by Osita Chiagorom<\/p>\n
This article was my reaction to an article I read on the Punch newspaper
\nof Sunday November 23rd , where a certain Dr Osahon Enabulele who is the
\nvice president of the West African branch of the Commonwealth Medical
\nassociation was calling on Nigeria and others to lend physical medical
\nassistance to Liberia in their fight against Ebola virus.<\/p>\n
It has become a tradition over the years for an average African country
\nthat has one crisis or the other to call on Nigeria for assistance due to
\nNigeria”s sincere exhibition of African brotherhood.<\/p>\n
Despite this ,how many African countries has ever reciprocated this
\nimmence love?<\/p>\n
How many has assisted Nigeria in times of crisis ?<\/p>\n
The issue of South Africa is a very pathetic one.<\/p>\n
This is a country that was in slavery and in which every Nigerian paid
\ndues to liberate from the hands of apartheid.
\nSchool children in Nigeria were even levied to raise funds to assist in
\nthe war against apartheid.<\/p>\n
Our musicians sang until their voices became hoarse.<\/p>\n
That’s why Nelson Mandela after his release immediately toured all parts
\nof Nigeria to thank them for their dogged fight against apartheid but
\nafter that what happened ?<\/p>\n
Today, it is difficult to see an average South African who does not hate
\nNigeria and other fellow African countries who also played roles to kick
\napartheid out from South Africa.<\/p>\n
The treatment of Africans, expecially Nigerians in South Africa is very
\nvery pathetic.<\/p>\n
Their police has fabricated all types of lies to justify their actions.<\/p>\n
This is a land that does not want to accept blames for their shortcomings
\nbut prefers to display their aggression on foreigners.<\/p>\n
If they are making the world believe that South Africans are not drug
\npushers, then why is the illicit trade and violence flourishing in their
\nland?<\/p>\n
It is on record that South Africa has a rising profile of crime and all
\nthe high profile murders and homicide cases were committed by their fellow
\nSouth Africans.<\/p>\n
Was it foreigners that killed Lucky Dube a renowned world acclaimed
\nmusician ?
\nWhat of a celebrity ,Mr. Oscar Pistorius who shot and killed his
\ngirlfriend under a very mysterious circumstances and recently, a few weeks
\nago,their national football team goalkeeper and captain was shot and
\nkilled.<\/p>\n
For South Africa to continue to be aggresive to their fellow Africans
\nshows that their fathers did not properly inform them of their history
\nwhich is very,very unfortunate.<\/p>\n
It shows that most of their youths today are acting out of grave ignorance.<\/p>\n
An Igbo proverb says that ” a rich man should be careful when helping a
\npoor man so that he(poor man) will not rise to kill him( rich man) to
\nacquire his riches.<\/p>\n
This is becoming the story between Nigeria and South Africans.
\nAnd come to think of it ?<\/p>\n
As a Christian am not against Nigeria lending help to other countries
\nbecause afterall as travellers we found ourselves in a situation where
\nnon-Nigerians helped us .<\/p>\n
My lamentation is all about the cold attitude exhibited by fellow African
\ncountries towards Nigeria in times of crisis.<\/p>\n
What is their response to the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra
\nLeone and what was their reaction when Nigeria was put in grave dilenma by
\nEbola ?<\/p>\n
Thank God that we over came that situation within a very short period.
\nIs Nigeria created in Africa to help and not receive help?<\/p>\n
Recently,Nigerians shed their blood to bring peace in Liberia and Sierra
\nLeone but how are they treated in those countries?<\/p>\n
I have travelled to many West African countries and it worries me how
\nNigerians are singled out for extortion,believing that every Nigeria goes
\naround with millions of cash in their pocket.
\nIt is no more a hidden fact.<\/p>\n
And what is the reaction of the Nigerian government? No response!<\/p>\n
Since this Boko Haram issue, how many African countries has offered to help?
\nDespite this, Nigeria has gone to Mali as a part of the UN force to halt
\nthe insurgency in the northern part of that country.<\/p>\n
Nigerian peacemakers recently came back because the situation at home had
\nbecome serious.<\/p>\n
The most annoying was a few weeks ago when Boko Haram took Mubi, the
\nsecond biggest town in Adamawa State and the next day, our president
\ninstead of concentrating on our security challenges, shocked the whole
\nnation and zoomed off to be a part of the peace process that eventually
\nbrought the transition government in Burkina Faso.<\/p>\n
Nigerian soldiers were also in Sudan and lost men. I know of a young
\nLieutenant who graduated from the NDA officers short term course in 2009
\nbut died in action in Sudan in 2011.<\/p>\n
We can’t recount how many men we lost to bring peace in Chad in the 1980’s
\nbut what are we reaping from Chad today ?
\nEconomically, Chad has relied on the Nigerian economy to stabilize over
\nthe years, but what has Nigeria gotten in return?<\/p>\n
Although, I blame our authorities for the mismanagement that led to the
\narms scandal in South Africa, the host country did not really exhibit the
\ntrue spirit of African brotherhood.<\/p>\n
And nearer home,what is the level of Chad’s involvement in the Boko Haram
\nwith regards to recent exposures by the Camerounian investigative
\njournalist.
\nIs Chad really sincere?<\/p>\n
Bisong Etahoben, a Camerounian journalist recently revealed that a close
\npolitical associate of Chadian president, Mahamat Bichara Gnoti was caught
\nat the Chadian- Sudanese border with 19 pieces of SAM2 missiles purchased
\nfor the Boko Haram from the Sudanese Army.<\/p>\n
It was also alleged that the suspect who was caught with Chadian
\npresident’s presidential Pass permit, confessed that the funds for the
\nprocurement was released to him by Chadian president, Idris Derby.<\/p>\n
Now, many questions are begging for answers.<\/p>\n
Why is Boko Haram only causing havoc in Nigeria and Cameroun but no iota
\nof operation in Chad?<\/p>\n
Why did the recent peace deal brokered by the Chadian government end up as
\na fraudulent exercise?<\/p>\n
Are those we helped turning around to stab us at the back with intent to
\ndestroy us ?<\/p>\n
One day, the truth shall eventually come to pass.<\/p>\n
Osita Chiagorom
\nOsitac@yahoo.com
\nSent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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