Africans, we are often our own enemy - many are greedy (for money, power, influence, etc.) and lack loyalty to the cause of the motherland. They betray their brother at a wink and sell their soul to the devil for a piece of porridge. So is the story of Patrick Lumumba and the dreaded Mobutu Sese Seko - the ruthless leader of Zaire now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mobutu was a right-hand man to Lumumba but he sold him out to the Americans and the Belgians who wanted to topple Lumumba who they saw as a threat to their national interest - interest in Uranium by the U.S., and Belgium's interest in neo-colonialism.
Mobutu allegedly overthrew Lumumba with the help of the West and began three decades rule of terror on his people while the West looked the other way. This is why some people castigate and criticize the U.S. and Europe for taking a stand against Russia for its atrocities in Syria, Georgia, Chechnya and now Ukraine. The U.S. has done worse directly or indirectly, and Russia is taking from America's history and strategy book. Some wonder why many African countries refused to criticize Russia. Not that they do not know what Russia is doing is bad but because of the hypocrisy of the U.S. and the West. America is yet to acknowledge its role in overthrowing Lumumba, let alone apologize for the role they allegedly played in his death because of a strategic interest in the Congo's Uranium. The West does not have any moral compass until they apologize profusely and pay reparation.
What troubles me is that things are still the same in Africa .... perhaps, it is because poverty still pervades the continent. You hire students for graduate school, you fight for them when they are discriminated against and become the enemy of the system because of them. And these same set of students become prime witnesses against you in a campaign of calumny to punish you for speaking out against discrimination. Just like Mobutu against Lumumba, how best can an imperialist deal with someone they see as a threat other than to use someone they elevated that looks like them? We wonder why most of the major conflicts in the world are located on the continent of Africa. It is not just because of our diversity, it is because we do not love ourselves, we do not bond together to fight against a common enemy. I see the same among our folks in Historically Black Schools and Colleges (HBCUs) in America. The level of self-destruction in these schools is worse than what you see on the continent of Africa. Africans everywhere (including African-Americans) must stand up for themselves, help themselves, patronize themselves, and join hands together to fight common enemies .... The Jews are a perfect example of what can happen to a people when they love themselves and bond together ... Jewish business will first be for a Jewish person before any other ethnic group. When we come to this realization and begin to act on these then will we begin to heal as a people and start our journey to true prosperity not based on hands-out.
Ise ni ogun ise (Work is the panacea to poverty) mura si ise ore mi (Be conscientious my friend in your work) ise ni a fi n di eni giga (Through hard work can we excel) ti a ko ba ri eni feyintin (If there is none to create a pathway to the top for you) bi ole la n ri (It is as if we are lazy) ti a ko ba ri eni gbekele (If there is no one to be your mentor and godfather) a tera mo ise eni, (Work harder then, don't give up, innovate, there is dignity in labor, a way will open up for you soon) Iya re le l'owo (Your mom may be super rich) Baba re le l’esin lekan (You dad could have real estate in choice places) T’oba gbo’ju le won o te tan ni mo so fun oh (If you trust in their riches, your shame is around the corner) Ohun aho j’iya fun kii t’ojo (What you did not labor often does not last, because you might not value them) Ohun ta ba s’ise fun nii pe l’owo eni (It is what you work for that becomes a treasure) Apa lara, Igunpa niye kan (Arms are your f...
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