Chika Onyeani
Monday October 27th, 2008
“Botswana demonstrates how a country with natural resources can promote sustainable development with good governance, on a continent where too often mineral wealth has become a curse,” Mr Annan, a 2001 UN Nobel Peace Prize winner, said.
Chika Onyeani
Wednesday October 15th, 2008
The last presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain ended about an hour ago, and the insta-polls have just come in, showing Obama soundly trouncing McCain. According to the CBS poll of uncommitted voters say Obama Won Final Debate.
“And tonight’s results have, by a wide margin, made it a clean sweep. Here are the final results of the survey of 638 uncommitted voters:
Fifty-three percent (53%) of the uncommitted voters surveyed identified Democratic nominee Barack Obama as the winner of tonight’s debate. Twenty-two percent (22%) said Republican rival John McCain won. Twenty-five (25%)percent saw the debate as a draw.” Read the full CBS News report
CNN had the result as McCain: 31 percent, Obama 58 percent. On the favorability:
Obama Favorable:
63 percent before debate --> 66 percent after debate. Unfavorable: 35 percent before debate --> 33 percent after debate
McCain Favorables
Favorable: 51 percent before debate --> 49 percent after debate
Unfavorable: 45 percent before debate --> 49 percent after debate
Other findings from CNN:
Who would better handle the economy?
McCain: 35 percent
Obama: 59 percent
Who would better handle the financial crisis?
McCain: 35 percent
Obama: 56 percent
Who would better handle health care?
McCain: 31 percent
Obama: 62 percent
Who would better handle taxes?
McCain: 41 percent
Obama: 56 percent
Even Fox News pollster, Luntz said this: “None had made a decision to support Sen. Obama before the debate, but more than half supported after the debate. It was a good night for Barack Obama.”
In essence, in the three debates Obama has won resoundingly. Stay tuned for more report
Chika Onyeani
Tuesday October 14th, 2008
With the shrillness reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, the right-wing of the Republican party was whipped into frenzy of hate and fear by Ms. Palin. When she mentioned Obama at her rallies, there have been vocal shouts of “kill him,” “terrorist,” “off his head.” When you hear these epithets being shouted at Obama, you remember all the Black leaders who have been murdered in cold blood, all those who were lynched during Jim Crow, and you wonder whether there is a subtle message here about what should happen to Obama. Is it an indirect way of convincing someone to do to Obama what was done to President John Kennedy, Senator Bobby Kennedy, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, or even Reagan?
Chika Onyeani
Wednesday October 1st, 2008
Given how most African countries are ruled by tyrants and dictators, there is no doubt that those who love democracy in Africa would proclaim Mbe’s honor. He has given South Africa that preminent position for advancing the cause of democracy in Africa, by heeding the demands of the electorate as represented by elected officials of the African National Congress.
On ther other hand, his sacking is demeaning and smells of vendetta - it didn’t show statesmanship on the part of Jacob Zuma. Why continuing to kick a man who is already down? Thabo Mbeki was due to step down as President after the elections in April, 2009. Why was the rush in having him removed except as an vindictive payback, notwithstanding what this would do internationally to the interests of South Africa. It was a bad judgment call.
