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Falana Blasts Obama
July 14, 2009 17:30, 847 views
By Simon Ateba & Funmilola Oyelola
Human rights lawyer and President of the West African Bar Association, Femi Falana, has lambasted United States President, Barack Obama on his first visit to Africa, saying it was a disappointment of the highest order from the U.S. first black president.
Falana, who addressed journalists yesterday at the Presidential lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, stated that he was disappointed by Obama’s tone in Ghana, saying “he talked down on Africa.”
Specifically, Falana stated that Obama failed to address important issues on Africa-U.S.’s relations such as reparation for slave trade that lasted for almost 500 years. He said that it was illogical for Obama to exonerate the West from the abject poverty the continent has been plunged into.
“I listened to the Obama’s stopover in Ghana, sentiment apart, I think it was an embarrassment to Africa that Obama only made a stopover in Ghana, and even at that, that was not what Africans were expecting from the first black president of United States; he talked down on Africa.
“You cannot blame the underdevelopment of the country on the basis of corruption and I reject his conclusion that we should no longer blame the colonial masters for slave trade. Why shouldn’t we? Incidentally he visited the Cape Coast where we have the salve camp and he had nothing to say there.
“For 500 years, Africans were illegally kidnapped, through terrorism by the Western countries and shipped to Europe and America. Who is going to pay reparation for it? I thought Obama was going to talk about reparation but it was disappointing.
“The other country claims to pay 5 billion dollars to Libya for 30years colonial rule. So who is going to pay Ghana, and then you come around and say ‘your problem is your problem, you got to solve your problem”, America must be part of it,” Falana said.
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Emeka
14 July 2009 17:43Mr. Falana, what did you expect from the poor man? To come to Nigeria? Or to praise Africans for being the way they are? I am really disappointed in you. In a country where the Minister of Education spends hundreds of millions to celebrate his marriage anniversary at the time Nigerian universities are on strike, it is strange that you are talking about Obama instead of facing pressing national issues.
Saed Omotayo
14 July 2009 17:50Mr Falana,
Obama addressed the issue. The problem of poverty in africa is as a result of corruption, even if the west agreed to pay reparation today in trillions it will end up in private pockets and we ‘ll still be where we are with a few richer
Femi
14 July 2009 17:59Femi Falana is a great Nigerian, but his comments are suspect. His knowledge of history seems to be faulty.
What reparations are you expecting?
Africans sold fellow Africans to the white men as slaves. No white man kidnapped any black man. Every single slave was sold by a fellow black man.Yorubas sold yorubas, ibos sold obos, ashantis sold ashantis, akans sold akans, ijaws sold ijaws. And guess how the black man was paid- with mirrors, face powder, clothers and guns!
In the last 50 years, the west has given trillions of dollars in aids and grants to African leaders-what did we do with it?
Sudan’s Bashir is killing hundreds of thousands of his own people in Dafur. Who is fighting for this people-certainly not the OAU ( which just last week said Bashir is innocent of geneocide) nor the African bar association. But leader western leaders like ex president George Bush and hollywood stars like George Clooney.
You want the West to give you reparations and your people ( ex governors, presidents, even local government chairman have the choicest houses in the choicest parts of New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris etc.) Mobutu, Abacha, IBB, OBJ, alone are worth over $20 billion! and the only job they did was that they were Presidents.
There is not one single ex US president that has a private jet. The closest is Jimmy Carter who gets to ride in the boeing jet owned by the foundation he heads ONLY WHEN he is working for them. And the entire work of that foundation all the millions they collect is to help eradicate guinea worm diease in AFRICA particulary in Nigeria which has the worst cases in the world. Yet your ex governors and special advisers like James Ibori and Andy Uba have private jets worth over 10 billion naira.
US soldiers who went to Iraq and came back home to the US are taken care of, given grants, free Univesity education scholarships and treated like heroes. In Nigeria, the soldiers who served in Liberia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere are sent to jail for life for asking for the nonsense salary that is due them. And Femi Falana was their lawyer, so he is a witness to this.
While the US, Germany, UK and other G8 countries plus the upcoming developing countries like Brazil, India etc are finding medical cures, putting men in space, preparing to go to the moon AGAIN, making better mobile phones, energy saving cars; Africans are busying blowing up oil depots, killing themselves, planning to rig elections, kidapping their neighbours for money , killing children for money rituals etc and you dont want the West to talk to you.
Blacks make up just 12% of the US population yet a black man was elected President. More than 70% of those who voted for him were whites, hispanics and asians.Can a minority be elected President in democratic election in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa? When will you ever elect an Ishan or Ogoni man President?
A beggar puts his hands below the giver, so he is below. When someone is below you ( even physically speaking) you dont speak up to him, you speak down to him.Africa is a continent of beggars and thieves.
Its time to put your house in order and Ghana is leading by example.
Just like my Aunt in Ilorin said-the true meaning of Africa is Afrika ( meaning A free lati se Ika) in english that means…… We are free to do Ika ( yoruba word for evil)
Davies
14 July 2009 18:01Femi Falana wait for America to come and solve your problem for you. What Obama said is that we have all it takes to make things right regardless of the negative effect of slavery yet we allow dictatorship, stupidity, deception, ‘bigmanism’ to keep us in the same spot and then blame it all on colonialism and slave trade. The truth is that, if the white man is willing to buy, the type of leaders and so called activists we have in africa today are still ready to sell their own people. This is one of the ’supidest’ critisms I have heard from this Falana but maybe just to be in the news as usual.
Ogunstatenawa
14 July 2009 18:03Falana shaarrrap your durty mouth. Corruption and not the white man has wrecked Naija
Jasper Case
14 July 2009 18:19Mr. Falana, although you are one of the “FREEDOM” fighters in Africa but I totally disagreed with you. What do you expect from Obama. Is he the one to fix your problems. This dynamic leader is doing great thing but cannot solve problems of corruption in Africa. You are all greedy and needs to solve your problems without referring to developed countries to do it for you. Nigeria was 9th richest country in the world in the 70s but waht is wrong with you guys. You need to think of your children and the unborn generations. Most of you guys always think of ya pocket rather than the suferring masses. You need to build ya own country and dont rely on our darling president to fix your problem for you. Obama went to Ghana because Ghana is the best country in terms of Democracy in Africa. Falana, please keep quiet and stop criticizising Obama. Critisize your president Yaadua and fix ya problem. I am a blackman but disappointed in you gouys.
Alonu Ifeanyi
14 July 2009 18:21It appears Falana does not know the meaning of “stop over”. If he does, he wont consider Obama’s visit as a stop over. Besides, talking about reparation for slave trade is not a major issue in Africa today. we need to sort ourselves out fromt he mess we are in. Obama saw a positive attempt at sorting out the mess, and believes Ghana is a Model for others to follow, a GIANT OF AFRICA.
If u dont blame underdevelopment on corruption, what or who do u blame??
Olatunji Ade,Madrid,Spain
14 July 2009 18:22Mr.Falana you have spoken wisely,many people does not see it in that perspective,but that is just the truth….Can you tell me what our continent could have achieved during the 500yrs of European and American on our soil..They gr8 and talented ppl to build their roads rail and house most of things they only enjoy today….If Obama visit was a faithful one he should have address African through the AU summit rather in Ghana cos of their stupid and selfish interest…Today i can you my fellow bro and sis that Africa will surely prevail and will be gr8 place we all wish it could be, ts just a matter of time and good leaders.it doesn’t happen in Europe nor America overnight and belive me that the most corrupt leaders are in Eu and US today.t
Otunba Ayo UK
14 July 2009 18:28I beg to differ wt Mr Falana on his postion. In as much as I completely condemn slavery & the forceful shipment of our ancestors to Europe, in all ramifications. We must however not lose sight of the fact that our ancestors are not completely exonerated from this evil trade. Slavery was much active in West Africa before the advent of the westerners on our shores. Besides, this evil trade was carried out in connivance with our fathers- they got commodities like guns, salt, jewellry as compensation for selling their own people in slavery to the Europeans. In addition, slavery ended some 200 years back, why should we continue to blame that era for our current episode? Just about 20 years ago, Nigeria was rated among the 40 wealthiest countries in the world, by 1998, she had become the 13th poorest in the world. Why could the slavery of 200 years ago not prevent Nigeria from being among the 40 wealthiest 20 years back? Granted, the west was culpable in the mass looting that pervaded the continent in the last couple of years, but did they initiate it? was it the west that made the Abacha, Mobutu Sese Seko, Mugabe, Babangida, Ibori etc loot their nations’ treasuries with reckless abandon? Frankly, if ‘talking down’ on African leaders will wake them up, then let it
Sam Erhagbai
14 July 2009 18:36Falana, I thought you knew better than that. You and other self serving Nigerians are the problem we have in Nigeria. I am not in the best position to speak for the rest of Africa becaue I know just a little about the continent. Judging from what goes on in Nigeria I think it is a testament of the problem we have in the continent.
Reparation, how much, to who? It seems you are looking for avenue to siphon money into private pockets. I wonder why anyone would listen to you and your press conference. The media in Nigeria are not doing their job. They should have put you in your position by peppering you with questions rather than listen to your ranting. The government just gave you one Niara to come to their defense.
Corruption and bad leadership from government institutions and private bodies like the one you are in charge of is the problem the country has as well as the rest of Africa. Nigeria will ever remain stagnant if the people can not rise up against governments and government institutions. What Africa needs particularly Nigeria is the Ghana revolution carried out by Rawlings. Eliminate people like you and other self serving individauls and their family. That is what will see Nigeria through without that people like you will continue to have the audience to speak to. Africa problems is within Africa and the solution is Africa not reparation. You continue to wait for handouts.
Abas Kaula
14 July 2009 18:39I am great admirer of Femi Falana but on this occasion, I think he got it all wrong. How can we continue to blame the colonial masters for our woes when even our own leaders (our flesh and blood) are dealing with us with greater disdain. And talk about compensation! Who does Falana say it should be paid to? To our corrupt leaders who will divert same like they have always done to our treasuries?
It’s time we all woke up and be realistic. Letsus take inspiration from what is happening in Iran and demand for quality leadership instead of blaming our colonial masters in perpetuity.
Olatunji Ade,Madrid,Spain
14 July 2009 18:44Mr.Falana you have spoken wisely,many people does not see it in that perspective,but that is just the truth….Can you tell me what our continent could have achieved during the 500yrs of European and American terrorism on our soil..They took away our gr8 and talented men and woman to build their roads rail and house most of things they only enjoy today….If Obama visit was a faithful one he should have address African through the AU summit rather in Ghana cos of their stupid and selfish interest…Today i can you my fellow bro and sis that Africa will surely prevail and will be gr8 place we all wish it could be, ts just a matter of time and good leaders.it doesn’t happen in Europe nor America overnight and believe me that the most corrupt leaders are in Eu and US today,all the guns and other arms most rebellion or terrorist group in Africa use are imported from most part of EU,US and Arab states and yet they criticize our continent so much that they had forgot their bad deeds on the Great continent of Africa
Tunde London
14 July 2009 18:53I think majority of Nigerian will tell Mr. Falana to his face this time that he got it wrong. African Leaders can not eat their Cake and have it at the same time. The sensational media coverage given to Mr. Falana against President Obama for thoroughly defined the type of leadership we celebrate in our continent and indeed literarily tore the Leadership in Africa has exposed him to be one of those hyprocrite in midst of civil society. The issue raised and discussed by Mr. Obama was genuinely deserved it best. He never condemned Africa as a continent but his speech was directed to the so-called leaders.
And if Mr. Falana expectation and ultimate demand is to see or hear Mr. Obama discussing reparation for slave trade, then his(Falana) explicit knowledge about Slave trade is not only disapointing but in facy very weak.
Food for thought Mr. Falana, grow up, this is 21st century, dont take us back to “stone age”
chuck mensa
14 July 2009 18:54Mr. Falana you are ignorant or you are in denial.When will your likes stop blaming the white people for the problems our President and Governors for life have created ?Could you tell me your experience growing up as a young person. Iam talking of the time the white people were responsible for Adiminstration in Nigeria? WE HAD UNINTERRUPTED electricity supply.I do not recall floding of roads, I do not recall kidnapping. Those were the good old days when the white man was incharge.Nigerian/African problem has been created by Africans and let us face the facts.Obama olny spoke the truth and it is unfortunate you are one of the people that cannot handle the truth.
femi jones
14 July 2009 18:56But what is Falana turning to. This type of argument is what is expected from the likes of Obasanjo & co not someone like you. Be guided.
Chris
14 July 2009 18:58That activist wants to get popular!
victor ogunmola
14 July 2009 19:01@ Femi..Well spoken…completely in agreement with you!!!
Alao S.B
14 July 2009 19:07@ Otunba, there are two side to a coin you know, as much as you disagree with Falana Femi, you have said a very fundamental thing, that we can’t continue to blame the western world for African poverty. but don’t forget the Yoruba adage that says( ‘Agbepo ‘laja ki sole, sugbon eniti ogbalowo e’). the corruption we are talking about is also a two sided thing. the ‘Giver and the Taker’ we should not over flog this issue, what we need now in Africa is a re-awakening for a good governance, transparency and patrotic mind from all and sundry with a conviction to move Africa forward.
Also, the so call western world, should help rebuild Africa through strigent policies that will check-mate our so called glutton and die-hard leaders, who operate illegal and questionable account abroad. I can assure you if our rulers were question for their shady deals and transaction, such money will not be lodge in one foreign bank account rather it will be plough on the continent for production and this inturn will create more jobs, crime will reduce, GDP will increase, economy will be bouyant and so on. it a vicious cycle of a thing.
God Bless Africa, God Bless Nigeria.
Gbenga Falana , NEW YORK
14 July 2009 19:16Mr.Falana,please try and read all the comments above (except that man from the spaniard country )and then retrack your
comments about Obama. You must understand that President Obama went to Ghana to make a statement about
Nigeria and he has made his point. We must turn from our currupt ways of doing things and genuinely invest on our people
instead of looking for the western countries to bail us out all the time. Hundreds of Billions of dollars have been given to Africa as aids, Debt forgiven etc over the course of years,yet you are asking for reparations,If the blacks in America are still crying about slavery Obama won’t be president today. Nigeria must grow up.Back in the 60’s, we are in the same developmental stage with Taiwan, South
korea, India, Brazil etc, while they are progressing, we are regressing. Please my dear namesake,you are a man of intellect,
I will like to see an article from you correcting yourself.
Rotimi Adedayo
14 July 2009 19:19Femi Falana got it wrong this time, should Obama be praising corrupt African leaders for looting the continent? Which reparation is he expecting from the West? Rather Africans should demand reparations from their thieving leaders most of who are richer than their countries, the West is no longer Africa’s problem, but corrupt and inept leadership. Maybe Femi Falana just wanted to say something on Obama’s visit, but he ought to have kept quiet if he has nothing concrete to say. He should direct his verbal missile to the appropriate quarters. Like it or not Obama has spoken the truth, if it seemed he talked down on Africa, it was well deserved!
Femi Atoyebi
14 July 2009 19:21Its a pity that Mr Falana could degenerate so low to accused the person of Obama over our own natural problems created by our selfish leaders. And i do not support the idea of any reparation being paid to African countries because this would only serve as an opprtuniyt for them to enrich themselves again.
baba agba
14 July 2009 19:32You should realise that Femi Falana was speaking at the Presidential Lounge! What should he say after visiting As Rock? Ordinarily, he should not be at the Presidential Lounge. May be he is now the master´s voice? Eeehnn, Femi is only Nigerian after all.
Don´t blame him, he was expecting Obama to speak about Ekiti and Ondo election.
Lest I forget, he may want to be the next Attorney General of the Federation after securing the release of Okah. Let me keep the rest for now.
edmund Mushay Ezurike
14 July 2009 19:33This will tell Nigerians this Femi is mental. No body will solve Nigeria’s problem but Nigerians. Rule of law, Accountability & Political Stability must be a pivot to Nigerira’s develpoment. Most times, it is a country’s decisions & not its condition or environ determines its destiny. Nigerians as a whole must determine to enmacipate them selves from the present greedy & unpatriotic hogs called PDP
baba agba
14 July 2009 19:33You should realise that Femi Falana was speaking at the Presidential Lounge! What should he say after visiting Aso Rock? Ordinarily, he should not be at the Presidential Lounge. May be he is now the master´s voice? Eeehnn, Femi is only Nigerian after all.
Don´t blame him, he was expecting Obama to speak about Ekiti and Ondo election.
Lest I forget, he may want to be the next Attorney General of the Federation after securing the release of Okah. Let me keep the rest for now.
commentator
14 July 2009 19:36Femi Falana is too short to remember tall ideas. Slave trade where and when?
Other countries are developing Solar Power, Femi is talking about Obama coming to Nigeria to help them out!
He may be given SAN soon. Watch out.
Ola
14 July 2009 19:37Falana, this is FALLACY!!!
Tayo
14 July 2009 19:40Femi seems to have forgotten the late 70s when Ghanaian flooded Nigeria. Ghana’s economy was at its lowest but today the story of Ghana has changed because one man looked inward and called for a sacrifice of the nation’s looters. Ghana identified its problem and settled it. Nigeria has continued to play the game Falana is drawing us into; blaming others for our woes. Obama was short of telling the youth of other African nations that we have no leaders and, the time to do away with the impostors cornering the bounties of the nations economies is now. Nigeria, as well as other nations like Zimbabwe, is long due for what Rawlings did in Ghana.
Dr Pat Kolawole Boboye
14 July 2009 19:49Your learned honour sir-Mr Femi Falana! I beg to disagree with your comment with regard to all the comments in respect to high level of corruption practises by most African leaders, lack of democratic practice,non-existence of pro-people government policy and programs,lack of vision and foresight on the part of African leaders including PDP-Nigerian and lack of any will to conduct a free and fair election that would make Africans [Nigerians] voters votes count at the end of any pretentious elections by African leaders including PDP-President Umaru musa Yar’dua.These are the reasons given by the USA-president Barrack Obama being the cogent reasons and crucial facts that USA-leader-Obama did not visit Nigeria and Kenya his fathers country of origin.Other notable Nigerians including the nobel lorate-Professor Wole Soyinka reasoned and backed the USA president Obama’s reasons for not coming to Nigeria and Kenya up and most of Nigerians and other Africans in dispora and home backed it up.Hence,what is the problem with the respected frontline lawyer Femi Falana.I had thought long ago that he is one of us who would not care whose ox is gore come what may anything and support democracy and good governace in order to get Nigeria and other African nations like Kenya to develop like othe Asia tigers that are producing everything from processed foods to clothes and other household goods currently being used worldwide.I think maybe the eudite lawyer-Femi Falana has been bought over by the illegitimate regime in Abuja,Nigeria. Dr Pat Kolawole Boboye
james ibori
14 July 2009 19:50femi ,you re so stupid for the lack of knowledge you have displayed on this topic , who do you think youre? i blame those that give you audience ,The style you took after adolph Hiltler have always made me raise some suspicion , Nigerians need to be watchful of you ,animal.
emeka
14 July 2009 19:53i expect him to talk about the attack on the Lagos jetty by MEND not the Obama stop over, well that’s a topical Nigerian for you. because he has made some money for been Counsel to a gun runner.
Coker olayinka
14 July 2009 19:55Mr Falana, I believe your highly distinguished self is blessed with a myopic mind. Pertinently, i refuse to be drawn into your saneless arguement that Pres. Obama “talked down on Africa”. It is my belief that you are just another one of those modern-day apologists who refuse to see the larger picture and are blessed or cursed with the spirit of Afrocentrism. The bitter truth is that neither you nor any one of those rich individuals feeding fat from governmental “packages” have the moral right to speak like you did on this issue. Europeans, unlike Africans in cities such as Abeokuta, Dahomey, Kano, etc never organized slave raids. It is highly vital to note that greed and corruption is practically endemic in this continent. Take a look at your history books. Save for a few like Chaka the Zulu who saw beyond his nose and never traded his land or people, other leaders happily did, for a few bottles of ”hot” or gins and mirrors or guns with which they maimed theur fellow kinsmen.
Now i am not making a case for the Eoropeans but the truth is that we Africans are the clogs in our own wheels of progress and it would be utmostly sane and moral to undergo a deep conscious purging of all unjust and immoral vices which have contimued to plague our belove continent. Everyday on the news, you and I and constantly innundated with news and reports of how so-so and so stole so-so and so billions. Its so funny, these days, even theft in millions do not really make the news because they are ”insignificant sums”. If you want to empower a poor man, give him a job or put him in business. If you want to create a dependent man, give him money. Africa has recieved billions of aid in military supplies, food, drugs, even water ! WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH IT? a food for thought Mr. Falana. I rest my case.
Eze
14 July 2009 19:59Always money, money, money!! You are just depicting the exact same thing Mr Obama and other well meaning people despise about us - the extreme lust for money! Reparation. So you’d expected him to announce 1 trillion dollars in reparation, then as a legal person, you’d reaped out of the blood and sweat and tear drops of your forefathers - because you would crave to be among the “special committe” to oversee the disbursement of the fund. You are just totally deceptive only to your pathetic self! What have you achieved for humanity except for your crave for spotlight? Now get!
morris
14 July 2009 20:01are you sure is femi falana.if yes am disappointed in him
Malcolm X
14 July 2009 20:01@ Femi. That was the stupidest thing i ever heard. Yes, the slave trade was partly responsible for the underdevelopment in Africa today (read ‘ How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’).
How can u say that Africans sold Africans to the slavemasters? when guns were held to their heads. If you know ur history well u’d have known that those African who fought against the slavery trade were totally crushed without mercy with the whilte man’s superior fire power.
YES, OBAMA TALKED TOWN ON AFRICA……………HE SHOULD STOP PAYING LIP SERVICE TO AFRICAN PLIGHT!
steve brown
14 July 2009 20:07FALANA IS A HOPELESS IDIOT..HE PRETENDS TO BE A DEMOCRAT, BUT INDEED HE S AN ENEMY OF DEMOCRACY
HE AND HIS COHORTS THE PM NEWS ARE UPSET WITH OBAMA BECAUSE HE TOOK A SWIPE AT THE KIND OF DEMOCRACY WE PRACTISE IN NIGERIA, WHEREBY TINUBU THIER PAYMASTER IS FIGHTING FASHOLA OVER MONTHLY ALLOCATION AND HE S PAYING HIMSELF 2BILLION NAIRA EVERY MONTH..
FALANA HIS UPSET BECAUSE TINUBU HIS MASTER WAS STRIPPED SEARCHED AND DETAINED FOR NINE HOURS BEFORE BE REFUSED ENTRY TO THE US AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GATE CRASH OBAMA S INAUGURATION.
Vincent
14 July 2009 20:09Leave Mr. Falana alone, he understand what he was talking about. These so called westerners are the worst creation. They initiated slavery if not ,how could Africans get themselves engaged in it. The question of reparation is something we should fight for ,not only because of the monetary benefits involved, but to at least let them know that they are the cause of the shambles we are in. South Africa is fairly better because they shared the country together.
Ositadimma
14 July 2009 20:12Let me first start by addressing Olatunji Ade ’s claim “that the most corrupt leaders are in Eu and US today”
That is a lie and I believe we should be quoting with facts and figures like the 3rd commentator “Femi”
Olatunji Ade, you claim to be in Spain (EU), can you furnish readers with the names of those corrupt leaders
that you know in (EU & US) and their worths and I will tell you a Governor in Nigeria that is richer than an African country.
I hold Femi Falana at high esteem but am greatly disappointed at this type of comment attributed to him and
believe he didn’t say all these. Do you want me to believe that a Lawer of his repute doesn’t know history? or was he
just speaking as matter of Professional practice - Quoting out of context.
Obama said what he was supposed to say and if at all Femi falana made such comments, he owns genuine lovers
of Democracy an unconditional apology.
Femi Falana
14 July 2009 20:15Nigerians, I am deeply sorry for this comment. I regret the embarrassments I have caused all of you that beleive so much in me. I hereby retract the statement because of posterity. Thanks for your forgiveness.
Quarry
14 July 2009 20:17Falana must have drank from the fountains of Aso Rock. He should shut up and go home and enjoy the Okah’s amnesty/peroragative of mercy largesse. President Obama comments are apt and precise. He remains more intelligent about African issues than 20 Falanas put together. Falana is confused with the money he is about to get from this latest Abuja deal
TJ
14 July 2009 20:19Opinion they say, is like a butt hole everyone has one and each stinks differently. Mr. Falana’s opinion is his and his alone. We have had numerous western government “smoke screening” us and never telling us their true feelings. They hand us their so called aids and grants, only to be stolen by the likes of Babangida, Abacha and their other stooges. The same foreign governments comes back (aided by the leadership)to play the slight of hands with us by stealing our resources to “compensate” them for their handouts. Mr Falana is right, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are what they are no one can deny it. My question to Mr. Falana and people that thinks like him is when was the last time you see an Egyptian or a Saudi running/swimming to get away from his country. Yes there are dissidents in those countries; and the dissidents agitate for whatever they have issues with. However, these governments does not make life unbearable for their citizens as apparent in the rest of Africa.
Mr. Falana eluded to slave trade, we are all students of African history. History tells us that through our numerous tribal wars – some of which we are still waging against ourselves – we take ourselves slaves. We are only too eager to sell our slaves off for mirrors and trinkets – most of these things are still going on in the 21st century. My question is, who should benefit from reparation - The emancipated slaves of the Americas and Caribbean OR those that sold them? That Italy chose to pay Libya is symbolic and laudable. However we should bear in mind that the two countries has a master-servant relationship. Furthermore, we should also understand that Col. Gaddafi had protected the Libyan interest sometime at his own peril as shown in the 1986 bombing. Do we have any patriot in our leadership?
There is a common saying that when two brothers meet behind a closed door and come out smiling, they have lied to each other. When the same two brothers come out agitated, some truth has been shared. Ethnocentrism and egoism aside, we should have told ourselves what Obama is now telling us. We need to move away from the “handout” culture that foster the retarded growth of our region. The mind set promotes laziness, corruption and lack of creativity on the part of our leadership. This is shown in our president’s contribution at the G8 meeting; which was limited to agitation for monies already promised. Additionally, the numerated culture above consistently contributes to the connivance of our so called leaders to help rape and pillage our economy as shown in the on-going Halliburton saga. Referencing the Halliburton issue, we are now begging them (US) to help us prove what we already know.
Finally, Mr. Falana is a patriotic Nigerian. He would do us a lot of good if he focuses his attention to defending and protecting Nigeria from within. He will help Nigeria and her people by playing the roles of the likes of Gani Fawehinmi, Wole Soyinka and the likes. He should focus on the canker worm that is eating the fabric of the Nigerian nation in the form of corruption, kleptomania, gangsterism, poor governance, myopia and total lack of vision as well as wastefulness.
James Hope
14 July 2009 20:26A person like Falana should have reached a stage in his life where he no longer needs or courts cheap populism. If he thinks that because Obama is a black man, therefore he ought to champion the cause of reparations for slavery, then he is living in self delusion and does not understand the realities of contemporary US politics. Anybody with nothing to lose can dwell in a fool’s paradise. When African leaders begin to act like true leaders in the mold of Nkrumah, Awolowo and Mandela, things will begin to change for the better in this continent. Until then, looking outwards for someone to blame will be reminiscent of the proverbial boy who stands outside the front door and rather than face outwards, urinates into the house
eby
14 July 2009 20:27HABA …FEMI A RESPECTABLE SAN NOW A DISRESPECTABLE SAN. YOUR ARE A BIG DISGRACE TO THE ETHICS OF YOUR NOBLE PROFESSION MY DEAR FEMI . A MAN I HELD ON GREAT ESTEEM AS A MOUTH PIECE OF THE COMMONS. I DON`T KNOW IF YOUR ARE A MOSLEM OR A CHRISTAIN ? ,BUT IT IS OF NO INPORTANCE ONLY TO REMIND YOU THAT IT IS NOT ONLY TRANS- ATLANTIC ROUTE WHICH WAS MANNED BY THE WESTS, THERE EXISTS ALSO THE TRANS- SAHARA ROUTE MANNED BY THE ARABS. THE ARAB LEAGUES ARE BENT ON THE PALESTINES ISSUES WHILE IN DARFU . NON- ARABS ARE NOT ONLY MASSACRED BUT ARE ALSO ENSLAVED BY THE ARABS, YET AS A SENIOR ADVOCATE OF WEST AFRICA YOU ARE LAMBASTING THE WEST AND OUR DEAREST OBA…MAAAA . YOU HAVE NO LOCU- STANDI IN THIS CASE. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE ULTRA-VIRES AND AN ARANT-NONSENSE. MR FALANA INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON THE ISSUE OF THE JAILLED EX-SERVICE MEN AFTER TAKING RISK TO SERVE IN THE DEATH-KEEPING FORCE. YOU SHIFTED ISSUE ON USA PRESIDENT SPEECHES IN ACCRA . CAN OBAMA TELL PROF. IWU HOW TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS, THE EFCC HOW TO ARREST THE LUTTERS, THE POLICE TO END ABUSE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE PHCN TO UP GRADE THE EBBING POWER SECTOR. MR FALANA TELL US WHERE PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS GONE WRONG IN TELLING US THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR FAILURES. IN THIS STATEMENT SOMETHING IS AMISS. BY YOUR TAKING SIDE WITH THE GOVTS OF AFRICAN LEADERS I SWEAR SOMETHING IS IN THE OFFING. A SMOKE NEVER SK Y - ROCKETS WITHOUT FIRE UNDER -NEATH. WE NEED A GENTLEMAN EXCUSE FROM YOU.
tmaco
14 July 2009 20:28Falana disappointed me for the very first time by his speech against Obama. I never knew that Falana could be so low in intelligence like this. I wish he recall is words in other to still have a place in rating again.
Sincerely, ‘am ashamed that such unintelligent words could come out from someone of Falana’s standard.
dave
14 July 2009 20:45Femi, you are a disappionment, with all your level of education. I believe you ‘ve started to collaborate with the west african leaders so as to line your pocket. Shut up and face reality.
Klassy
14 July 2009 20:45In the real sense,no human has a complete monopoly of wisdom,therefore we should never expect Femi Falana to be right at all times.
President Obamas has spoken and it is for us as a nation to heed to the useful part of his speech for our national development.The issue of slavery with or without reparation is historical and is gone for good but corruption is still highly current and magnetic in our political space.So let us tackle this problem and all other problems will fall apart.
kobi
14 July 2009 20:59why are you blasing him.tell your government to organise the country
Remi
14 July 2009 21:01Majority of the comments above typifies one of the the problem with us as a people, namely intolerance. Falana is being hanged because he dared to express an opinion that is not popular. Be reminded that freedom of expression is a cardinal part of democratic societies which we aspire to be. Falana should be allowed to air his views, not necessarily because they are right but because he is entitled to them.
All those who attack or condemn him for his views are part of our backwardness as a Nation. However, I do not share Falana’s views.
young
14 July 2009 21:28we should get our placards ready and protest the appointment of this Mr Femi Falana because it’s obvious the deal is signed sealed and about to be delieverd and he is just using this attack on the person of Obama to gauge our reaction. This is Just an Aso Rock advice. and now he has mis fired sorry femi you have just lost admires like me. u are jst like most of others today on the side of people tommorrow with the people oppressors onece they give you your own CAKE
Ali Oni-Kogbawere
14 July 2009 21:30Mr Femi Falana has goofed woefully… It shows that all he knows is law and nothing more. He has floored himself and if he is not careful he will be accused of supporting the federal government.
How can Obama come to Nigeria and support Nigeria so that we will continue to suffer?. I am 100% disappointed in Femi Falana whom I thought was a distinguished Lawyer. What a big shame! Even if USA pays money to Nigeria for slavery only politicians will chop it so his point was pointless. Falana has changed since he started visiting ABUJA! So shut up Falana!
TITUS WALE [BABA-LEYE]BROOKLYN U.S;A
14 July 2009 21:42FEMI FALANA YOU ARE A BASTARD MAN FROM ONDO STATE AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU (OMO ALE)
idonesiit
14 July 2009 21:49I think Femi Falana is as ignorant as Dr. Sam Egwu. He’s suddenly found wealth and addresses us from the Presidential lounge of the airport. He wants reparatioon to celebrate his marriage with N120m.
Gbenga Falana , NEW YORK
14 July 2009 21:50Femi
You earn my respect for yielding to the voice of the people.The people have spoken,and you have listened.
If only we can follow public opinion in matter of public interest, Nigeria will be a better place to live.
Your retraction is well taken and apology accepted.
Guys, please take it easy on him. We all learn everyday.
Looking forward for more positive news about you.
Stay blessed.
IBB & OBJ
14 July 2009 21:51Thanks BIG BOY Femi Falana. You hit the nail on its head. Continue the game of reparation & blame while we loot Nigeria’s treasury. Now we must re-call the boys we armed yester-years-MEND. Tell Nigerians that MEND is been sponsored by President Oboma & Ghana corhorts. We have released Henry Okah & Oboma is now sponsoring them-Tell Nigerians Femi Go Femi tell it on the mountain. Go go tell tem & call all the newspapers.
TITUS WALE [BABA-LEYE]BROOKLYN U.S;A
14 July 2009 22:00I DONT THING THIS THE FALANA I USE TO KNOW WHEN I WAS IN NIGERIA NAIRA IS POWERFUL FALANA OF ALL PEOPLE REMENBER YOU ARE FROM ONDO STATE DONT BE A BASTARD CHILD.
Sjaybabatunde
14 July 2009 22:15Well i won’t blame femi falana because is a qoutable lawyer in court of law but now he missqoute everything he saw or read he may be a course of old age. so don’t blame him, and you falana try and send your apology back to obama or else your good reputation shuting down.
fortune
14 July 2009 22:21Falana i’m disappointed u no longer criticize our leaders probably b/c u lawyers in nigeria are buzzy making money defending the
corrupt ex-governors soon ur cups will full.As we all know dat one day somebody will rise and kill all the enemies of our dear country as jerry L did for Ghana.
Sjaybabatunde
14 July 2009 22:42Femi falana see if people are blaming you dont worry i’m on your side, let me ask nigerians how many of you have make impact in this nation, all you know is to judge and critesis no more no less, falana i know that you have the bodness to say anything in west african as a west african bar president also a san in your country, but try and send back your apolorgy to obama. To remian in your reputation Ok. i love you falana, i love you nigerian, i love you barack obama.
Sharon Douglas
14 July 2009 22:48Nigeria and Nigerians yeye people!!!
Sokoya juwon
14 July 2009 23:00Well this is a case of black to black, obama is a world leader, and falana is one of african leader in times of lawyer, is also a west african bar president he also in world leading possition. Let him talk, and if nigeria which to talk you can talk, but let us know you and your position before you start talk, leave falana obama alone ok.
victor jones
14 July 2009 23:04Mr falana, sometimes i wonder where ur lakaye(brain) is,this how it start with Mr gani fawhemin the great lawyer like u,i dont know maybe at some stage u people use to lose ur sense of reason,the man mr obama have say what is rigth and we all know that the problem of africa people is cause by it leaders including u mr falana,do u say when?dont u share from the money they stole,tell me u work 4 ur money by defending them when u know the soucre of the money,idiot like u,even obama itself suffer the black slave trade,all what people like u want is 4 the man to come here start talking of slave trade,instead of the real issuse,corrouptionsssss
Naayone Nkpah
14 July 2009 23:14Mr. Falana you look stupid for you to talk to President Obama. So you expect Obama to give you a bed after he gave you his daughter to marry. What you are expecting you will not get it. I know you are drunk and you have a mental problem and need to see a doctor. Nigeria show address their problems on their own and leave Obama ALONE! Nigeria is a born corrupt country… from Aso Rock to Local Government level even to the community. Falana leave Obama and America alone. If you are looking for a case that you will defend you can go back to your village. YOU ARE STUPID!
NIYI
14 July 2009 23:21I never expect such coment from people like Femi Falana Obama is a great President Obama is right to blast so- called African leaders most of them are corrupt and not accountable to the people.
john joseph
14 July 2009 23:35it baffles me that mr. femi falana could be talking all these rubbish. i wonder if he is living in another planet and cannot see what our so-called leaders are doing to us. let me ask mr. falana, is there any sentence obama made about africa or our thiefing leaders that is not true, let him tell me. falana is only looking for cheap publicity and nothing more, he should concentrate on his job if he does not have anything to contribute to the society to make us move forward. if falana has travelled to other countries who started thesame time with nigeria, and see the level of development, he will not open his dirty mouth to talk bullshit. let him be informed that some of us who know him know his tactics for survival. i know he never made money through his acclaimed legal feet, he made wealth through making noise, and the lagos government gave him some undeserved contracts, therefore he is a beneficiary of this corruption obama roundly condenmed, maybe that was what gave him the stupid guts to open his useless mouth to say all the nonsense he said. is it not common knowledge that 95% of african leaders are thieves, people with no soul who steal their people blind and starch the stolen money abroad, while the they are supposed to be governing wallow in abject poverty and misery? i do not what qualifies falana to be talking what he does not know, maybe because he thinks himself too much of being an irrelevant president of toothless bulldoggish west african bar association.
i think he needs to be taught a lesson and told the naked truth, even as he parades himself as a human right lawyer, i know he does not fight for any human right cause, rather he is always using human right to advance his endless and greedy appetite for money.
i am giving him the next 24 hours to withdraw his ugly comment and apologize to obama, nigeria and african people or better still hide his head in shame because his schemes are now known by the suffering people of africa. i shall take it personal and will expose him more if after 24 hours he did not do what i told him, enough of these masqueraders like falana or whatever he calls himself.
Akinwumi
14 July 2009 23:36Since he has retracted the staterment, I think he should be forgiven. Nothing is more noble than to admit fallibility.
What have we been able to achieve as a people ever since we have been governing ourselves? That is the food for thought!
LUCKY {spain}
15 July 2009 00:14How do you come about WEST AFRICA BAR ASSOCIATION
wonders shall never end
Very soon Falana will become President of Africa Bar Association
l hope it is not a way to spread corruption to Ghana and other West Africa countries
that Falana blew himself to that position.
As it is now, let it be known to Falana that we need an apology from him.
Oye Abioye
15 July 2009 00:20Without adding sentiments to the barrage of comments Femi Falana has outrage has received. I am totally disaappointed at his unguided comments. Just last week a Nigerian newspaper published the list of 57 penrobbers the EFCC could not touch because they are sacred cows among us. The 57 of them have collectively stollen N257 billion from the nation treasury. How do you think Obama can come in to our rescue. This list does not even include James Ibori’s looted figure nor others. We do not have a legitimate government in Nigeria. Obama coming to nigeria would have legitised an illegitimate government. What kind of a wrong signals would that have been. It was the best decision to have stayed away from Nigeria at least for now until a later time. Peharps when a ligitimate government is in place in Nigeria.
MORENIKEJI OLOWO
15 July 2009 00:28MR. FALANA, I HOPE YOU MUST HAVE SEEN HOW DISENCHANTED PEOPLE ARE NOW WITH NIGERIA GOVT TO THE EXTENT THAT POVERTY OF KNOWLEDGE IS DRIVING THEM TO MISCONTRUE YOUR WELL INTENDED POINTS ABOUT OBAMA’S VISIT TO GHANA. ALL THE COMMENTS ABOVE ARENT INTELLECTUAL ENOUGH TO FAULT YOUR CLAIM ESPECIALLY THEIR PECHANTS FOR INSULTING YOUR GOOD IMAGE. SIR, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT REPARATION IS A RE-BRAND FOR THE WEST TO GRANT OUR PEOPLE MORE VISA TO CONTINUE IN THEIR LARGE NUMBERS THE SLAVERY YOU WANT COMPESATION FOR. WITHOUT GOOD ELECTORAL PROCESS AND SUBSEQUENT GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA, THE SLAVERY IS AN UNENDING VOLUNTARY ONE. GO TO FOREIGN ENBASSIES IN NIGERIA FOR CONFIRMATION.
Adebiyi Adeleye USA
15 July 2009 00:52Its understandable that the visit to Aso-rock by Falana as Henry Okah lawyer for the unconditional release was a life changing journey.
ABAYOMI
15 July 2009 01:05This Old Man needs to keep quiet if he doesn’t have anything good to say.Mr. Falana,you need to cover your face with your old palm. You want Obama to come and beg as you guys begged in Nigeria,swim in the pool of corruption.You better don’t bring your old self to the shore of USA. We don’t want people like you here.
HackLord
15 July 2009 01:10To always blame the Western world or the white men for Africa’s misery is myopic. Where were our fore-fathers when the white men built ships, casted iron and crossed the mighty Atlantic Ocean to come to Africa and shackle some blacks to their land? Why was it not the other way round? There is something seriously wrong with black people and until we find where our problem is we will never make headway. Japan after total destruction in World War 2 has risen to a big economy today. Obama is totally in order. We need to stop being lazy and ask God what has gone wrong with his black creation. 90% of our pastors who could have done that are only interested in duping the poor. Blackman?
chidi abugu
15 July 2009 01:22This is the most stupid comment from FALANA. We now know that you are a gold digger. Though I never admired your style of activisim because you only speak out when you need money. How can obama solve your endemic problem of corruption? Are you with your senses? you want Africa to be at the mercy of the world at the 21th century? come on! pity yourelf. Is time we all tell ourselves the truth. Our only problem is people like you who support corruption.
Never display this kind of stupid thinking in the public again. We know more thasn this way you think. Your time is gone. you are of the same generation that put us in this mess. If I see you anywhere I will spit on you . you owe me the spitting.
Dele
15 July 2009 01:44Maybe Femi Falana was under the influence of palm wine when he said this. This is not the real Femi I know.
habangana marizu
15 July 2009 02:12falana or whatever you call yourself, you are an idiot of no comparism, keep exposing your stupidity and maybe you think yaradua will give you job in abuja, hungry goat.
orobosa
15 July 2009 02:22From the various comments in this forum It is very clear that Nigerians are united in their frustrations with the state of affairs in our beloved country.And justifiably so! But let’s pause for a moment and take another look at Obame’s Ghana visit and call it what it is - a mere stopover! He certainly could have done better . As much as Africa has all the problems Obama rightly articulated in his speech, his attitude was condesending.To say that Africa’s problems were up to Africans to resolve is very disappointing especially coming from the first African American president of the US. Irish Americans including the great Kennedy family are at the forefront of calling for peace in the protracted IRA war in Northern Ireland. Not once hvae they used derogatory remarks on their cousins across the atlantic Here comes the dilema of the black man. Obama’s understanding of the fundamental source of our deplorable condition is to say the least warped. The truth is that the root cause of the political problems in most African countries is our colonian experience. In the case of Nigeria, it was the mistake of 1914 .Corruption and most other problems are a direct consequence of this accident of history. Afterall, Bernerd Madoff, an American has just been sentenced to 150 years for pulling the largest financial fraud in history .About $50 billion. Do not let any of these western powers fool you by calling you names. You have to educate yurself. The US president cannot lecture Africa on corruption. Remember Harliburton, Siemens, Julius Berger etc. Are they Africans? Everyday, the Jews are being compensated and favored becaue of the holocaust.Why not Africans for slavery? That is what people like Falana are saying .Today, the US is engagging China , a country with the worst human rights records in human history without a single word of condemnation from the Obama administration.Because China holds a large portion of US debt. Lets be patient fellow Nigerians. Join hands with MEND and others to put pressure on our leaders to change their ways.Obama cannot move mountains. His comments in Ghana clearly shows this. Do not also be deceived that suddenly everything is now well with Ghana.Please try and understand Falana’s point.
Mike Adeolu
15 July 2009 02:52Gentlemen,
Please leave Mr. Falana alone. He actually had some Kain-kain mixed with burukutu during the press briefing.
Tunde London
15 July 2009 03:01@Remi, I beg to differ on that your comment about freedom of speech. Since the issue of corruption have been ravaging, tormenting our collective growth as a nation and so was been severaly raised by concern Nigerian, was there anytime, Mr. Falana has ever take advantage of freedom of speech to openly condemned our leaders in a pure “ABZ” label terms just as Mr. Obama did in Accra……LAZY TALK!
Wale Dairo, Massachusetts
15 July 2009 03:20Femi Falana, remember George Orwell’s Animal Farm? Four legs good, two legs better? Femi is weary and is waiting to be invited to “come and chop”, he is losing his moral compass.
laolu-oranmiyan
15 July 2009 03:29@steve brown:why are u so myopic and misinformed just because of freedom of speech?bola ahmed tinubu remains a political icon that people like you should be implored to drink from the fountain of his political activism and success-story.Did brf tell u he’s having problems with asiwaju or have u got facts to back up ur frivolous and sentimental accusations?in 2003,six AD governors battled obj and only one returned.In 2007-lagosians gave his party their mandate freely a third time and this time around to a noble and great individual-brf even against all odds and koro ably supported by obj.Asiwaju epitomized constitutionalism&federalism against the dictatorial tendencies of obj and survived with his several legal battles against the federal govt.were ur relatives the ones who denied asiwaju entry into the u.s?for ur information-he’s goes in and out of the U.S at his discretion.i can go on and on but not now.u can’t just be opening ur “jugular” anyhow just in the name of freedom of speech,NO.people like us will resist such,period!!!!!!!
erurugonnanna
15 July 2009 04:13Falana’s strange talk is a drunken speculation of an ignorant man. At his age I don’t need to tell him that Nigeria is even better of during colonization, if not the whole of Africa. Proud of giant of Africa. It’s a shame to you. Africa should keep fighting unnecessary wars, and celebrating idiot rulers.
lakulu
15 July 2009 05:17Fellow Nigerians, have you seen Femi Falana comment to apologise. I think we can pardon him, he actually agreed that he made a mistake. It is our leaders that we need to blame. May God help us all. No light, no road, nothing works. It is absolutely disgusting.
I think only God revolution can solve these problems.
philips
15 July 2009 06:08Payment of reparation is not an issue in a continent where administrators and ploticians embezzle foreign aids for malaria, polio, HIV/AIDS, and other natural and man-made disasters. If the reparation is paid at all, how will it benefit an average African man, when the hawks are hell-bent to such the continent dry without any favourable agenda.
ekwe1111
15 July 2009 06:38I would have been disappointed by Falana’s sentiment on Obama’s visit and commments if I wasn’t African, Nigerian. Falana typifies the avarage African elite (So to speak) who has this ever consuming proclivity towards seeking reparations even at inopportune moments. For starters, our forefathers wered complicit in the slave business- if they did not consent, it wouldn’t have been easy.
More seriously, Nigeria and Nigerians have enough God -given ( Not through dint of hardwork) resources to to round her 150 million citizens, except that we traditionally have monumental levels of corruption, about the highest in any global society, democratic or not.
Our collective destinies lie with us. Until we completely overhaul the way we do businees in every facet of the meaning, we’ll continue to this idiotic tendency to ask for “alms” each time.
All foreign assistance and locally generated funds slated for specific projects in the past wound up in private accounts with unfettered impunity. Nigeria is a sick patient that could only be healed by only one physician. Herself!
Owolo S.
15 July 2009 06:55MR. FEMI FALANA, I RESPECT YOU SO MUCH. WHY SHOULD YOU MAKE SUCH COMMENT ON OBAMA’S VISIT? WHO HELPED AMERICA TO BECOME GREAT? ISRAEL BECAME A NATION AFTER THE 2ND WORLD WAR, WHO MADE THEM TO BE GREAT? IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM TO BE GREAT.
IF YOU PAY NIGERIA REPARATION OF A TRILLION DOLLAS EVERY WEEK, THE MONEY WILL STILL GO TO INDIVIDUAL POCKET. YOU SUPPOSE TO KNOW THIS BETTER. SOUTH AFRICA THAT SUFFER A LOT OF SET BACK DURING APARTHEID RULE ARE ALREADY AHEAD OF US.
MY FRIEND, YOU HAVE TO RETRACT YOUR COMMENT TO REGAIN YOUR IMAGE.
Silver E.
15 July 2009 07:14I still can not believe that Femi falana made that statement . i thought he was one of the voices that was crying for the poor ?
if he ever thought of that statement not to talk of saying it out ,then he must go back to media to render an appology to those who holds him to high esteem.
where Nigerians are hungry in the mist of plenty,he wants Obama to come and congratulate them for starving the masses. rigging elections,political killings,kidnapping and all other social vices.
Mr learned Falana ,please how many people did you hear that was killed during pres.Obama’s political campaign?
incase you don’t know Mr Falana gaint of Africa is now shifted to Ghana. for that reason i am supporting any call for what took place in Ghana to take place here in Nigeria.
Nigeria is full of roggus.all the arms of goverment are corrupt. else what will it take to restore light in Nigeria since early 1980s ?
no light,no water,no good road, no good comminication .just nothing,nothing and absolutely nothing.
OBJ released N7.5trillion to Ghana during the addministration of John koffur.today that country Nigeria is helping is better than Nigeria that is helping her. We must wake up from our slumber now.
Ola Wally
15 July 2009 07:21And who is Femi Falana to blast Obama? I tire for Nigeria o
Chris Ene
15 July 2009 08:10Femi Falana,should understand that we have to solve our problems,before we can talk about external help.What does Femi want?Do you want to be the lawyer to handle the legalities for the reparation,so that you can collect outrageous fees to the detriment of other’s.Can any of you be as consistent as Wole Soyinka?Femi stop ranting,you have in the past enjoyed looted funds by representing these Government THUGS,who have decided to MILK the country dry.Enough of your treachery.
RICHY
15 July 2009 08:51FEMI,
I EXPECT U TO BE MORE VASERTILE AND MORE EXPERIENCE THAN THIS.WITH YOUR MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A CRUSADE FIGHTER LITTLE DO ONE EXPECT THIS FROM YOU.OBAMA IS ONLY EXPRESSING HIS FEELING FOR HIS NATIVE CONTINENT WHICH IS NOW LEFT FOR U EITHER TO TAKE OR LEAVE IT! PLEASE LOOK FOR A WAY IN ANY POSSIBLE MEANS TO APOLOGIZE TO THIS GOD SENT MAN INTO THE WORLD AND STOP THIS CRUSADE OF ENVY AND BADBELLISM AGAINST HIM.
IRINKUNLE
15 July 2009 09:06I am a Nigerian to bone or blood, believe it or not. I will like to inform you that Femi FALANA has been a patriotic NIGERIAN ,meanwhile from all observations Prof Wole Soyinka is not a patriotic Nigerian.If you are patriotic you will never give your country for any price.Prof. Soyinka sold our country so cheap because he will never believe his son can be the president of this country same way he never believed that OBAMA could be the President of the USA today.I give FALANA great kudos for coming out to berate OBAMA for the boycott afterall…….. We all supported OBAMA in spirit,words and prayers . So if you still support Soyinka for saying Nigeria does not deserved be visited by OBAMA then look into yourself and tell yourself - YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY……for us who believe in this country …the FALANIGERIANS…Let us bee. (THANK YOU)
Akin (UK)
15 July 2009 09:32Could Fanala have said those things! Could those words have come from Falana’s mouth? I hope at 40+years, he has not started going Senile!!
Akin (UK)
15 July 2009 09:37As for Remi, I hope if we had concur with Falana, we wouldn’t be part of the problems. Remi, you are part of the problems for not telling your Leaders they are wrong when they are. You know what people like you are called “Sycophants”
Tope Alabi
15 July 2009 09:41I love uncle Femi alot. However, history is not the cause of the current African problem. We are not poor because our brothers and sisters were sold as slaves. We are poor because of the factors raised by my dear friend, Obama. Let us face the real thing, most African leaders are too wicked to be africans.
Ekanem 1, Germany
15 July 2009 10:26Mr Falana,
I will suggest you file a suit against President Obama on the basis of why the Law Professor made a stopover in Ghana. You should also claim the sum of $10B as reparation FEE* for over 500 yrs of slave trade which shall be payable to some senior government officials and some former governors foreign account. I think this should be a way to vent your anger.
Stop Nigerian government from importing generators into the country and invest in solar energy, build infrastructures and creat jobs for graduates and unskilled. On the issue of curruption, please take a trip to Ghana and ask Jerry Rawlings and John Mills how they got it right - Ghana’s democracy may worth emulating!
Ekanem 1, Germany
15 July 2009 10:26Mr. Falana,
I will suggest you file a suit against President Obama on the basis of why the Law Professor made a stopover in Ghana. You should also claim the sum of $10B as reparation FEE* for over 500 yrs of slave trade which shall be payable to some senior government officials and some former governors foreign account. I think this should be a way to vent your anger.
Stop Nigerian government from importing generators into the country and invest in solar energy, build infrastructures and creat jobs for graduates and unskilled. On the issue of curruption, please take a trip to Ghana and ask Jerry Rawlings and John Mills how they got it right - Ghana’s democracy may worth emulating!
Asohwa
15 July 2009 11:19James Ibori,
I think you are also a black monkey the fact that you did not agree to his view does not means you should insult him. Have you forgotten that he has right to freedom of speech.
For national peace mind how you ruin abuses on people, meanwhile, Mr. Falana I did not share you view.
sakin jide
15 July 2009 11:53Remi,i sympathise with you for having a problem with talking falana down.Be that as it may,FALANA i am not surprised,this can at least launch you to the world stage. Your bros keyamo is gearing up for the next stage.i wont be surprised if he too has said something perculiar to all of you….publicity STUNT. CANT YOU JUST BE A LITTLE REASONABLE AND STOP SHOUTING YOUR VOICE HOARSE OVER NOTHING. The killers,looters,terrorists and thieves you helped out of jail are still on the prowl to steal the reparation.
dapo
15 July 2009 12:31what amount of money in reperation will take Africa from it’s present situation.
Falana, we need to look inward, you and your generation are a part of Africa’s problem
Ayo
15 July 2009 13:17Mr. falana sir, you a man of high honor and so respected.
On this issue, Obama has no blemish, Africa’s problem is leadership, Nigeria’s problem is leadership. We must look inward for solution to our problems, we need sincere leaders, we desire honest leaders. What our leaders acquired to their estates in the past 15years will be enough to build a nation from scratch, yet we live as if we are all almajiris(beggars)
Please lets not blame Obama, he is a president of America, americans voted for him, he is not the africa’s president.
JB
15 July 2009 14:46What Comrade Falana mean to say is that….SIMPLY BCOS YOU ARE BORN IN A MANGER YOU MUST LIVE LIKE A HORSE.
Haba!…this must be the devils ink… i swear Falana never said such a thing. How can? No not Falana. It is not in his nature.
Washington
15 July 2009 14:59With Falana’s comments on Obama choice of Ghana for his first visit to Africa, it means we are still far from solving our problems in Africa and Nigeria in particular. Does Falana want Obama to choose Zimbabwe, Kenya or Nigeria for his first visit? Is payment of reparation to Africa his antidote for stopping corruption in Africa? Is Falana not aware that affluent Nigerians are sending their wards to school in Ghana? Is he blind to the fact that many enterprenuers have relocated to Ghana?For such comment to come from someone like Femi Falana shows that he is suffering from a corrupted brain
Edet
15 July 2009 15:13Comrade Femi, you are totally wrong here. Good you have apologised to your admirers. It is very disappointing to hear yousaid such thing concerning the well articulated issues raised by our brother Obama. African development depend on their own shoulders, no investments where corruption holds sway, wealth cannot be created where leaders are self serving. What else did you want; afterall these have been your position all along; or like some comentators allege, were you settled to now defend corruption?
Today human trafficking from Africa is modern slavery and you have nt done much to stop it> It is even the West who are helping Africa tackle the menace. Did the West come and force our people into slavery? As pointed out, our people sold or exchamged them with other things. I am sure the generationsof those slaves, including Obama himself are far better today in those other countries than we Nigerians or Africans.
Concerned Nigerians and in fact Africans are all in agreeement with the issues raised by Obama. We challenge our leaders to seize the opportunity and demonstrate that yes we can change for better. God bless Nigeria.
Evans
15 July 2009 15:23Is it constitutonal that he must visit Nigeria first before any other countr? Or was there an agreement reached to visit naija first.
Or is Ghana not an African country again? so what is you guy stress about Obama plan to visit Ghana?
Abeg make una give the guy break, make him go where he wants to go. Una want make him go so that una go use CORRUPTION take baptise and welcome him to Africa????????????? He has his choice to make so make una allow.
t
15 July 2009 15:37The Falana that I know will give more reasons for his speech or withdraw it if he could see the above comments.I do not share his views either.
Dimoriaku
15 July 2009 16:41I respect Mr. Falana as a senior in the Legal Profession. But his comment/opinion sounded too personal, & I will forgive him for that. The problem is, when people we expect to say s/thing reasonable come up with things that are unreasonable, we wonder where we are heading to. And please remember, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” We all know that things are not what they are suppose to be. I believe Mr Gani another respected senior will never ever make such a comment, rather he will praise Mr Obama for his actions, & on the same note tell our so called leaders to brace up & change our societies for the better.
How long shall we wait for a messiah, where are our revolutionaries, where are people like Thomas Sankara, Murtala Mohammed & Idiagbon of the blessed memory? African Arise! When shall we be proud of our nations, when shall we be part & parcel of the society where there are good roads, uninterrupted electricity supply, clean running water, crime free environment, etc?
We all will answer the question when the time comes, are you ready?
Njideka Nwapa-Ibuaka
15 July 2009 18:33It is rather unfortunate that some of our so called leaders would take the route of blame, defense and playing the victim. President Obama hit the nail on the head when he chastised our leaders for their corrupt acts, gross irresponsibility and careless attitudes on their citizens. The truth remains that until Africa as a continent learn how to become self sustained by tapping into their riches; natural resources, fertile land and also utilize their manpower, we will always be poor.
Our leaders have failed us in that the majority are inherently corrupt and lack a spirit of patroitism. President Obama has challenged us to revoke these impressions which we should thank him for and then show the world that we are capable of becoming self sufficient and self reliant.
Mr. Femi Falana has shown that he remains myopic, self centered and irrational in his assessment of President Obama’s goodwill. I implore him to take another look at the continent , especially Nigeria and then begin to re-assess his values. We in the diaspora are deeply disappointed by our so called leadership in Nigeria and pray for a day when we can turn things around for the betterment of all Nigerians.
eddy UK
17 July 2009 15:49I cannot believe that Mr Falana said this. Femi has been one of the lightening rods we have in the country but his take on Obama’s speech leaves me wondering.
Itis about time that folks like Falana stop expecting someone else to come and clean their mess. When you were messing up, what were you thinking? Who helped the West get to where they are today? They have given you the education, the ways and means of enhancing yourselves to prosperity but you frittered away the opportunity and now expext the United States to come clean house for you. It does not work that way over here, Mr Falana, it just does not.