Nigeria and the Implications of a Donald Trump Presidency – Fani-Kayode got it all muddled up

In the opening paragraph of his views about the implications of a Donald Trump’s Presidency to Nigeria, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode declared his support for Trump’s presidential bid. Trump is the Republican Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2016 election running against the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.

By Dr. Anthony Obi Ogbo — By Anthony Obi Ogbo

But as applies in any true democratic setting, Fani-kayode’s support for Trump is justified. The application of politics is often based on interests, which entitle individuals and organizations to their choices of either electioneering candidates or governance policies. However, Chief-kayode went beyond his choice of a candidate, and delved into other issues he inaccurately illustrated.

For those who do not know, Fani-Kayode is a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation (2006-2007) who joined active politics and juggled between Nigeria’s two major political parties; the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition’s All Progressive Congress (APC). In June 2014, he finally settled for the PDP and was later appointed the Director of Media and Publicity for the 2015 Presidential Campaign Organization of the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan. His candidate, Jonathan lost this election.

Since this period, Fani-Kayode has written editorial articles and commentaries about significant issues of Nigeria’s politics. He has reliably presented substantial arguments on various issues, but his latest take on Trump offered opinions that were not only based on falsehood, but also inconsistent with the existing facts.

In the most part, Fani-kayode cluttered his materials on current affairs, and rendered some analysis that revealed a lack of thorough knowledge of the United States politics. For instance, his support for Trump, in his words, was because Trump “admitted publicly that the American-inspired removal of Arab secularist leaders like Saddam Hussein, Muammar Ghadaffi, Hosni Mubarak and, more recently, the attempt to remove Bashir Al Assad were wrong, short-sighted, counter-productive and have led to nothing but chaos.”

Fani-Kayode may not have been aware, but during his nomination campaign process, unprompted media interviews of Trump clearly exposed his ignorance about politics of Africa and Middle East. Here is a candidate who could not identify Africa on the world map – and worse – Libya, Nigeria or Egypt from the African map. America saw this movie with Sarah Palin, the Republican Vice presidential candidate in 2008 presidential campaign who had no single knowledge of her country’s foreign policy at the time.

Fani-Kayode in furtherance of his ill-informed opinion claimed that Trump was well known for his disregard and contempt for radical Islam, his firm opposition to islamist intolerance and jihadi terrorism and his concerns about the activities of those that seek to establish a new world caliphate where sharia law is applied. This is absolutely false. Fani-Kayode either ignorantly or intentionally ignored to emphasize how Donald Trump’s rapidly changed policy positions, including his radical views on Islam.

Donald Trump in 2015 had proposed a blanket ban on Muslims based on what he called “hatred” of the West innate in Islam. He advocated for the first time, the monitoring of mosques as a way to deal with radical Islamic terror. Asked if he’d consider closing some mosques, Trump said “absolutely, I think it’s great.”

In 2016, Trump softened these policies to ban on only Muslims coming from countries with a history of terrorism. Accordingly, Trump’s policies have been tainted with outright falsehoods while he simultaneously refused to offer specifics on implementation strategies.

The truth however, is that in America, after the W. Bush’s horrible tenure, most voters no longer relate to block-headed candidates who only read campaign scripts and make imaginable promises about matters that are beyond their knowledge. It might have worked in Nigeria with Buhari, but in the United States, experience matter; and that why John McCain failed with Palin, and Mitt Romney failed woefully with Paul Ryan.

Unlike in most African countries where democracy is bastardized beyond recognition, the United States President does not dictate laws and orders.

Fani-Kayode in his article, had also questioned the trio of President Barak Obama, and his past and present State Secretaries, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry on matters inconsequential to their constitutional powers. Unlike in most African countries where democracy is bastardized beyond recognition, the United States President does not dictate laws and orders. President Obama has been operating under a Republican dominated congress and often struggled to implement his own proposals. He has important job to do besides what an individual in Nigeria thinks about his office.

Funny enough, Fani-Kayode in his piece blamed Obama, Clinton, and Kerry for imposing an arms embargo on Nigeria when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, but failed to explain the disgraceful events that trailed the United States’ actions.

In his own explanation at the time, Mr. James Entwistle, the American ambassador to Nigeria attributed a United States blockade of Nigeria’s ability to purchase weapons to human rights violation by Nigerian troops in the Nigerian North-east.

This was consistent with the Leahy Law or Leahy amendment – a U.S. human rights law that prohibits the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity. This law was approved by the congress in 1997, years before President Obama took office. So why blame Obama?

But Fani-Kayode evaded what could have been a thorough justification of this embargo. For the fact that Nigeria’s former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, allegedly stole more than $2bn (£1.3bn) with funds meant to procure arms to fight Boko Haram was enough reason to conclude that this institution was justifiably troubled with high-level corruption and mismanagement – for even Fani-Kayode himself has been facing charges for allegedly being a beneficiary of that loot. Fani-Kayode it was alleged, received N1.7 billion directly from Mr. Jonathan in funds that they suspected came from Dasuki – not Obama.

Axelrod may have been hired by the APC, the same way Fani-Kayode was hired by the PDP. In fact, Fan-Kayode made more money in his PDP position than Axelrod made from the APC. Therefore, by whining about Axelrod assisting Buhari in his election victory, Fani-Kayode who headed Jonathan’s campaign was actually narrating his own incompetence and abysmal failure.

Fani-Kayode most ridiculously shot himself on the foot when he claimed that Obama’s campaign manager David Axelrod was paid large sums of money to assist President Buhari to come to power. As a point of reference, Axelrod was a former Obama’s campaign manager who operated a consulting firm at the time. He may have been hired by the APC, the same way Fani-Kayode was hired by the PDP. In fact, Fan-Kayode made more money in his PDP position than Axelrod made from the APC. Therefore, by whining about Axelrod assisting Buhari in his election victory, Fani-Kayode who headed Jonathan’s campaign was actually narrating his own incompetence and abysmal failure.

If I may ask Fani-Kayode, was it Obama that appointed Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega who tactically delivered victory to his Kingsman? Was it Obama that headed Jonathan’s campaign? Was it Hillary that procured a card reader that could not even recognize the President’s finger print at the accreditation process? Was it Kerry that registered thousands of underage voters in the North? I can go all day.

It is ridiculous that rather than evaluate their lapses on why they failed to retain Jonathan’s incumbency, those who headed his campaign and indeed the party leaders were busy blaming their structural woes on Obama. As I mentioned in my book, “Governance Buhari’s Way”, managing failure remains one of the best part of effective governance. In organizational leadership, failure is not unacceptable. What might be disastrous is when managers fail to immediately assess measures and reconcile their lapses. After any election, especially in a race as controversial as the PDP-APC presidential polls, a “postmortem” is compulsory to enable players explore relevant thoughts about their performances. In other words, winners engross in strategizing about implementing their blueprints and projections, whereas losers evaluate their losses to make amends for a comeback.

If I may ask Fani-Kayode, was it Obama that appointed Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega who tactically delivered victory to his Kingsman? Was it Obama that headed Jonathan’s campaign? Was it Hillary that procured a card reader that could not even recognize the President’s finger print at the accreditation process?

However, in the Nigerian system, the situation is absolutely the opposite. Most winners are immediately occupied with infighting over their opportunities to loot public funds. The others are busy lampooning losers with foul language for losing. Losers on their own part are enthralled in some “don’t blame it on me” mentality. Fani-Kayode exemplifies an incompetent loser who is yet to assess his failures, but would arrogantly go around to pass blame on others.

Fani-Kayode made substantial points about specific ill-advised actions of John Kerry over Nigeria’s politics but those are absolutely unconnected with Trump’s ability to lead. Nigeria made that mistake when out of frustration about specific policies of President Jonathan, cheered a dictator into office. Today, those who committed this error are licking their wounds. Consequently, structural policies by Obama, Hillary or Kerry unfavorable to Nigeria do not justify Trump’s leadership proficiency.

♦ Anthony Ogbo, Ph.D. is the Publisher of Houston-based International Guardian, and author of “Governance Buhari’s Way.”

How the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is misleading the world about Nigeria

Is John Kerry actually representing the United States or is he serving some incomprehensible interests?

Before the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry visited Nigeria last week, he placed his agenda on the table. With priority accorded to

corruption and security, the august visitor also wanted to discuss the state of the economy with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari. This visit which was hailed as the last possible engagement by a major American official during the Obama administration came at the right time; a dire period in Nigeria’s fragile democracy, where cries of hardship by a frustrated populace have replaced the national anthem. The visits also was billed to solidify a bilateral affiliation between the two countries after a period of strained relations.

Ordinarily, a top-ranking American diplomat visiting Nigeria would be expected to make as a first destination, the commercial hub of Lagos (the former Nigeria’s capital), or the seat of the government in Abuja. However that was not the case with this visit. Kerry headed straight to the city of Sokoto; predominantly Muslim and an important seat of Islamic learning situated in the extreme northwest of Nigeria

Kerry’s visit to Sokoto confirmed the devotion accorded to the Sultan of Sokoto—Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, as a strategic partner of the U.S., regarding sociopolitical issues in Nigeria and neighboring Muslim regions. The visit soon provoked a controversy. For instance, a prominent Christian group, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) voiced out their condemnation, accusing Kerry of being “discriminatory and divisive.” Another organization, the Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade also expressed concerns that the United States was fueling ethnic and religious tensions in Nigeria by supporting northern leaders.

These organizations might be right in their discontentment of Kerry’s itinerary. In a country divided since its independence in 1960 over ethnic and religious differences, it was awfully intolerant for Kerry to have flown in, socialized with Muslim clerics and winged off. He was in Nigeria on Monday and Tuesday, and was hosted by the Sultan of Sokoto, the most senior Islamic cleric in the country. He also met with 19 governors of Nigeria’s northern states and held talks with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a Muslim.

CAN president, Reverend Supo Ayokunle, said Kerry’s visit showed a “lack of respect for the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria” and favored the country’s Muslim population to the detriment of the Christian community.” Proponents of the regime however differ, praising Kerry’s visit to the Muslim region as an effective partnership strategy in strengthen America’s ongoing battle with Islamist extremism. The sultan is believed to have much leverage with Nigerian Muslims and was seen as the appropriate channel to get the U.S. message across in fighting terror.

Most observers believe that Nigerian Christians are under siege and are the major victims of a supposedly secular governmental system that is currently undermined by the regime. But during his visit, Kerry spent more time showering praises to his Muslim host rather than reveal his country’s position in assisting Nigeria with corruption, security, and state of their ailing economy. According to Ayokunle, Kerry’s actions speak volume; “his body language were very divisive.”

This is not the first time Kerry has crashed dabbling into a delicate Nigeria’s politics. Earlier in 2015 – during a heated Nigeria’s presidential campaign, Kerry inappropriately criticized the incumbent regime of President Goodluck Jonathan for an election postponement that was legally justified. He had impolitely issued a release expressing his deep disappointment about the postponement, urging that the Nigerian government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.

PIC.-3.-U.S.-SECRETARY-OF-STATE-JOHN-KERRY-VISITS-SOKOTO — Kerry and the Sultan (Center). With Nigeria’s current governance predicament; the first major question would be, when has the Sultan become the country’s spokesperson on matters of corruption, security, the state of the economy? If the Sultan was a force in coordinating fights against terrorism and sectarian violence, why is Northern Nigeria still in such a security mess?

Unfortunately for Kerry, the postponement was later vindicated. From all valuations, there was no way the election could have been held with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru M. Jega admitting to poor supervision, and process unpreparedness.

Kerry was also criticized for overreaction – acting without adequate information from reliable agencies from the United States monitoring the developments. For example, shortly after Kerry’s release, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a United States nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide in collaboration with International Republican Institute (IRI) issued their report contradicting the secretary’s position on the issue.

This time, again, Kerry may have misled America with his senseless Nigeria’s visit. He may have goofed in his misguided Sokoto adventure. With Nigeria’s current governance predicament; the first major question would be, when has the Sultan become the country’s spokesperson on matters of corruption, security, the state of the economy? If the Sultan was a force in coordinating fights against terrorism and sectarian violence, why is Northern Nigeria in such a security mess?

If Kerry was serious about using traditional or religious rulers to boost his Nigeria’s security agenda, he could have visited the Chiefs in the Delta region also, where pollution perpetrated by major United States oil companies have ravaged many communities; and where government forces have been engaging local militants in bloody battles. Kerry also forgot to visit the Religious leaders or historically prominent chiefs in the Southern zones where the Fulani herdsmen armed by the regime destroy farmlands, and communities; and fatally attack individuals and families at will with sophisticated weapons.

The fact is that Kerry does not get it. His visit contradicted the very U.S. policy he endorsed. Earlier this month, the U.S. government through Kerry’s own office placed a danger alert on 20 States in Nigeria over security fears in the affected areas, claiming a lack of confidence in the Nigerian Army – to guarantee the safety of its citizens. The states affected were; Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

With these states including those in the South-South and South-East, why does Kerry think that a visit on security with just the Sultan of Sokoto, and then all Northern governors were appropriate? How would Kerry’s visit to Sokoto solidify a bilateral relationship between Nigeria and United States? Is John Kerry actually representing the United States or is he serving some incomprehensible interests?

♦ Author, Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D. is the publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.

Aisha Buhari’s Fraud Case – Governor Ayo Fayose was Absolutely Right

There were jubilations last week among Nigerians loyal to the Buhari regime. Initially, one would have ascribed their joy to possibly, a miraculous

turnaround of the country’s current economic predicament; or a solution to severe food crisis that is claiming lives in the North; but none of those happened. Allies of the regime were actually celebrating the First Lady, Aisha Buhari for successfully visiting the United States of America, amidst speculations of her arrest over a high profile fraud case she was listed as an accomplice.

For clarity, Mrs. Buhari’s involvement in the money laundering case involving a former United States congressman, William J. Jefferson has never been in doubt. Jefferson was sentenced to 13 years in prison 2009 for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in a case that also involved a former Nigerian vice president Atiku Abubakar and the wife, Jennifer Douglas Abubakar. Documents from the United States Justice Department clearly revealed that Aisha Buhari was used as conduit and engaged in fraudulent wire transfers from her Nigerian account in favor of Congressman Jefferson via the ANJ Group LLC. (See complete Government’s Sentencing Memorandum).

So why would a case that has irrefutably been in the public domain since 2009 reemerge with such distracting controversy? In a heated political exchange late June, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose had questioned Mrs. Buhari’s integrity, citing her involvement in the Jefferson’s fraud, and challenging her to travel to the United States as a proof of innocence. Fayose was right in his challenge for several reasons; Mrs. Buhari and others listed as witnesses in the case had avoided the United States for fear of prosecution. For instance, Atiku Abubakar and his wife were subpoenaed by a federal court in Virginia, but a district judge declined to request the U.S. government to invoke an accord with Nigeria to facilitate the process. Mrs. Buhar’s possible indictment in the scam was thus left pending.

Aish_2 — Fayose (left), Mrs. Buhari…. Documents from the United States Justice Department clearly revealed that Aisha Buhari was used as conduit and engaged in fraudulent wire transfers from her Nigerian account in favor of Congressman Jefferson via the ANJ Group LLC.

This was why Mrs. Buhari had avoided the United States and in fact, declined all formal invitations for major events with flimsy excuses. She had cancelled her scheduled trip for the World First Ladies’ Conference in Colorado; she equally skipped a similar U.S. invitations August 2015, when she was scheduled to lead four other First Ladies; from Ghana, Mozambique, Gambia and Rwanda to Houston for a conference about African women in leadership.

Fayose’s challenge embarrassed the regime and raised a credibility question that contradicted Buhari’s wobbly campaign against fraud. To save face, the regime embarked on an image-cleaning scheme of the First lady, and invoked counter measures against the Governor. In this process, Mrs. Buhari through the regime had instigated a media campaign, claiming it was a different “Aisha Buhari” that was mentioned in the case; then she turned around and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Governor.

To further clear the grounds for a U.S. visit of the First Lady, the regime engaged pricey government lobbyists and legal advisors to explore Aisha’s foreign immunity options under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). FSIA –defines the jurisdiction of United States courts in suits against foreign states – where a foreign state generally is immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of another sovereign state.

The truth however, is that all Nigerian witnesses and accomplices, including Mrs. Buhari did not corporate with investigations and court orders then, leaving the case wide open for further action. Mrs. Buhari finally visited the United States because the regime found out she was not going to be arrested. To add to the drama, she had falsely announced that the reason for her visit was to hold discussions with aid organizations on how to help the women and children facing starvation in the north eastern part of Nigeria. Critics differ and took to the social media, lampooning her for lavishing millions of Dollars to paint the wrong image of the high profile fraud case she was involved in.

Aisha Buhari’s visit to the U.S. not a proof of innocence – State Department Sources

Furthermore, it must be noted that Buhari backed off from an acceptance by the U.S. to assist Nigeria in locating and returning funds stolen by corrupt government officials. This was because core members of his administration, allies, past Nigeria leaders, and also his own wife could be indicted if the United States would proceed.

As a top official of the States Department noted, Aisha’s visit is neither “a guilty verdict nor a proof of innocence. The simple fact is that her case is open, and she has not yet been indicted for specific reasons, so she’s entitled to visit.” Therefore, the Governor was absolutely right – Aisha has a case to answer in the United States and indictment is a matter of time, the law, and the scope of diplomatic immunity.

♦ Anthony Ogbo, Ph.D. is the Publisher of Houston, TX – based International Guardian

Mobsters in the Upper House: The Shame of Dino Melaye and Oluremi Tinu

THE adage that one can take the man out of the slum, but cannot take the slum out of the man may sound derogatory, but basically denotes the role behavior plays in the living standards. Good character and governance are inseparable as fundamental hallmarks of performance effectiveness. Behavior might essentially outline how public servants engage themselves, their people, and their responsibilities to better serve their constituents. Thus, to the public servant, integrity as the seal of the moral intellect remains a vital trait in sustaining organizational success. Unfortunately and most ironically, these values of moral maturity have been totally ignored in the very public service cultures where they are most needed.

Recently in the Nigerian Senate, the activities of public affairs have been drenched in a bitter feud between two supposedly honorable members of the All Progressive Congress, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, (Lagos Central) and Dino Melaye (Kogi West). In the past weeks, both lawmakers have fought tangibly in the most violent manner, and at some point engaged in verbal cruelty of each other. They further took their bouts to the streets among hired tugs and rented hungry protesters; and to make it worse, engaged various media houses in their conflicts.

It is shameful that the Senate is engulfed in such brawl in a country currently sliding into economic disaster. Just last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signaled a warning about Nigeria’s path to economic recession. Inflation has hit an 11-year high of 16.5 percent in June with the prices of food and energy jumping off the roof. The international humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger has requested an immediate intervention of activities in parts of the country where intense terrorism conflicts have left refugees totally cut off from humanitarian assistance. In fact, the Nigerian Government has called for nutrition emergency, prompting the United Nations and aid agencies to propose rapid needs assessments to reach families suffering without shelter, food, water, or emergency health and nutrition assistance.

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Yet Tinubu and Melaye had spent the past weeks fighting one another with disgraceful allegations, and fabricating contemptible lies to undo each other. For instance, Tinubu, had written the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and seeking protection from Melaye. She had equally petitioned Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, demanding sanctions against Melaye for threats and harassment.

Melaye took to the media, accusing Tinubu, of paying women activists to protest against him. There was actually a protest. Some women in Lagos, Tinubu’s home state, had taken to the streets to protest what they called a “verbal attack on Senator Remi Tinubu” by Melaye. Malaye however responded in a social media posting, writing in part, “Women were killed in Kano and Abuja and Mrs. Tinubu is the chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs. She did not organise protest over these killings. Mrs. Tinubu has not protested against the skyrocketed price of tomatoes in the market. In the same vein, kerosene is now over N200 per litre and she didn’t organized any protest to that effect. “Instead, she has taken advantage of the prevailing poverty in the land to hire hungry women in the land to partake in an unproductive protest against Dino Melaye,”

These horrible events underscore the caliber of leaders that represents some constituencies in Nigeria. Both Tinubu and Melaye are not new to controversies. About four months ago, an anti-corruption coalition group, The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Senator Melaye, citing a flamboyant lifestyle apparently sustained with public funds.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her own part is not as angelic as she might look. Besides being the wife of a former Lagos State governor prior to her current position, Tinubu has no concrete public service record; yet she has remained an embarrassment in the Upper House; displaying an extended cord of gutter attitudes. She has made her case as an undomesticated bully.

Melaye had initially presented himself as an anti-graft campaigner whereas his lifestyle and activities of the public reflects the opposite. He might also be familiar with issues of women abuse. For example, Melaye’s ex-wife of 10 years, Tokunbo was said to have filed for divorce with shocking claims that he beat her up and pointed a gun to her head.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu on her own part is not as angelic as she might look. Besides being the wife of a former Lagos State governor, she has no concrete public service record; yet she has remained an embarrassment in the Upper House; displaying an extended cord of gutter attitudes. She has made her case as an undomesticated bully. For instance, her character toward honorable colleagues she does not agree with illustrates her gangster demeanor – a combination of street arrogance and primitivism. In June 2015, Tinubu made the headlines when she snubbed an official greeting of the newly emerged Senate President, Mr. Saraki during the swearing in of some lawmakers. November 2015, Tinubu again made the headlines when she sat on the seat reserved for deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu in a legislative session. She created this ugly scene, and as usual kept media outlets busy with her stupidity.

The Senate is not flea market; it is not an amusement park either. It is a legislative chamber of the parliament accorded with very critical duties and responsibilities of the government. In a country currently on the verge of economic recession borne out of a derail in the political system supervision, the least anybody would expect from lawmakers would be about members brawling over issues that are absolutely unrelated to the affairs of the government. As stated earlier, trawling out a man out of a gutter is one thing, but taking the gutter out of the man remains a near mission impossible. There are many Tinubus and Melayes elected or appointed into the Nigeria’s public service system, and the masses, as usual, would continue to suffer the consequences.

■ Dr. Ogbo, the author of Governance Buhari’s Way is the Publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.

Lowering the rhetoric – why activists must listen to Mayor Turner and soften their tongues

Figures still show a law enforcement structure and practice unfavorable to the African-American populace. For instance, it is evident that black people are still more heavily policed. This is to say that if a black person and a white person each commit a crime, the black person is more likely to be arrested. Similarly, when black people are arrested for a crime, they are convicted more often than white people arrested for the same offence; or even are more likely to be sentenced to incarceration compared to their white counterparts.

But such disturbing disparity in law enforcement remains more of a legislative challenge than an outmoded tit-for-tat business. On December 18, 2014, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The focus was to seek knowledge from stakeholders and public involvement to identify best practices in the police process. The Task Force submitted an initial report to the President on March 2, 2015 and released the final report on May 18, 2015.

In May 2016, the Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) of the United States Department of Justice launched the Advancing 21st Century Policing Initiative, which provided operational supports to a regiment of police agencies. This project has since produced supervisory resources for various police agencies to advance best practices.

In April, 2016, Houston launched a deployment of body cameras to police officers making it the largest city to deploy such device for police activities. About 4,100 body cams was projected to be deployed to patrol officers over a 12 to 18 months period. Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner said the cameras would protect the public and the officers. He was right.

These strides however do not totally eliminate numerous challenges various communities face with the law enforcement. Just recently, for example, the shooting deaths of two black men within days by police officers have again provoked a wave of such cases that have created numerous protests nationwide in recent months. A Minnesota officer fatally shot a 32-year-old man, Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, a St. Paul suburb. A day earlier, 37-year-old Alton Sterling was equally shot and killed during a confrontation with two police officers outside a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, convenience store where he was selling discs of music and movies. A cellphone video of Sterling’s shooting posted online by a community activist set off heated protests.

Among thousands of reactions from prominent persons over the recent feud between the members of the law enforcement and the community in different parts of the country, a plea by Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner stood out distinctively as what might actually create a neutral ground to again resume a peaceable discourse. At a press conference on Friday, Mayor Turner in a more conciliatory tone, appealed “Let’s lower the rhetoric and be mindful of what we post on social media. A house divided against itself cannot stand.” There is every reason why America should listen to this Mayor.

In downright retaliation, some individuals angered by the commotion and killings had turned the triggers against police officers in what has now turned the entire country into a horrifying enclave of insanity and bereavement. A sniper attack in Dallas left five officers dead and six more injured in what is believed to be the deadliest day in the history of the Dallas Police Department.

Similar attacks have also been reported in other parts of the country. Police say officers have been targeted in Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri. The Tennessee attack occurred hours before the Dallas carnage. The reasons behind the ambush attacks of the police in Georgia and Missouri are still being investigated, but most likely to be connected with the same killing of civilians in Minnesota and Louisiana.

The increasing feud between the community and members of the law enforcement, without doubt, has taken a different dimension in recent years, even as different organizations and government agencies collaborate on solutions. Discussion forums and campaigns to explore avenues for a more conducive police-community environment linger, but facilitators have often played down on the power of rhetoric in the escalating tension. Some community forums rather than advocate a rapport, have focused on the people’s rights to stand their grounds against the law enforcement. To make it worse, some activists have selfishly injected persuasive catchphrases in the social media to escalate the existing tension, while they would turn around to enjoy the publicity generated out of fear and hot emotions they instigate.

Mckesson could be seen on news videos restfully posing for the cameras while he was held by the cops, and saying, “I’m under arrest, y'all!” It was obvious he was enjoying his arrest and excited about the fact that he would use the video clips for his social media self-gratifying campaign. — McKesson… He was be seen on news videos restfully posing for the cameras while he was held by the cops, and saying, “I’m under arrest, y’all!” It was obvious he was enjoying his arrest and excited about the fact that he would use the video clips for his social media self-gratifying campaign.

While community members who feel connected to these campaign catchwords are busy chanting their voices off on the streets, some activists seek other motives. For instance, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, DeRay Mckesson, after he generated enough fund and popularity I his street activism, turned around and announced that he would run for mayor of Baltimore, his hometown. His decision angered critics and colleagues who accused him of double standard. Others accused him of using a charitable movement to selfishly seek a political career.

It is therefore not a surprise that Mckesson was among 100 others taken into custody Sunday in Baton Rouge, after protesters took to the streets to denounce the recent killings. Mckesson could be seen on news videos restfully posing for the cameras while he was held by the cops, and saying, “I’m under arrest, y’all!” It was obvious he was enjoying his arrest and excited about the fact that he would use the video clips for his social media self-gratifying campaign.

It is evident that black people are still more heavily policed. This is to say that if a black person and a white person each commit a crime, the black person is more likely to be arrested.

The truth is that the power of harsh rhetoric has a major influence on the deteriorating relationship between the community and the police, and some people out there are really taking advantage of these blood-spattered moments to build their political careers. Language has been known to be the most ancient persuasion tool. Noted Plato, the famous Classical Greek philosopher, “Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men.” The skillful manipulation of communal issues through bombastic slogans was big business in Elizabethan era where the power of words is invoked to deal with fundamental sociopolitical engagements. Today, the world has thoroughly changed to a diverse village where language is no longer used as a verbal ammunition, but are composed to build bridges across communities, the people, and their environment.

Respect and support for the law enforcement is not negotiable; respect means, simply, obeying the police while they are on duty, and support means providing them with necessary tools and training to effectively carry out their duties.

The role of the law enforcement in the community is evidently indispensable and could never be diminished through self-gratifying activism and street violence. It would be hypocritical for community activists and celebrities to post incisive phrases in the social media over the behaviors of a few bad officers, then turn around to sympathize with the police after their members are taken down by the same people they protect. How does the philosophy of “No justice! No peace” fit into a non-violent remonstration category? Where there is no peace, violence automatically rules.

The current war against the law enforcement would not work, but a dialogue on creating a structure to eliminate lapses in the enforcement system remains a sensible approach. Report from the National Emergency Number Association indicates that an estimated 240 million calls are made to 9-1-1 in the U.S. each year. One cannot afford to be twitting hate words against the police on one hand and calling the 911 for help on another hand.

Respect and support for the law enforcement is not negotiable; respect means, simply, obeying the police while they are on duty, and support means providing them with necessary tools and training to effectively carry out their duties. The community activists who raise funds to instruct the community about their rights to challenge the law could as well educate them on simple ways to obey the police at traffic stops and other interrogatory circumstances. It might be right to teach a teenagers how to record police activities with smart phones, but it would also make sense to educate them on how not to wrestle or resist armed officers of the law.

As author, Thomas Sowell wrote, “Freedom has cost too much blood and agony to be relinquished at the cheap price of rhetoric.” Thus, those unscrupulous political activists, and social media snipers who amorally instigate or take advantage of awful bloody moments may listen to Houston’s Mayor Turner and levelheadedly lower down the rhetoric. This would clear the ground for an all-encompassing dialogue toward constructive solutions.

Dr. Anthony Obi Ogbo is the Publisher of Houston’s International Guardian, and the author of “The Influence of Leadership” You may follow International Guardian on FB by clicking >>>>

Ailing Nigerian President survives the emergency room swaggering

Out of action Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja on Sunday from a 14-day emergency trip to London over his deteriorating health condition, bragging about his fitness. Teasingly but in a more defensive tone, the 73-year-old neatly dressed chap looking pale and washed-out told reporters, “I’m ok. You can see me inspecting the guard of honor,” and further in the local Hausa language, added: “I’m strong, if you want to wrestle with me, let’s wrestle.” So what is funny?

Severe health issues had grounded President Buhari for about two weeks before he was rushed out to London for an emergency treatment. He was perceived to be suffering a hearing loss with possibly a ruptured ear drum. The presidency said Buhari went to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist in the British capital as a precautionary measure, but critics countered that such conditions should not have required an oversea treatment. Buhari was initially expected back in Nigeria on Thursday, but fresh concern about his health woes prompted a delayed return.

The puzzle surrounding Bihari’s has remained unresolved, with speculations swirling for months about severity of the diagnosis. In the past month or so, Nigerians have been vocal expressing concerns about President Buhari’s appearances. As he inspected his so called guard of honor yesterday, he struggled with his steps and composure to fake an impeccable fitness; his weakening vigor exposed a gangling body frame enclosed in an oversized traditional outfit to possibly cover up revealing skeletal contours. Yet President Buhari in total disregard of his constituents, did not address his 14-day emergency exit. He snubbed discussions on why he was specifically rushed out, where he was rushed to and more significantly, his medical diagnosis, and the health facility he dwelled.

President Buhari….. The presidency said Buhari went to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist in the British capital as a precautionary measure, but critics countered that such conditions should not have required an oversea treatment. Buhari was initially expected back in Nigeria on Thursday, but fresh concern about his health woes prompted a delayed return.

Prior to President Buhari’s unexpected departure, the media adviser, Femi Adesina had fabricated lies to the nation just to suppress his deteriorating health. When hours later, the news of Buhari’s worsening health broke out, Adesina quickly issued a release admitting that the President was indeed sick and would be flown out for medical treatment.

President Buhari and his aides in Aso Rock must not feel bad about his poor health condition. Being sick or falling sick in office is not a violation of the law, but an unfortunate condition allowed in the labor system. However, as the president, his constituents have the right to know exactly what is wrong with his health; where he was admitted, and the progress of his ailment. But here we are, stuck with an arrogant leader who makes multiple trips abroad over unexplained health matters, and blaming his constituents for asking questions.

For clarity, people who survive sickbeds do not swagger toughness, they thank Allah for survival. And also, this claim that some Nigerians want their President dead because they simply questioned his physical and mental capacity to lead is ridiculous. I must tell you that Nigerians, despite their poor social, political, and economic conditions, are prayerful people who at all times pray for their dear country and some incompatibly, irresponsible leaders. They do not want President Buhari dead; they are only invoking a divine intervention of a leadership suit occupied by clueless individuals unable to move their country forward. They are lamenting an ineffectual but sick president occupying an executive office beyond his physical and knowledge capacity. In the past, more than once, poor Nigerian masses have equally made such requests, and God responded. This time around, only time will tell.

Dr. Ogbo, author of Governance Buhari’s Way is the publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.

Nigerian politicians, other public servants truly visit the U.S. to have sex

James Entwhistle's memo accused Mohammed Garba Gololo of — James Entwhistle’s memo accused Mohammed Garba Gololo of “allegedly grabbing a housekeeper in his hotel room and soliciting her for sex”, while Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon “allegedly requesting hotel parking attendants to assist them with prostitutes”.

The group of Nigerian politicians accused of both groping a hotel attendant, and trying to solicit prostitutes that might of been working at websites similar to www.tubev.sex at the time, while visiting the United States have threatened to sue the United States embassy for reporting the alleged incidents. However, these disgraceful conducts are not new, and are very familiar with most visiting Nigerian public officers.

U.S. Envoy James Entwhistle had written a letter, that three of the 10-man delegation to a good governance exchange program in Cleveland, Ohio, had allegedly been involved in behavior that “left a very negative impression of Nigeria”. His memo accused Mohammed Garba Gololo of “allegedly grabbing a housekeeper in his hotel room and soliciting her for sex”, while Mark Terseer Gbillah and Samuel Ikon “allegedly requesting hotel parking attendants to assist them with prostitutes”. But the three politicians blatantly denied the accusations, asking for both a retraction and apology.

But the truth be told, that most Nigeria public officers, especially their lawmakers actually visit the United States to have sex. They must have seen some of the videos on somewhere like www.hdmmovies.xxx and decided that they want a piece of that themselves. I am not going to beat around the bush on this issue, but would present myself as a witness that these folks, when they visit, pay the least attention to their official duties while they spend most times wandering with hired prostitutes having sex; shopping the malls, and hopping from restaurants to bars in the most disgraceful manner.

Responsible members of parliament who attend governance programs could at least come back, armed with the skills on translating their trainings into strategies to deliver public service excellence. They could be talking about relevant tools of effective governance and how to strategically apply them to their daily official tasks. Unfortunately and most disappointedly, this is not what the world is hearing. What we are here talking about is prostitution; some sex-hungry public officers holding their crotches and walking around the parking lots looking for where to buy sex. Here we are, debating irresponsible house members flirting with janitors and groping hotel room attendants – the same behaviors they get away with in Nigeria. Maybe what they should have done is stay in their hotel rooms gone online and visitied https://www.nu-bay.com/categories/557/masturbation and watch some adult movies instead, far better behaviour for a visiting dignitary

The whole story stinks, when in total disgrace of their office and constituents, some Nigerian lawmakers and other public officers retain pricey escorts (prostitutes) in different foreign cities through Nigerian cab and limousine drivers who coordinate the trade. In 2015, a Nigerian married woman who claimed she escaped a rape encounter from a Nigerian visiting dignitary, accused a Nigerian limousine driver of luring her to the hotel (Holiday Inn Express, Room 204, on Southwest Freeway) where the incident took place. She accused the limousine driver (name withheld at this time) of blackmailing women and luring them to sleep with visiting Nigeria dignitaries.

A local prostitute once walked into a local Houston store with some traveler’s check asking the clerk if they were real money. She was upset that one of her “honorable” visiting Nigerian customers paid her with travelers’ check because he ran out of dollar bills. These are just a few out of many horrible stories about Nigeria public officers who visit the United States to disgrace their country.

A local prostitute once walked into a local Houston store with some traveler’s check asking the clerk if they were real money. She was upset that one of her “honorable” visiting Nigerian customers paid her with travelers’ check because he ran out of dollar bills. These are just a few out of many horrible stories about Nigeria public officers who visit the United States to disgrace their country.

I am not finished. It may also interest the world to know that a former Nigerian president while in office has agents in Houston and Atlanta who supplied him with prostitutes whenever he visited. Same period, a member of the National Assembly who in fact, heads a committee connected to oil and gas once took an escort from Houston to Nigeria with a marriage proposal. The escort claimed the lawmaker “abandoned” her in Benin while he was in Abuja doing other women. She came back to Houston with a large monetary compensation, and told International Guardian, “I’m happy with the settlement, so I had to let that slide.”

In Houston, Texas where people from all over the world visit every May for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), the rate of delegates who indulge in sex with prostitutes got so disgraceful that the Harris County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning and threatened to prosecute any delegate caught buying or selling sex. Some Nigeria delegates to this conference are also notoriously known for using cab and limousine drivers to shop prostitutes. Some escorts even brag about contact lists of their customers from Nigerian, mostly top government officials and politicians.

Therefore, the incidents at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel sounds very familiar. The accused officials are strongly denying the allegations. One of them, Mr Gbillah, dismissed the allegations as baseless attempt to tarnish the reputation of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. But the big question would be why anybody in a Hotel in Cleveland would want to tarnish the reputation of Nigeria’s House of Representatives? We are not talking ISIS or Boko Haram but supposedly honorable members of House of Representatives.

I am glad that our honorable parliamentary members involved in this scandal attended governance programs. If they paid adequate attention in their classes or conferences, they could have learnt that one of principles of good governance is taking responsibility. It simply means that rather than suffuse the social media with excuses about their irresponsible behaviors, they could own up, apologize to their country and their constituents, and resign from their offices. Furthermore, these cases would rightly serve as a good lesson to arrogant and irresponsible public officers unfamiliar with the system in foreign lands.

Dr. Ogbo is the publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.

Nigeria might be spiritually haunted by the blood of Biafra’s genocide victims

The entire regions in Nigeria have been miserable recently. Since this year, this country has witnessed the ruggedness of fiscal austerity, borne out of inability of the ruling class to strategize on a constructive economic policy.

In the last few days however, the sociopolitical trauma and misery that plagued Nigeria have basically nothing to do with an excruciating economic hardship. The country is fundamentally going through what may be considered the “May Day” effect. This circle comes every May 30 – the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra. Each May 30 period, Nigeria shivers of guilt and frustrated conscience; tormented by their total lack of remorse and scorn of a crime against the Igbos.

Biafra was proclaimed on May 30, 1967. Monday, the anniversary of the declaration of an independent Republic of Biafra, Nigeria, again trembled in confusion – especially when the President, Muhammadu Buhari took part in this genocide that terminated millions, including defenseless children who were starved to death in a failed bid to terminate the Igbo race from the face of the earth.

Even with a “No Victor-No Vanquish” declaration after the war in 1970 by the head of state, General Gowon (retired), the Igbos have been systematically denied their rights of true Nigerian citizenship; they have been socially and economically castigated by various regimes threatened by their ingenuity; they have in fact, been prohibited from discussing this war as well as reflecting on their terrifying plights.

Children victims of starvation. Most of them later died of starvation. Yet officers who took part in this genocide would write books where they bragged about their various commands, whereas families of victims would be prosecuted for simply expressing their tribulations. — Children victims of starvation. Most of them later died. Yet officers who took part in this genocide would write books where they bragged about their various commands, whereas families of victims would be prosecuted for simply expressing their tribulations.

Various regimes have been consistent with either destroying or suppressing war documents and narratives to cover-up proofs of mass slaughter and shield their individual roles. Even as history of wars of other countries are integrated in the Nigeria’s learning system, the government would always proscribed scholarly dissertations of her own civil war, as ‘hate message’.

For instance, officers who took part in this genocide would write books where they bragged about their various commands, whereas families of victims would be prosecuted for simply expressing their tribulations. Monday in Ebonyi State, the police arrested some priests who were conducting an inter-denominational service for members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). More than 200 armed officers had stormed the church, midway into the service and arrested the priests and other members. At Nkpor-Agu in Anambra State, the Nigerian Military attacked members of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), who were celebrating this anniversary.

In his own explanation in the past, President Buhari had actually said that Biafra was a hate word, and that mere mention of the name “Biafra” threatens peace and stability in the populace.

To pacify his prejudice of the Biafra’s issue, he had singlehandedly influenced the legal process in arrest and prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu, a United Kingdom-based political activist the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Kanu, it may be recalled was once granted bail by an Abuja Federal High Court, but was re-arrested with a fresh charge of treasonable felony. According to President Buhari, Kanu had smuggled equipment into the country just to preach hate messages.

It also might be interesting to know that in the Eastern Nigeria, still chastised by the system for being “Biafrans”, individuals are categorized as insurgents and jailed for as much as seven years for possession of handguns, whereas cattle herdsmen from the North walk around with assault rifles terrorizing villages. Also, organizations from the East –side, peacefully demonstrating for their social needs and interests are manhandled by ruthless security forces, whereas Buhari’s regime categorizes the Boko Haram terrorists as “misguided” brethren, releasing suspects from various jail houses and granting them amnesties. The regime has since procured comfortable camps to rehabilitate these members of one of world’s deadliest terrorist organization.

Leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu attends a trial on February 9, 2016. He was denied bail. Kanu, it may be recalled was once granted bail by an Abuja Federal High Court, but was re-arrested with a fresh charge of treasonable felony. According to President Buhari, Kanu had smuggled equipment into the country just to preach hate messages.

With this ruthlessly narrow-minded approach to handling issues related to Biafra, Nigeria’s pursuit for true unity has always, miserably remained in obscurity. President Buhari has arrogantly shown a disregard for democratic rights of thought, opinion, and expression of the Igbos; he has outlawed their rights of assembly, and demonstration; and to make it worse, he has clogged their access to justice – leaving them totally detached from the anchor of national unity.

Beyond a ruthless disregard by this regime, the circumstances surrounding Biafra’s struggle are facing other major challenges. For instance, most Nigerians believe that the term ‘Biafra’ stands for secession or revolt, and therefore, sees any person that raises the Biafran flag, or wears a Biafran tee-shirt as a secessionist. Yet, most Nigerians who witnessed this civil war from places other than Biafra saw with their naked eyes, the evils that were committed on this population. These Nigerians are a living testimony that the easterners who struggled for the Biafran state in the 60s wanted nothing other than their rights of self-existence and protection from a region where they were used, abused, hated, and frequently killed.

Today, the political landscape has totally changed, and Nigerians, and indeed the ruling class must understand that celebrating or advocating Biafra should not be ignorantly misread as a call to breakup Nigeria, but must be embraced as a mission for a needed dialogue on how Nigeria could be structured for better governance. Let it be known then that resourcefulness of the Biafran fraternity lies in her strength to stand their grounds; their ingenuity to weather a hostile political terrain; and their capacity to defend what they believe in. Thus, until Nigeria as a country respects citizens’ cause and advocacy for their interests, a peaceful and united region would be completely unattainable.

Until the leaders of this country righty create the necessary dialogue to address “Biafra” and reconcile the wishes of survivors of this genocide, the blood and spirit of millions of victims of this war would always torment the ruling system with policy disaster, service ambiguity and sociopolitical misery.

Nigeria ought to be worried that since the end of the war in 1970, this country is still struggling with leadership; dwindling from military coup to military coup – civilian regime to civilian regime; and unable to provide the very basic amenities to the citizens. Until the leaders of this country righty create the necessary dialogue to address “Biafra” and reconcile the wishes of survivors of this genocide, the blood and spirit of millions of victims of this war would always torment the ruling system with policy disaster, service ambiguity and sociopolitical misery.

Dr. Ogbo is the publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.

Houston’s All Saints Anglican: Don’t you think The Guardian deserves an apology?

All Saints Anglican Church, the largest Anglican Church built by a Nigerian congregation in North America has been cobwebbed with internal conflicts since 2010, costing tens of thousands in legal fees and causing the Parish to split at least twice into other factions now operating as different Anglican churches.

Today, the issues at the All Saints get worse by the hour, with different cliques and factions fighting each other to the extreme. Just a few weeks ago, the Parish was on the local TV news showing an angry faction demonstrating their concerns with the church management.

But this is really not the reason for this piece. Here is my reason for revisiting matters of the All Saints Anglican. Since August 2015 till date, calls about the present issues at the All Saints have bombarded our newsroom, with individuals asking for a media coverage of their persisting internal squabbles.

These calls were normal. For instance, International Guardian has always championed investigative stories on crucial community matters. Furthermore, the establishment of the All Saints Anglican Church had a compelling story that resonated with the Nigerian immigrants, their struggle for identity, and their survival in a society where immigration is often a taboo topic. These were why The Guardian took the bull by the horn in its previous coverages of the All Saints.

These media coverages however attracted so much resentment by those not favored by our reports. They declared war against the newspaper and went as far as making an announcement during a church service; asking members to visit local stores and destroy every Guardian publication. Also, advertising clients were persuaded to cut off ties with the paper. But this was around 2012.

Surprisingly today, these same individuals who vowed to destroy the Guardian (but could not) are the same folks calling our news room to again request a coverage of their latest ordeal – exactly the same ordeal revealed by the Guardian almost four years ago.

Sounds strange, but those who actually went to the stores destroying copies of the Guardian years ago are the same folks seen on the TV demonstrating what our reports warned them about back then.

Organizational challenges might be paramount to progress because good leadership evaluates issues and iniquities of the past as the parameter in managing the present and the future. In the apostolic fraternity however, Christians clear their guilty consciences through genuine repentance and confession to seek God’s compassionate forgiveness and salvation.

These are facts about spirituality; thus, Christian often fall from issues to issues when they conceal their transgressions with some nonchalant forgive-and-forget “let’s move on” lyrics; or when they seek resolution through a complicated court process rather than a Bible-based mediation forum or consensus. No wonder, the book of Proverbs (28:13) specifically hinted that whoever that conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

The questions thus arise on whether the warring members of the All Saints would seek ways other than a shameful street fighting; legal wrangling; verbal and physical abuses; destructive gossips and individual unforgiving spirits to solve their internal concerns? Would these warring members settle for a spiritual retreat and kneel before the Holy Ghost for a spiritual intervention; over uncontrolled broiling anger of congregants in a Parish that has turned the alter of God into a damaging wrestling and boxing ring?

While we all join hands and pray for this miracle, one more thing may be appropriate. I think that The Guardian deserves a little apology from the Houston All Saints community – or what do you think? I can take those calls anytime, and I’m never on long distance.

■ Dr. Ogbo is the publisher of International Guardian based in Houston, Texas: anthony@guardiannews.us

Tavis Smiley’s “Black Vote” sham and the Africa-American community

It is no longer surprising that this author and television host, Tavis Smiley shows up during presidential campaign periods with either a new book on Black votes, or announces an “advocacy tour on poverty”.

In the 2008 presidential campaign, for instance, he took advantage of the campaign period to promote his book “The Covenant with Black America.” Again, just before the 2012 Presidential Election, Smiley felt that, late in 2011 was a good time to bargain his personal interests with the voting public. He then teamed up with another confused activist and a Princeton professor, Cornel West to resume what they called ‘Poverty Tour.’ This project crashed.

This has been the regular trend for Smiley, and so, the present presidential season (2016), is no different. Just a few days ago, Smiley showed up with another “attention-grabber”, in his usual fashion, to intimidate the candidates with a so called “Black Votes” designed to woo them with non-existent demographic theories.

He spoke to Yahoo News and Finance Anchor, Bianna Golodryga about his new book, “50 for Your Future: Lessons from down the Road,” and offered unsubstantiated thoughts about the state of the 2016 presidential campaign, and where the candidates stood with black voters. Among all Presidential candidates, Smiley thinks that Bernie Sanders was the only trusted candidate because he was clear on talking about poverty, income inequality, and economic immobility. Then on President Obama’s legacy in terms of race and Black America, Smiley said, “Historians are going to have a hard time trying to juxtapose this reality – how, in the era of the first black president, the bottom fell out for black America.”

The issues about candidates and the prevalent political landscape are not complicated at all. People are listening. From women, the youth, Hispanics, to other demographic segments, the electorates are watching the candidates and are making decisions based on their specific interests. Therefore, African Americans might not need any middleman or agent to assist them with making their choices about the candidates.

Whereas every individual has a right to his or her communal advocacy, we must be clear in categorizing our roles as community leaders and activists, to ensure that it actually serves public interests, as against selfish interests. Credible community activists always put the community first. This is why famous activists like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, and thousands of others secured special positions in the Nation’s history of civil rights, social, and political actions.

These days, however, with individuals like Smiley, the practice of community advocacy has been distorted into a bargaining venture for greener pastures. It has become a ground for unscrupulous media opportunists, composing falsehood and instigating uncertainty, while they take advantage of their vulnerable communities to pursue self-centered political careers or business interests. It is appalling to note, that Smiley only goes public with his campaigns to coincide with the general election, and they are usually tagged to either a book launch, or an aimless “poverty” tours.

In the 2008 electioneering season, he had set up web sites and organized discussion forums, claiming that his book, “The Covenant with Black America” was a national plan of action to address the primary concerns of African Americans – from health to housing, from crime to criminal justice, from education to economic parity. In a despicable show of desperation and intoxication for recognition, Smiley tried to use this shambolic setup against a presidential campaign that featured the first African-American presidential nominee by any major party. That wicked plan also failed miserably.

With individuals like Smiley, the practice of community advocacy has been distorted into a bargaining venture for greener pastures. It has become a ground for unscrupulous media opportunists, composing falsehood and instigating uncertainty, while they take advantage of their vulnerable communities to pursue self-centered political careers or business interests.

As if that was not enough, Smiley showed up again just before the 2012 Presidential Election, to resume his President Obama witch-hunting. He teamed up with another confused activist, and a Princeton professor, Cornel West to initiate their so called ‘Poverty Tour.’ Both Smiley and West said they hoped to jump-start a national conversation about poverty and political action in four battleground states before the elections. This tour crashed because it had no significant mission, but was created out of selfishness; to threaten the political landscape with their sham “Black vote” crusade and take advantage of the moment.

The campaign season is here again. The priority for any credible community advocate that is passionate about the African-American communities should be how to inspire the community’s collective civic participation in the socio-political process. Activists and Community advocates should be concerned about preparing their community for massive voter-turnouts. Community Advocates who are genuinely interested in their communities should, most definitely not be taking advantage of voter vulnerability by selling books, or swaging uncorroborated poll theories. The one thing that is crystal clear in this constant, consistent, and predictable display of desperation is that Smiley does not represent anybody or the community he claims to promote. Smiley represents himself alone. Using the concerns of the African American community as a trick to bargain political interests or boost a shaky media career would further cripple his credibility.

Is John Kerry actually representing the United States or is he serving some incomprehensible interests?

Aisha Buhari’s visit to the U.S. not a proof of innocence – State Department Sources

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