Ras Benjamnin,
Here is a piece of article i read and thought i'll share with the rest of my idrens here in the forum. By the way, i am not in total agreement with the content of this article. But same way believe it is worth a read.

Jah Bless.

A paper Proposed for presentation at The NIDO 2003 Convention holding on October 17-18 in Atlanta, Georgia
Abstract
A preponderant cause of our present day problems is our tribal tendencies. A refusal to accept the fact that irrespective of the tribal dialects we speak or our religion, we are one people, common people bound together by the destiny of colour and looks. This destiny has exposed us to discrimination at the global stage. Unfortunately, we discriminate against ourselves more than anybody else could discriminate against us. What we have as countries through out the Black Race are bundles of tribal entities characterised by mutual distrust and infighting, with the devastating consequence of destruction. As such, instead of building, we destroy. Of course, nation building cannot strive in an atmosphere ridden with destructive tendencies. Great nations are never built by destructive minds, rather by synchronised constructive efforts. Such synchronicity in opinion, ideology, understanding, standards, and practice, has been lacking in us. Africans are used to missed opportunities, but opportunity they say, comes but once. Nigeria is fortunate to possess abundant material and human resources, and in that capacity has the opportunity and responsibility to champion the cause of the black Race.
Introduction

commend The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO Americas) for her organisation of The NIDO 2003 Convention and its well taught out theme.
By the time the conference is open, we would be listening to respectable professionals and technocrats, most of whom have for various reasons left their home country, but have managed to prove and establish themselves in varying professions in the various countries they have sought refuge. The subject of most presentations will probably border on how to develop Nigeria and move the country forward.
My concern is that an underlying factor why Nigeria and indeed Black people have been left behind may not be mentioned. I know that some of the reasons may be on everybody's awareness, but our commitment or determination to confronting these issues, as a way of salvaging the situation remains the first challenge facing us. This is important if any developmental projects/programmes may ever see the light of the day. Ideas, policy pronouncements or programmes are not enough if such pronouncements are not backed with the commitment and determination required for them to succeed.
Nigeria and the Challenges Facing Black People
Nigeria, as the most populous Black Country, has a responsibility as well as an opportunity to champion the cause of the Black Race. From the tiny islands of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Fiji in the Pacific through mainland Africa to Haiti and Bahamas in the Caribbean, the story is the same. The story of hunger, disease, and fratricidal wars characterise the whole areas in what appears to suggest that the Black Race is synonymous with poverty, war, confusion, and hopelessness. Regrettably, most of the problems bedevilling the Black Race, with a few that have remote connections to the legacies of Slavery and Colonisation are self-imposed.
Although, most people would prefer to forget the past and move forward, you do not necessarily need to forget the past to move forward because the past and the future are sufficiently linked that the past is the key to the present and the present is the key to the future. Put differently, to understand where you are going to, you need to understand where you are and where you have been. When we readily forget the past, we fail to utilise the benefit of learning from history. We are forced to learn from our own personal experiences, which often are unpleasant.
Nonetheless, a preponderant cause of our present day problems is our tribal tendencies. A refusal to accept the fact that irrespective of the tribal dialects we speak or our religion, we are one people, common people bound together by the destiny of colour and looks. This destiny has exposed us to discrimination at the global stage. Unfortunately, we discriminate against ourselves more than anybody else could discriminate against us.
Tribal rivalry and the quest for tribal dominance have reached ominous dimensions. Sometimes, governments deliberately pursue policies aimed at hurting a target tribe. In other times, innovative ideas from person(s) of one tribe is rarely acceptable to people from other tribes, especially if such ideas are seen to possess the potentiality to guarantee a certain tribe an advantaged position.
So, what we have as countries through out the Black Race are bundles of tribal entities characterised by mutual distrust and infighting, with the devastating consequence of destruction. As such, instead of building, we destroy. Of course, nation building cannot strive in an atmosphere ridden with destructive tendencies. Great nations are never built by destructive minds, rather by synchronised constructive efforts. Such synchronicity in opinion, ideology, understanding, standards, and practice, has been lacking in us. I am afraid this will continue to be our nemesis until we realise the need to forge a common front. The need to have a common goal; a goal defined on common identity. A goal that serves the interest of every Blackman and such a goal may not be far from advancing the cause of the Blackman, not that of a tribe or any individual.
Black People and The Rest of the World
Our present predicaments have far-reaching effects more than most people can see. The fact that Black people have remained in the doldrums also means that Blacks wherever they live are objects of caricature that at best will never be taken seriously. This was amply illustrated Wednesday, September 24, when on a radio programme, Paul Holmes (TV/Radio broadcaster and New Zealand version of CNN's Larry King) racially attacked the UN Secretary General when Holmes queried who is this cheeky darkie that everybody is listening to. Hear Paul Holmes:
"That Kofi Annan, I've got to say to you, has been a very cheeky darkie overnight. He's been a very cheeky darkie. It's all very well giving a darkie that secretary-general job but we'll only take so much [laughs] I'm sorry, we will only take so much."
"We're not going to be told how to live our lives by a Ghanaian. They're a model aren't they, to how to live your life, to how to run a country. Mr Nkrumah, remember him ... 1957 the Prime Minister of Ghana ... We're not going to be told by a Ghanaian too much."
Paul Holmes truly knows that Kofi Annan is from "an obscure country in Africa called Ghana," but refused to realise that the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations, which Kofi Annan happens to occupy, confers on the office holder the status of the number one citizen of the world, colour notwithstanding. This attack is another demonstration that irrespective of our individual achievements, ones global standing leverages on the collective bargaining power of his people.
Black People and American National Interests
In 1994, in the United States, Mr Collin Powell, better than anybody else was in a position to fly the presidential ticket for the Republican Party, but for reasons not unconnected with his background, he declined the opportunity. The truth of the matter is that the American political landscape is characterised by an inclination to protect national interest, which often than not, espouses the need to sustain strategic alliance with Europe. You can see with me that a Blackman will at best be a square in a round hole with respect to American national interest. But things can begin to change if Black people realise the need to pursue a common purpose; pursue technological and economic development no matter whose idea it is. Not until Nigeria and Africa develop to the level we could establish common interest with the United States, which will in turn provide the foundation and support for African Americans, a Black American president will continue to be a mirage.
Austrian born Hollywood star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is today a front-runner in the California State governorship recall election and may become the next governor of California. If he were Black, nobody will take him serious. The White dominated United States of America have taken him as one of her own just after 35 year-sojourn in the United States. America, the state we would like to emulate, is not necessarily concerned about the dialect you speak. It is irrelevant being English, German, French, Dutch, Russian, etc., but what stuff are you made of, and if your capabilities are compatible with established interests. Your citizenship or residency is based on the state or city you have lived for one year or above.
Bringing these points home, the Nigerian system is at odds with systems that are known to work. Would you imagine a non-indigene becoming a governor of a state in Nigeria? Recently, some elements in the Abia State political spectrum had to question the rationale and validity of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's ministerial nomination on the platform of Abia State. According to them, she (the former World Bank Vice President) "is not a citizen of the state". To these people, even her successful marriage to a citizen of the state is not enough. This development mirrors what is obtainable nationwide and perhaps, the whole of Africa. Your citizenship and probably your privileges and opportunities depend on not what you can offer or where you were born or live, but your ancestral origin in a state based on tribe. This is further based on which local government in that state, which village in that local government, and which family in that village.
Understanding that the whole world has become a global village, and accepting that we are the same people, irrespective of tribe or dialect, is all we need to forge a common identity. It is only through a common identity that we can pursue national (not tribal) goals and policies targeted at development for the benefit of everyone. This in turn will foster the collective bargaining power we require to negotiate with other Races.
Leadership and Challenges of Corruption
Sometimes I ask, "Are we doomed people?" I have the impression that the answer is no! Our present predicaments could be overcome with careful planning and selfless service. When the President of Botswana, Mr Festus Mogae, visited Nigeria on September 11, 2003, Thisday (September 12, 2003) reported him to have dropped a few words of advice to Nigerians:
Mr. Festus Mogae told Nigerian leaders that the economy of his country has been performing well because the leaders are not corrupt and live simple lives. Addressing the 10th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, he said Nigeria could only grow its economy through focused, honest leadership, with well-defined and coordinated national priorities. Accordingly, "there is need to develop trust among key stakeholders, by acknowledging mistakes and taking corrective action on key matters". "Everyone must have a stake in the development and no one should feel excluded."
On corruption, Mr. Mogae said, "we are honest political leadership with modest private and public life styles. Ostentation, consumption and greed are discouraged".
"Where cases of corruption were detected, the culprits including high-ranking government officials, were tried in open courts and sentenced, as appropriate," he said.
Comments like this, from an African Leader, offer a ray of hope. Although, it might be convenient to summarily blame corruption as the bane of African society, corruption itself derives its strength from tribalism or sectionalism, nepotism, avarice, and the desire to siphon the public treasury with ones own people and cronies, so long as one has the opportunity.
The consequence of the status quo is that there is no all-embracing national policy, target, focus or vision for Nigeria. Rather, our tribally minded "leaders" encumber themselves with ethno-centric manoeuvring. The presidency becomes the most potent instrument to frustrate and sideline rival tribes. The result is that despite abundant natural and human resources, the nation remains abysmally poor.
Africans must learn how to hold their leaders responsible. African leaders, the led, and indeed the black Race must realise that in an increasingly global village, the Blackman is endangered specie. Until we see ourselves as one (devoid of tribal resentments), forge a common front and compete with other races (not with ourselves), we will continue to be ridiculed at the global stage.
Leadership essentials
For those who might be inclined to misinterpret the intension of this paper, I did not write because Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the President of Nigeria. When late General Sani Abacha was there for 5 years, he was not different. Worst of all, when General Ibrahim Babangida was there for 8 years, he became popular for his ability to deceive Nigerians and was happy to be remembered as an "evil genius". Funny enough, he is dreaming of coming back and his stooges are at work for him. Nobody knows if a president from the other parts of Nigeria will be anything different.
The leader we want is not a person with individual or tribal aspirations, but he who is driven by the desire to emancipate the Black Race. Such a leader must be honest, humble, compassionate, and above all truly God fearing. When that leader comes, he will not be begged to conduct free and fair elections because he will altruistically be driven to deliver. He will not hesitate to prosecute corruption because he will not have anything to hide. He will not be accused of complicity in murder and treasonable crimes and will not be begged to try such offenders because the various arms of government will be alive to their duties and responsibilities, and would discharge them without fear or favour.
Furthermore, we would not have to beg this leader to build or maintain our roads that have since became death traps because the organs of government should be naturally responsible for these and should dispense their duties without persuasion or favouritism. We on our part would seize to be sycophants, singing praises to him that does not deserve it.
Nigerian Creativity Unlimited
Meanwhile, the exploits of Nigerians at home and abroad have continued to swell. The latest flash of Nigerian creativity and ingenuity is symbolised by Garshagu Michael Atoivgba, a 300-level Mathematics student. He is not Yoruba or Igbo. Neither is he a student of University of Nigeria Nsukka or Universities of Ibadan or Lagos. He is a student of little unknown Benue State University, yet a student of ingenious and prodigious abilities. This lad has come up with innovative thinking and approaches that could render obsolete previously celebrated formulas in Algebra and Geometry. But would he ever get the support he needs to project his work? He appears to have come from the wrong country and maybe the wrong Race. No doubt, if Nigeria truly aspires to develop, there are abundant human and material resources to tap from.
Oil, Nigeria and American National Interests
Returning to American national interest, another aspect of it I will like to mention here is her economic interest, which among other things seeks to provide energy at safe and affordable prices. Politicians say, "There is no permanent friendship in politics, but permanent interests". So, American national interest has never been focussed on Africa, but September 11, changed the world. America has realised the need to diversify the sources of supply of her energy needs, which is to an extent the conveyor that drives her economy. Fortunately for America, what she might loose from the unstable Middle East, she can readily compensate for in Africa, and Nigeria in particular. This has opened a new vista in American and African relationship; but critics are poised to dismiss the romance on the grounds that American recent engagement with Africa is because of African oil. I think it is reasonable for people to understand that America and indeed anybody would rarely dissipate energy in something he/she has no interest in. So, if the upswing involvement of America in Africa is because of African oil, so be it. Something has to provide the stimulus that naturally seeks your or anybody's attention.
Another school of thought argues that the rush for African oil will deplete our reserves, leaving nothing for future generations. Do these people think that Nigeria is not capable of employing the proceeds from the sale of oil and gas in pursuing and building a technologically driven economy? Must we continue to depend on natural resources?
Although it might not be necessary to ignore some of these concerns, however, I think the popular saying, "make hay while the sun shines," is appropriate here. We should rather be concerned with what and how we spend the proceeds from sale of oil and gas than think about depletion of oil. Are we using the money accruable from oil and gas to plan for a future where there is no oil or where oil has been rendered valueless? Or is the money ending up in a few individual accounts?
Oil is being discovered everyday and new technologies facilitate the discovery of previously hidden reserves and so may or may not be exhaustible, at least in the near future. Having said that, we should exploit our oil while there is still market for it. Oil itself is a hot commodity because somebody (United States) has provided market for it, should technological breakthrough proffer alternative sources of energy, oil and gas will loose their shine and consequently go the way of coal and other gifts of nature lying waste on earth. We should rather be grateful to America for providing market for oil and making what we have worthwhile. Needless to remind us that America and Europe have also focussed on other regions of the world for alternative sourcing of oil. Russia is one potentially petroliferous place of interest.
As despicable as the events of September 11 was, Osama Bin Ladin inadvertently gave Africa a lifeline. But Africans, instead of grabbing the opportunity with two hands, are busy with mischievous hypotheses. When George Bush visited Africa in July 2003, African people were obsessed with the war in Iraq. Instead of using the visit to develop and consolidate African and American partnership/strategic interest, Africans were busy confronting the president with questions about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Ironically, George Bush was in an Israeli-Palestinian peace summit in Aqaba, Jordan, earlier in June, nobody asked him questions about the war.
Conclusion
Indeed, Africans are used to missed opportunities, but opportunity they say, comes but once. Nigeria is fortunate to possess abundant material and human resources, and in that capacity has the opportunity and responsibility to champion the cause of the black Race.