Irish musician and anti-poverty activist, Sir Bob Geldof called for the sacking of three BBC journalists because BBC exposed how 95% of $100m that charities (including his charity Live Aid) raised in 1985 to combat famine in Ethiopia was 'siphoned', used to buy weapons and sponsor a coup by a rebel group. In fact, he called the BBC World Service, a 'rotten old cherry' and intends to complain to the TV/radio regulator Ofcom.
Alemayehu G. Mariam, a Professor of Political Science supported the BBC and told Geldof to "grow up" with an article headline, dubbed the scandal The Live/Band Aid-gate 2010 and called him ‘Saint Bob’ like John Hilary et al. Geldof has been criticized since he argued with the BBC. He is currently visualized as an arrogant fundraiser by some writers and online commentators.
As much as half the food aid sent to Somalia is diverted from needy people to a web of corrupt contractors, radical Islamist militants and local United Nations staff members, according to a new Security Council report.
———————————The New York Times
You can imagine where a lot of aids sent to Africa end up and why donors may just be wasting their effort. In 2009, Dambisa Moyo, the author of ‘Dead Aid’ argued that foreign aid could cause kleptocracy, dependency and "kill off the export sector" in Africa.
On the other hand, it is very sad that African Union (AU) is supposed to be modelled like the European Union (EU) but it has no direction and effective laws to govern Africa. AU members are dictators that do not interfere in each other’s policies and cannot move forward because they do not have a common goal. AU should be disbanded because it is a useless union of (mostly) undemocratic leaders. These are leaders that make the masses suffer because of lack of social benefits and refuse to develop states with revenues from crude oil and natural resources. Instead, they squander revenues into their foreign accounts and are not transparent in their mode of governance.
Africa is the poorest continent in the world. An alternative union of African states can be formed to accommodate states that are ready to have a common goal with community law but when would such a union become a reality? The stronger states should be able to help the weaker ones so that some African states would not depend on foreign charities and messiahs like Bob Geldof.
Jonathan and the Ministry of Power and ‘Steal’
Nigeria’s acting President Goodluck Jonathan refused to select a 'senior' minister for the Ministry of Power. The masses are most probably fed up of the ministry that has remained useless for so long. Some critics would argue that past ministers were not to blame due to the wrong selection process. Ministers didn’t know what to do yet they did not resign.
Billions of dollars have been wasted on promises of constant electricity. In fact, the Obasanjo administration failed woefully and so did President Yar’Adua. The masses and factories need constant power supply. Can Jonathan turn himself into a magician like Professor Peller of blessed memory and do the impossible?
The Nigerian Communication Commission once selected the 'best' telecom professionals in the world. One of the experts told us that he had a wonderful time in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It was a job well done. It may be better for Jonathan to go for the best so that the Ministry of Power does not remain as epileptic as the defunct (2007) Ministry of Power and ‘Steal’, sorry Steel!
The law permitting the private sector in electricity generation and distribution came into being only in 2005. Power is a capital intensive business and it takes long to come to fruition, all the more so in an environment like ours where public policy is as unpredictable as the British weather-with all the severe consequences.
————————Folorunso Iyiola
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) should not remain a monopoly. It is better to liberalize the energy sector like the telecom sector. Empower some Youths to start YouthEnergy, some mothers to start MomPower or retired workers to start RtdElectric etc. Liberalization is what the power sector needs and it would also create more jobs. PHCN is outdated. It is as simple as ABC…
