I regularly glance through the leading Nigerian Internet-based discussion forum Nairaland, to keep an eye on the current trends in Nigeria. Knowing the typical lack of a sense of priority of some Nigerian leaders, I wasn’t very surprised to see the topic: “Lagos Assembly Launches Website For Obama” on the Webmasters section of Nairaland last week. I was disgusted so much that I wanted to be spared the nonsensical details. Just yesterday, a friend I was chatting with online gave me the web address of the Lagos House of Assembly for Obama website – obamanigeria.org
I visited the website. The design theme is quite similar to that of Senator Barack Obama’s official campaign website but one could see Nigeria’s flag displayed beside Nigeria for Obama at the lower right corner of the website’s homepage. Other things on the website included the names of the honourable members of the Lagos State House of Assembly who had come together to register an organization (Obama Nigeria Initiative) to publicly push their support of Obama as President of the United States of America. What’s more annoying? Donation were being solicited from Nigerians and souvenirs being offered. Had it not been that I could confirm that this was official, I would have classified ObamaNigeria.org as a classic scam. Why the donations?
To add insult to injury, it appears the Assembly members are using public funds to oil the machinery of their “Obama Nigeria Initiative”. How? What official business of Lagos State House of Assembly is it, as to who wins the US presidency? Can you imagine a State in the USA officially declaring support for any Nigerian individual or party to win Nigeria’s Presidency?
Let’s give them the right of reply. From the Nigeria for Obama’08 webpage:
FELLOW PATRIOTS,
Though without a voting right in the ongoing party primaries of the Democrats in the USA, like everybody around the world, we are very much involved because of the global implications the outcome of the elections would have on the world.We are particularly thrilled by the feat of Barack Obama because for the very first time in the history of the USA, he has successfully broken the colour bar. We are even more thrilled that white voters rally forcefully behind this charismatic black man in his quest to become the first black president in the most powerful nation on earth. Like Mr. Martins King Jr. said, today he is no longer being judged by the color of his skin but by the content of his character which has propelled him from near obscurity to international limelight. In Barack Obama, the agitations of early black nationalists such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and so many others found concrete expressions as he attains leverage in the political calculation of the USA that would no longer ignore Afro-Americans and their electoral strength. To us, this is a feat worthy of celebration as the dawn of a new era. FELLOW PATRIOTS,
Though without a voting right in the ongoing party primaries of the Democrats in the USA, like everybody around the world, we are very much involved because of the global implications the outcome of the elections would have on the world.We are particularly thrilled by the feat of Barack Obama because for the very first time in the history of the USA, he has successfully broken the colour bar. We are even more thrilled that white voters rally forcefully behind this charismatic black man in his quest to become the first black president in the most powerful nation on earth. Like Mr. Martins King Jr. said, today he is no longer being judged by the color of his skin but by the content of his character which has propelled him from near obscurity to international limelight. In Barack Obama, the agitations of early black nationalists such as Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and so many others found concrete expressions as he attains leverage in the political calculation of the USA that would no longer ignore Afro-Americans and their electoral strength. To us, this is a feat worthy of celebration as the dawn of a new era.
Okay, Barack Obama should be celebrated but why not wait for the man to win the US Presidency before popping the champagne?
I’d wrap this up with my2cents’ comment on the Nairaland thread:
…At the taxpayer’s expense? If this were some project by a private individual, I would say, no problem. But from the looks of things, this is sponsored by the state. How many millions do you think has gone into this project (from the coder, to all the kick-backs)? Considering there are bigger issues facing Lagos (roads, security, electricity, water, etc), as Afam has said, this is a misplaced priority.
Support Obama? Yes. At taxpayer expense? No.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Post your comment here and now!
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