Two Sides of A Coin (IV)

In continuation of our series on responses to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s presentation on TED, I bring to you another Nigerian that had a change of mind. Where do you stand, fellow Nigerian?

Thinks as you read the response below:

– Integrity Africa

After reading the pieces by fellow Africans, i am tempted to resend the piece I had sent earlier. The likes of my dear sister (or is it brother?), Ugo Amanyeiwe was right on track…..”There is corruption everywhere and it is even worse in America and Europe as you all know but they own CNN etc and they do not carry it as breaking news. Also you will never hear their people running down their own government even after it took milk away from children in the 80’s (UK) or even when MEDICAIID and MEDICARE are below expectation as is presently obtained”

MY ARTICLE:
IT IS ONLY AFRICANS WHO CAN TELL THEIR STORY..IT IS WHAT WE PROFESS ABOUT AFRICA THAT AFRICA WILL BE. IT IS THE WAY WE PRESENT OUR CONTINENT AND OURSELVES, AS AFRICANS, THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE US.

YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES, THAT ARE ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE UNHAPPY AND ASHAMED ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE.

HOWEVER,CORRUPTION, AVARICE, CRIME, ELECTION RIGGING, POOR LEADERSHIP, etc, HAPPEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES ON A DAILY BASIS (I live in the UK so I know).

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US - AFRICANS - AND MOST PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES/CONTINENTS IS THAT THEY DO NOT PRESENT OR SPEAK OF THEIR COUNTRIES IN NEGATIVE LIGHT, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE STRONGLY CRITICISING, NOR DO THEY TALK SO ABUSIVELY AND WITH SUCH DENIGRATION ABOUT THEIR LEADERS.

THEY PRESENT THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NEGATIVE THINGS AND ISSUES IN THEIR SOCIETY, YES, BUT, THEY DO NOT ‘CELEBRATE’ THEM THE WAY WE DO.

THEY HARDLY EVER BAD-MOUTH OR RUN THEIR COUNTRY DOWN (at least not with as much scorn, recklessness and hopelessness as we do). THEY STILL MANAGE TO PROFESS POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THEIR COUNTRIES. THEY STILL PROMOTE THEIR COUNTRIES AND DEFEND THEM IN EVERY WAY THEY CAN.

THE REASON IS SIMPLE - DESPITE ALL THE NEGATIVES, THEY KNOW AND APPRECIATE THAT GOD MUST HAVE MADE THEM CITIZENS OF THOSE COUNTRIES/THOSE CONTIENTS FOR A PURPOSE -

I LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME, WHEN AFRICANS WILL GET TO THAT MINDSET - WHEN OUR UTTERANCES (verbal or written) ABOUT OUR BELOVED CONTINENT (yes, that’s what it is) WILL CHANGE AND WE WILL SERIOUSLY BEGIN TO PROFESS POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT HER, INTERNALISE THESE UTTERANCES AND LIVE LIKE WE BELIEVE IN THEM.

AS TO US IN THE ‘DIASPORA’ WE NEED TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, BY BEING ‘UNAPPOINTED, BUT PROUD AMBASSADORS’ OF AFRICA IN OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS.

AND REALLY, IF WE DON’T SPEAK GOOD ABOUT OUR CONTINENT, WHO WILL DO IT FOR US?! AND WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT ‘THE WEST’ TO WANT TO DO ANY SERIOUS BUSINESS WITH A PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EVEN BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES!!

GOOD TO KNOW THERE ARE NOW INDIVIDUALS, LIKE DR NGOZIOKONJO-IWEALA, AND A FEW OTHER ORGANISATIONS COMING UP NOW THAT ARE SEEING THE NEED FOR POSITVE TALK ABOUT AFRICA, EVEN IN OUR CRITICISMS OF THE HAPPENINGS THERE.

SO LONG AS WE KEEP UP THIS MOMENTO, WE WILL BE CONTRIBUTING IN NO SMALL WAY TO REPAIRING THE CURRENT IMAGE OF AFRICA, WHICH IN THE THE FIRST PLACE, WAS CREATED BY US AFRICANS.

THE ONUS LIES ON US TO FIX THIS DAMAGE THROUGH OUR THOUGHTS (mindset), WORDS (utterances) AND DEEDS (our actions and behaviour).

IF WE DON’T TELL OUR STORY OURSELVES, NOBODY WILL.

THANK YOU NGOZI OKNOJO-IWEALA AND THANKS TO THE NUMEROUS OTHERS, WHO STILL BELIEVE IN THE GOOD AND INTEGRITY OFAFRICA.

SOURCE: TED

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