U need to read this:

[b]Gaddafi and the United States of Africa[/b]By Kingsley Ogbuji

THE proposition for a United States of Africa being spearheaded by the self-acclaimed King of Kings, Maummar Gaddafi of Libya, has been attracting reactions from various quarters around the continent. This idea, which is solely Gaddafi's, canvasses for a federal or central government for the whole continent, a common currency and common passport, among other ideas. What he (Gaddafi) has not disclosed to heads of states is that after he succeeds with his current agenda, the next line of action he will pursue will be a case for common official language, which will be Arabic. This idea will make it mandatory for all federating units within the so-called union to make Arabic their official language, including making it the language of instruction in schools.

What is enigmatic about this weird idea is not only the hidden ploy to make Gaddafi the King of Kings of the United States Of Africa, but the fact that the Arab world, which seems to be advancing this cause, using Gaddafi as a tool, does not even have the interest of black Africa at heart. It is the same Arab world instigating the genocide in Dafur that is also propagating the conscription of too many African countries with substantial Muslim population into the Organisation Of Islamic Countries (OIC) despite the tension this will generate in such countries among the various religions that make those countries pluralistic.

If African Heads of States cannot read the legible hand writing on the wall, at least the vigour and vehemence with which Gaddafi is pursuing this idea should make them suspicious. If a country like Nigeria (which multi-ethnic diversity has made it cumbersome for the people to come together as one indeed), is still grappling with its practice of federalism, how much more cumbersome will it be for a continent with more than 5,000 ethnic groups to achieve this illusionary idea of a federation?

One wonders about this sudden enthusiasm which has overtaken Gaddafi given the fact that his government has been involved in brutality against Africans from other countries who found themselves legally or illegally in Libya. A lot of Nigerians and other Africans in search of greener pastures have been brutalised, dehumanised and tortured; some killed while the lucky ones got deported. If Gaddafi had shown some iota of mercy to these Africans who sneaked into Libya, maybe we would not have read much meaning into this idea being touted by him. If he has had this dream of a united Africa for a long time, then it contradicts the treatment he metes out to young Africans who find themselves in Libya in search of livelihood.

This is the time for African leaders to rise against this "absolute monarchy" which Gaddafi is trying to enthrone, as what we know about this idea is far smaller than what we are yet to know about it, which ultimately will be the greatest mistake of the century. What Africa needs at this time is a commitment by her leaders in their individual countries to be more responsive to the plight of their citizenry; leaders who understand that strong and massive infrastructural development is one of the panacea to our problems of underdevelopment and unemployment; leaders who understand that the natural endowments and resources in their countries were deposited by God for the common good of the people; leaders who know that the greatest evil that can be perpetrated against humanity is to starve them in the midst of plenty; leaders who understand that power belongs to the people and the opportunity to serve is mere privilege.

What Africa and Africans need at this time is focused and empathetic leadership in their individual countries, with policies that make it easy for trans-regional interaction and business transaction, not an Africa under a single government with Gaddafi as the King of Kings.


Ogbuji lives in Texas, United States


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=130209&ptitle=Gaddafi%20and%20the%20United%20States%20of%20Africa