Quick Shots

Back in Gidi and on the way to Osogbo for the festival and some additional research on my yet to be completed novel. Just some quick thoughts on recent developments:

- My Friend Dr Fayemi lost his Tribunal challenge to the last election for Governor of Ekiti state but I believe he will win the war. The discipline and professionalism of his campaign as well as hamdling of his case is quite unusual in the Nigerian political terrain. He is a truly thoughtful, caring and committed leader who deserves a truly impartial panel. All those who have the onerous duty of adjudicating the election tribunals have my initial respect unless something else comes to light that challenges their impartiality. In the end either through appeal or otherwise the country needs more of Kayode Fayemi not less.

- Another Obama Foreign Policy astuteness is being ignored by the press in general and the US media in particular. His position on the dispensability of General Musharraff as an ally and his concern about the policy that ties the US to his regime rather than allying with the broader aspirations of people of Pakistan is emerging as the wiser counsel as well as position. On the other hand McCain's position is that anything that undermines Musharraff puts US interest at risk. Well Musharraf is gone. Also the press in general applaud McCain's tough stance in support of Georgia never mind his total lack of credibility or impartiality as a paid supporter of the policy position of the current President of that country. I suspect many people in the West including the present occupiers of No 10 Downing street have not scaled up enough to see what is emerging. I suspect Senator Obama might have a clue with his more nuanced position. Russia is not Zimbabwe and China is not the Sudan both countries have a world view independent of reactions to the west that is backed by social, economic and increasing military power. How long will it take before they realise if they align more closely they can redefine leadership in many parts of the world away from the US and the West . The West's assumption of superiority sounds increasingly hollow as their economies wane, their military is held down by irregular and largely untrained forces, their principles are compromised in the face of insecurity and fears, their people are polarised in bitter cultural wars. Why should China whose successful Olympics was in spite of all attempts to derail it in the West or Russia which has regained its footing in spite of efforts to surround it with NATO lackeys feel any obligation or interest to listen to the West?

- The Nigerian Stockmarket is on a downer right now and it is not helped by the fact that we have a reactionary Federal government who is hell bent on structural intervention without spending anytime understanding the dynamics or even mapping the processes. If the newspapers are anything to go by the new idea is a government panel on the stock exchange. Not sure that the total sum of the vision that is Law and Order amounts to more than a piece of Akara from Osu. We will see soon but the incompetence of the Government might itself be a God send because it leaves room for the private sector to step up its game. The problem is that the Nigerian private sector is almost entirely transaction driven rather than transformation oriented. Watch this space.

Any way in all white and off to the Osun festival. Expect some pictures and lest i forget a big shout out to Tari who had a A* and A in his early GCSE's thank God you got your mothers brains not mine!

The Othello Metaphor

Below is a link to an extraordinarily open exploration of the fear of a black super male and the regular damning of Senator Obama with faint praise. I do not know who writer Venetia Thompson is both along with Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal she has been a discovery. I however disagree with the latest analysis of Ms Noonan but two reasonable people can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

We will know by the 4th of March how much damage the effort to crudely stop the momentum of Senator Obama has been. In my humble opinion he needs to switch his approach at the next debate by backing every policy argument with examples and data moving the debate away from himself to the issues he stands for. The reason is no matter how popular you are there is a diminishing return to media exposure in a race as long as this one. I encourage readers to read this article and view it from a credible and talented lens.

In Nigeria the Tribunal reviewing the last year's Presidential election is expected to rule tomorrow. Whatever the result it is a triumph for Nigerian government accountability and institutional capacity. I refuse to use the word democracy because it has become a buzzword that is neither credible nor is it adaptive enough for a complex country like Gidi. An independent process of checks and balances would have done Kenya a world of good or even restored credibility to the first Bush presidency. In a world where Nigeria is often used as a buzz word for failure, danger and corruption it is only fair it get its praise for what it does right.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/features/514311/part_3/obama-is-an-othello-for-our-times.thtml

Yes We Can

Obama Victory Speech

There comes a time once in a lifetime that a leader captures the essence of their time. It is like lightning in a bottle. Here is my generations chance.

Iowa and Elections

Whatever the polls say it is clear that I have posted in support of Senator Obama not because he is black or of African descent but for the possibilities of an America truly living for a greater good, grounded in its recognition of a common humanity and humbled by the interdependence of nations. Senator Obama exudes and authenticity that is both open and passionate. He represents hope that is beyond the limitation of contrived policy. His is an aspirations beyond partisan politics, vision beyond the artificiality of national borders. He is of course limited by his constituency in both party terms as well as nationality. However he more so than others recognises and exercises his judgement accordingly for complexity of our times. His positions are a congruent exposition of his character hence the truimph of his judgement on Iraq, Pakistan et al over so much touted experience.

He is Hope and Senator Clinton is Inevitability. I cannot see senator Obama winning because the fear of loss that has become the calling card of the psyche in the average American will not allow for them to look beyond their insecurity towards their possibility. The establishment of both parties thrives on division and conflict and the citizenry are addicted to the idea of winning too much to recognise that what is important is success which often times is abundant enough to allow for both competition and cooperation. I am sure that Senator Obama has run a good race and I hope he has become the warror of light for an American renewal but he will unfortunately not become the president.