HOW THE C.I.A. AND MOBUTU SESE SEKO KILLED PATRICE LUMUMBA

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE: THE KILLING OF OUR OWN GOOD MAN

The killing of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected PM of the Congo by his very own country man. It is tragic to read this in our history books. It is disheartening to know that one of us, Mobutu Sese Seko sabotaged the newly hatching "freedom" and progress with help from America and others.

Today, the West secretly continues to use shallow thinking men to sabotage Africa's progress still and we still fall for their cheap trick just for fleeting money and power.

It is funny how Lumumba's short reign echos more hope, love, and struggle for a better Africa than Mobutu's 30plus years of vain reign. The irony of life!

Benin PM Zinsou concedes defeat to Patrice Talon after run-off

Mr Zinsou posted on Facebook that he had called Mr Talon to congratulate him "on his victory and wish him luck".

President Thomas Boni Yayi is stepping down after two terms.

Mr Talon, known as the "king of cotton", used to be his close ally but was accused of masterminding a plot to poison him in 2012.

Patrice Talon is a successful businessman, known as the "king of cotton"

Ghana opens doors to other Africans

After President John Dramani Mahama delivered his State of the Nation address two weeks ago, most of the discussions were on local and internal affairs, and this being an election year in the country, the debates were heated and will continue for a long time.

Ghana's new visa-on-arrival policy for citizens of African Union (AU) member states, to be introduced from July, only came to light after an announcement from the pan-African body.

Nationals from African countries complain loudly about the humiliations they go through to get visas for Europe and the United States but the process for African visas is often just as frustrating.

Anyone who has tried to cross borders on the African continent will have experienced the difficulties with travelling in Africa.

Air fares cost more than anywhere else and few roads or railways connect the countries to each other.

The immigration and police check points turn the journeys into veritable obstacle courses.

Pointless bureaucracies

Unsurprisingly Ecowas, the West African regional body established in 1975 was at the time considered an attractive union due to the introduction of visa-free travel among member states.

Continental organizations like the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), formed to foster cooperation between African states and its successor the African Union (AU), launched in 2002, have few passionate supporters these days in Ghana as they are seen as pointless bureaucracies that have no bearing on the lives of people.

President Mahama's policy could boost AU's significance once again.

African unity was taken very seriously here in Ghana. It was our first President, Kwame Nkrumah, who was the driving force behind the establishment of the OAU back in 1963.

President Kwame Nkrumah was a firm believer in African unity

During the struggle for independence, Ghana provided a place of refuge for many freedom fighters, especially from South Africa with many being given Ghanaian passports.

As countries gained independence, Ghanaians were dismayed to discover they were not particularly welcome in these countries.

In the early years of Ghana's independence, and before the establishment of Ecowas, there were visa exemptions for "persons of African descent" born in the neighbouring west African countries, and members of the Casablanca group, which consisted of Guinea, Tunisia, Mali, United Arab Republic, Morocco and Algeria.

But these arrangements were scrapped after the overthrow of President Nkrumah.

With the new visa policy, Ghanaians will be watching to see if the number of non-Ecowas African nationals coming to Ghana will rise.

We in Ghana have a reputation for restless feet and are always trying to find new destinations to get to.

Obtaining visas for travel is often the greatest obstacle to travel and any country that makes it easier for us to enter becomes very attractive.

Whilst many here will be feeling that Ghana is taking a lead in implementing an AU directive, there will be greater interest in knowing how many other African countries will be allowing Ghanaians to enter their countries on a visa-on arrival policy.

THE MAN P.L.O. LUMUMBA

I have met passionate Africans but one as passionate as this man is a rear breed.

PLO as mostly referred to (Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, born 17 July 1962) is a Kenyan who served as the Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from September 2010 to August 2011 and is currently the Director of The Kenya School of Laws since the year 2014. An eloquent lawyer, he holds a PhD in Laws of the sea from the University of Ghent in Belgium.

He is also a staunch Pan-Africanist and has delivered several powerful speeches alluding to or about African solutions to African problems. He has authored several highly resourceful materials on Governance, Leadership, etc. And his speeches are thought provoking and heart awakening (in the right direction).

He is an admirer of Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara, the deceased revolutionary leader of the Burkinabe people. He is also remembered for his emotion laden and energetic speech in Uganda at the third Anti-Corruption Convention. He has referred to and quoted them severally in his speeches.

EMERGENCE OF A NEW AFRICA

There is a new Africa that must emerge! This is not one that we ask for, as it has become obvious over time that it will not be given to us. It is not one that we will wait for to happen by itself either, as life has shown us time and again that it only gives what is DEMANDED of it (consciously).


The Africa that I speak of is one that we must deliberately, carefully, and thoughtfully craft by the works of our minds and our hands. One that will thrive on excellent African-borne ideas and innovations. One wherein we will write, read, and show our culture, history, people to the world by ourselves. One that we must take pride in our people, fashion, businesses, products, lands etcetera.
As glaring as it is across Africa, our predecessors have failed us on a large scale, and if we must not fail our successors, then we must roll up our sleeves and be ready to work out the bright future of our continent, as this means real business.

The mind remains the most powerful tool in possession of all humans, regardless of colour, race, tribe, geographical location, family background, or wealth. We must begin to teach our young ones how to use this weapon in the right manner. For when used the wrong way, it produces the wrong results, history has facts of this. And, as the sage of the age says it, "as a man thinks, so is he".
We must begin to EDUCATE our youth on how to navigate this life that is given to us and how to make the most of it.

One area that needs utmost attention is SELF WORTH and NET WORTH. Our youths must know their (self)worth and how this first and foremost affects their every actions and 'inactions'. And then, how to gather net worth  and the transference of wealth down the lineage, from one generation to another in order to continue the amassing of it. Our youth must also learn the use of these aforementioned and the wrong use will amount to destruction.

Lets join hands and furthermore, join minds in transforming our continent. This has worked for others, it will work for us as long as we are ready to work out our success.