Afrigather Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN has stated that he’s deep concern over the extent at which Africa is shifting backwards, stressing that Africa must save itself from imperialism and neo-colonization by having a united entrance to problem the West.
Falana, who can be a human rights activist made this name whereas delivering his keynote tackle at a programme organized by Right Join Africa Basis, CCAF in commemoration of Africa Memorial Day, AMD in Lagos.
This yr’s AMD, themed ‘Routes of no Return,’ factors the place slaves in Africa had been exported to the West which was anticipated to function a reminder of the African previous and a hope for a greater future, Falana, who recalled that US President, Joe Biden when he summoned African leaders to Washington, arguing that having such form of Heads of State who had been able to go cap in palms to the West wouldn’t augur effectively for a continent that will play a number one function within the world group.
The human rights lawyer stated, “For me when you consider the previous, it will be troublesome to chart a course for Africa due to the form of rulers now we have.
“I questioned why Nigeria had been relegated, the nation was not a part of the world motion and Nigeria just isn’t a part of the world motion immediately. What’s the world motion? It’s a new motion to ‘de-dollarize’ the world economic system.
“A bunch of countries known as the BRIC (representing Brazil, Russia, India and China), we aren’t a part of it, it’s a disgrace that Nigeria just isn’t a part of them. The agenda is to have a brand new worldwide forex to problem the US greenback’s dominance. Why ought to I promote my oil and collects greenback? Why ought to now we have to be chasing {dollars} in our personal nation?
“If you wish to save Africa, we should get Africa to commerce in our personal forex. We should research the books to get Africa working,” he acknowledged.
In response to him, within the case of former Ghanaian Head of State, Kwame Nkrumah, he recalled that the ex-leader had advocated for a typical forex for Africa, saying the West condemned him and labelled him as being too formidable.
stressing that Africa must save itself from imperialism and neo-colonization by having a united entrance to problem the West.
“We should always save our nation from neo-colonization and imperialism, particularly Nigeria due to our standing within the comity of countries. We have to research our society and know why we’re the place we’re. Let’s get up from our slumber and develop our nation and continent,” human rights activist stated.
On his half, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aleakwe Odior, the Basic Coordinator of the CCAF, in his welcome tackle disclosed that the Basis organizes an annual Africa Memorial Day as a manner of retracing Africans’ previous and forging a brand new and higher entrance within the comity of countries, noting that Africa remains to be on this quagmire due to the fixed betrayals she has suffered and continues to face.
In response to him, “Statistics present that about 12.5 million, 15 million, and even as excessive as 20 million individuals, relying on the supply you need to stand by, had been uprooted from Africa into slavery within the Americas and Europe.
“Once they received to their vacation spot, the bulk had been deployed to work within the plantations, in onerous inhuman circumstances.
“In response to Ottobah Cogoano, in his e book, ‘Ideas and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery’, On the Plantations, “I and different slaves had been once more topic to the whims and cruelty of others. Slaves found consuming sugar cane are cruelly lashed, or struck over the face, to knock their enamel out” (p.126). Different slaves have their enamel pulled out, to discourage others, and to stop them from consuming any cane even earlier than they ever work within the fields (p. 126).
“I imagine we don’t need to ever encounter such remedy and dehumanizing circumstances. I don’t assume anybody with a sane thoughts would need to knowingly and freely need such an inimical and deplorable state of being. Therefore the theme of this yr’s AMD Routes of No Return.
“The Routes of No Return is a name to nationwide, continental, and diasporan consciousness, the notice of our shared brotherhood, and sisterhood as African individuals. The Ubuntu philosophy is our pure habitat. I’m as a result of we’re and we’re as a result of I’m. Allow us to return to retrieve these points of our social-cultural and non secular identification in order that we will transfer in direction of the African Renaissance.
“The African Renaissance just isn’t achievable if we’re nonetheless wallowing in tribalism, back-bitting, betrayals and many others. Speaking about betrayers, there may be an sad account Cugoano cited in his already talked about e book, “Ideas and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery,” he stated.
Fr Odior, on quoting Cugoano’s e book, stated: “The slaves agree that dying is “extra preferable than life; a plan was concerted amongst us, that we’d burn and blow up the ship, and to perish all collectively within the flames: however we had been betrayed by considered one of our countrywomen, who slept with among the headmen of the ship, for it was frequent for the filthy soiled sailors to take the African ladies and lie upon their our bodies; however the males had been chained and pent up in holes” (p. 124).”
“Fairly frankly, Africa remains to be on this quagmire, this swamp due to the fixed betrayals she has suffered and continues to face. This was brilliantly captured and articulated by the Zimbabwean freedom rights activist, Benjamin Burombo when he stated, “Every time I need to combat for African rights, I exploit just one hand as a result of the opposite hand is busy making an attempt to maintain away Africans, who’re combating me.” Nonetheless, hope is our title. There may be hope for the Africa of our desires.
“Allow us to all be impressed and pushed to maintain and honour the reminiscence of our courageous ancestors whose blood of braveness, resilience, and triumph flows in our veins! A noble option to honour them is to stay worthy of their struggles. Neglecting to heed this name is making a mockery of their struggles for the great of all,” he stated.
By Benprince Ezeh
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