Col. Muammar Gadaffi’s state visit to Uganda was a relief to Uganda’s strongman, Yoweri Museveni. Surrounded by some his cabal of lovey-dovey dictators such as Albert Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Amani Abeid Karume of Zanzibar, Gadaffi spoke the words Museveni would like to hear: life presidency as opposed to democratic tenure resulting from elections and the provision of the constitutions-that bar presidents from exceeding two terms in office.
Gadaffi, the self proclaimed father and founder of Africa’s second renaissance has nothing new and constructive to offer Africa except his common rhetoric and shoptalk. What annoys is the fact that when he meets with Arab colleagues, he poses as an Arab. When he meets with African mumbo jumbos, he diddles them claiming he is an African! To take them for a ride, he offers them some goodies and promises of cheap aid. Though he poses as a lover of the African union, one thing has outsmarted his hidden agenda-"Islamization" of Africa. Even in his Ugandan tour, his major aim was not to close the so-called Afro-Arab Youth conference; but to open the grand mosque in Kampala.
"The Bible we have now is not the one that was revealed to Issa [Jesus] and the Old Testament is not the one that was revealed to Musa [Moses]. Muhammad is mentioned in both (original versions), but the Tora and Bible we have now, there is no mention of him," says Gadaffi. How do Christians stomach this nonsense in the first place? Do they still need a tutor of their religion and their books of authority?
"It means that it [the Bible] has been forged. The Prophet Muhammad was sent to mankind. Allah wanted mankind to have one religion. The Koran that we have is the only book that was sent by Allah. We believe in the Bible as well as the Tora." Gadaffi continues. Why didn't he tell where the authentic and original bible is; even those who interpolated as he contended!
I don’t understand how Gadaffi’s preaching about the weakness of the bible and the authenticity of his Quran will help deliver Africa from poverty. How can it if at all what he stands for opposes all the pillars of democracy? Tanzania bitterly remembers how he supported Amin-- against Tanzania. The world still remembers how Gadaffi godfathered terrorism he later repudiated after finding the soup hotter than he could swallow.
Gadaffi is talking of a pseudo revolution based on promoting tin pot dictators who would like to die presidents contrary to the will and wish of their citizenry as in Zimbabwe, Zanzibar, Gabon, Libya, Uganda, Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Rwanda and Togo. African rulers should avoid Gadaffi's misleading rhetoric, in spite of his dangling petro-dollars. His campaigns are totally outdated as far as African politics are concerned. By and large his is Arabic mode of politics based on king hood and nepotism.
Gadaffi wants an overnight-made union! Why? Why should we hasten such an important thing for the good of all Africans without paying attention to details?
Shamelessly as usual, Gaddafi, who has been in power for 39 years questions why a leader should relinquish power when he is doing good things for his people. He says that a constitution is simply a document drafted by people. A leader should consequently leave power by the will of the people. Now, President Museveni came to power through revolutionary means, not the vote. How can he simply go? What fallacy, abuse and ignorance of the feelings of Africans! Africans, methinks; do not need an Arab to teach them how to unite their countries.
Where was Gadaffi when Kenya was on fire not to forget Zanzibar, Chad, DRC and others? Gadaffi and his cabal of dictators should be told to their faces: Africa will be united under democratically elected African governments supported by the people. But not under self-serving dictators like him, Museveni, Kagame, Bongo and others whose regimes are parochial and archaic.
Does Gadaffi think Africa has forgotten how he has been sponsoring trans-border terrorism in Chad? The best thing Africans can do is to tell him to put his house in order first. Africans will unite without lectures; be they from Bush or Gadaffi.
By Nkwazi Mhango
Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He is a Journalist, Teacher, Poet, Human Rights activist and member of the Writers' Alliance of New Foundland and Labrador (WANL)
Source: The African Executive Magazine No. 154
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