
The
inhumanity experienced by these people was not entirely initiated and
perpetrated by the colonialists;
it had the input of their fellow race men.
Africa has proven to be more gullible among the continents of the world. Many
African countries got their independence in the middle of twentieth century
along with some countries in Asia. While countries like Malaysia, India,
Indonesia and others have move on to established their identities and given
Asian a place of honour in the comity of nations, Africa has been taken
retrogressive movement and pretending that all is well.
Nigeria
is a better case study; the country showed greater potential at the dawn of her
independence, making the western world to be weary of what the new nation was
up to. The military administration of General Yakubu Gowon fought civil war
without borrowing a dime from outside world, there was little technical and
military assistance required from the known superpowers. Obasanjo’s
administration was very decisive in what the image of Africa should be with the
audacious decree to take over all companies owned by foreigners, especially
Britons, as a protest against apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria’s
contributions to the independence of countries like Namibia gave an indication
of a new leader to change the world order.
It did not last before Nigeria succumb to the scourge of timidity. The
self-acclaimed giant of Africa stumbled and almost collapses. The once upon a
time big brother has become so weak and clueless that other countries are not
sure whether to follow or not.
Africa
has never witnessed revolution to usher her own evolution, it has only be able
to rigmarole on a spot and that has been very detrimental to the progress of
the continent. South Africa showed flashes of a new dawn at the enthronement of
former anti-apartheid movement, late Nelson Madiba Mandela. Mandela was an icon
and a continent within African continent. He did what no leader has done in the
continent by refusing to yield to praise singers to have a second term in
office as the president of South Africa. That would have been a reasonable
offer considering the struggle he was involved to get equal right for the black
in his nation. He declined. Post Mandela South Africa has shown that Nigeria
and other African countries are not outcast in the character this continent has
carve for herself, Thambo Mbeki was forced out of office while the incumbent
South Africa president was tried on allegation of corruption and sundry
offences, yet, he is the number citizen of that country presently, no wonder
the economy of the country is in shamble and allow Nigeria to overtake it as
the strongest economy in Africa.
Having
preamble on two most prominent nations in the continent, there is not much positive
thing to say about other countries in the continent. Libya, Sudan, Somalia,
Kenya, Mali, Niger and co has been in one form of instability or the other. The
man at Zimbabwe has been there for almost four decades and still counting, how
will fresh ideas see the light of the day in such country? There are countries
like Congo DR and Togo which the leadership has been turned to a family affair,
yet we expect different outcome.
Where
could the problem lie? Some are blaming the colonial masters for African woes
but when will the blaming game stop? Countries like India, Taiwan, Koreas, etc
were oppressed like Africa but have moved on to better days and some of them
rub shoulders with the western world nowadays. It means we have to look inward
if we are desired to make impact in the world discourse.
