OBAMA GOES TO AFRICA

President Obama's trip to Africa did not come as a surprise to me because after all he has already been visiting the continent even before his run for the harvard law review, U.S senate or even the presidency. What i am concerned with is his support for the majority of Africans all over the world who are in favor of serious political and economic development of the continent. He has a better platform than most of us to articulate his support for the key concerns of the continent. Most of us are hoping he will maintain this stand through out his presidency by continuing to pressure the political leaders on the continent to step aside and allow due process to work. For far too long most civil servants and the citizens of the continent have been trying to take charge of the development of the continent. However, some elements who are fortunate to be in positions of power manipulate the people as well as natural resources through signing of dubious deals that are unaccountable. Africa has been tryfing to find its place in the new global order and is still spinning its wheels inspite of all that citizens of the continet have been trying to contribute to its development. Gone where the days when the western world was held responsible for Africas woes. In this present times most of the young people in Africa do not see things in those terms. We are instead paying close attention to what's actually preventing us from achievng the kind of growth and development that we seek. time and again we see our elders squandering the political capital that they are given. Instead of looking at the bigger picture, their focus is rather on how to make themselves rich over night. We have always asked for political and economic freedom in order to fulfill our individual aspiration. They have granted themselves the right to pursue happiness and denied citizens of the continent those same rights. If people are denied the right to pursue happiness, how do we build a functional economy that works for us. They have tried Soviet style bureaucracies which has proven to be ineffective. This fight began from the day Africans won independence from their previous colonial masters and we have not known rest ever since . They are greedy and we must oppose them until all Africans are granted those rights that the founding fathers articulated in the declaration of independence. The freedom to pursue happiness was recognized as a very essential part of human life. We see many Africans traveling outside the continent or wanting to travel outside to improve their lot as well as their families conditions. Most of them return to the continent with the resources they have acquired but yet they are faced with the same obstacles that drove them out of the continent. The development of Africa cannot be under taken solely by a government bureacracy like some want to believe. The government certainly has a role to play in the national development but that role is limited and it must begin to recognize that. When that limitation is recognized, steps must be taken to ensure that government forms the partnership necessary with the governed to help confront and overcome the systemic challenges to not only alleviate poverty but to create sustainable wealth to ensure that history does not repeat itself in the form of colonialism and conquest by nations who have the intellect and will to pursue the prosperity they seek for their elites and citizens. God bless Africa!!!