For the avoidance of doubt, News in Africa Online will publish three more editions before Christmas 2017. But, we are mentioning Christmas in passing, because it is a major event for workers in Nigeria. The Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, has set the Christmas ball rolling, so to say. So do not blame us. The President has directed his key Finance officials to sit down with representatives of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, to determine how much of their unpaid debts can be released to them before Christmas.
The gesture is not for the sake of the state Chief Executives. No, it is in the interest of their workers, the civil servants. President Buhari empathized for the concerned people, in these words, “For Nigerians without sources other than their salary, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat for Christmas.”
One cannot say the same thing of the ousted Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe, and his distraught compatriots. Virtually, all the tabloids that have anything to do with Africa spent considerable resources pleading with the erstwhile dictator to retrace his steps. Mugabe had become a monster after holding power for 37 years. Robert and Grace chased vainglory while the masses of Zimbabwe languished in poverty. It is never too late for downtrodden people to shake off their chains. It is hoped that the entry of Emmerson and Auxillia on the political stage will begin to cleanse the mess Mugabe left behind. May be Christmas 2018, Zimbabweans will have more cause to cheer. We have reports on the new Mr. and Mrs. Occupying the seat of power in Harare.
The other sit-tight rulers in Africa such as Sassou Nguesso of Congo PR; Joseph Kabila of Congo DR; Paul Biya of Cameroon; Yoweri Museveni of Uganda; Teodoro Nguema of Equatorial Guinea had better beware. See our report on E. Guinea. What goes around comes around. It has been proved beyond doubt that the underdevelopment of Africa is due to official corruption and poor governance in most countries of the continent.
We could not ignore the stand of the government of Botswana on the development in Zimbabwe. Diplomacy or not, Africans should call a spade a spade – instead of calling it a farming implement. Browse through our report on Botswana. Political correctness is also a virtue.
While some African politicians are eager to perpetuate themselves in office in order to steal their countries dry, the richest man in the continent has continued to expand his entrepreneurial horizon. Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote has just stamped his investment authority in Congo PR. Guess who turned up at the ceremony? The country’s long-reigning dictator, Dennis Nguesso, graced the occasion. It is an indication that when money talks, rulers, including dictators, listen with interest.
As usual, in this edition, we have turned our searchlight on two crucial areas. The first Spotlight is on Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state. From all accounts, the Governor is quite popular. He has been making waves since he mounted the saddle in the Caliphate headquarters in Sokoto in 2015. The other Spotlight is on one of Nigeria’s agencies, the Federal Character Commission, FCC, whose popularity has remained in doubt.
You cannot miss our Entertainment corner. African youths are bent on driving xenophobia aground in South Africa. We have culled Mxolisi Ncube’s great piece on this. On the sporting arena, we previewed the coming African Footballer of the Year Award. Fine and promising African star footballers are in the race. Who will clinch the crown on January 4, 2018, in Accra, Ghana? Your guess may not be as good as mine.
We covered all the cardinal points of the continent, touching the regular fields – Agriculture, Health, Education, Immigration, Religion, World Report, ICT and Environment. You cannot wish for more. Welcome to December.
Pat I. Chukwuelue
Editor-in-Chief
