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Barack Obama - Source: Reuters -
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US President Barack Obama's choice of Ghana for his first
official trip to Africa next week has triggered a bout of
self-questioning in Nigeria and Kenya, where many see his itinerary
as a deliberate snub.
The first black US president is keen to hold Ghana up as a
democratic model for Africa, where polls are too often marred by
vote-rigging and violence, denting the pride of states which
consider themselves equally important and worthy of a visit.
"Part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of
successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully,"
Obama told the AllAfrica news website, when asked why he had chosen
to visit Ghana.
"Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where
leadership recognises that they are accountable to the people and
that institutions are stronger than any one person, have a track
record of producing results for the people. And we want to
highlight that," he said.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and a major supplier of oil
to the United States, was already sensitive to the growing clout of
its regional rival, particularly since Ghana is itself due to
become an oil producer by the end of next year.
Endemic corruption, shambolic infrastructure and weak regulation in
the so-called Giant of Africa - or Sleeping Giant as some weary
Nigerians call it - have already pushed some international
companies to relocate.
In contrast to Ghana, which in January held a closely contested
election that brought former opposition leader John Atta Mills
peacefully to power, Nigeria has an appalling record on organising
transparent polls.
The April 2007 vote which brought President Umaru Yar'Adua to power
was so marred by ballot-stuffing and intimidation that local and
foreign observers said it was not credible.
Critics of Yar'Adua - who have dubbed him Baba Go-Slow for lack
of progress on everything from the fight against corruption to
providing reliable power supply - say Obama's snub should make his
administration sit up and think.
"If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone
him," Nigerian Nobel prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka was quoted
by Nigerian newspapers as saying.
"The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious, is so
brilliant, that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria
any time soon," he said.
Backsliding
In Kenya, those trying to put a positive spin on the planned
itinerary said it would have been seen as favouritism for Obama,
whose father was born in Kenya, to visit his ancestral
homeland.
But it is seen as a deliberate snub by others, especially critics
of President Mwai Kibaki's coalition government, formed after
deadly post-election violence in 2008.
They see it as a sign of US disapproval of nepotism in Kenya's
political elite.
"We have seen progress over the last several years in some cases,
though we're also seeing some backsliding," Obama said in the
AllAfrica interview, broadcast on YouTube.
"In my father's own country of Kenya, I'm concerned about how the
political parties do not seem to be moving into a permanent
reconciliation," he said.
The coalition government, formed after mediation by former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has failed to make much progress on
political reforms.
Kenya still ranks as the most corrupt country in east Africa,
according to watchdog Transparency International.
Renowned cartoonist Gado, of the Daily Nation newspaper, depicted
Air Force One jetting over Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga
with a note spiralling down from the plane:
"Get your act together -B. Obama," it said.
Odinga, who comes from the Luo ethnic group like Obama's father,
said it was wrong to read too much into the president's itinerary,
pointing out that he was also not visiting influential nations such
as South Africa and Nigeria.
"Ghana is symbolic. It was the first African country to gain
independence from Britain in 1957. Ghana is very advanced in its
transition to democratic form of governance. So it's perfectly
logical," he said.
Not all see it the same way.
"It's like him visiting (the Welsh capital) Cardiff but not
London," said one disgruntled Nigerian resident.
