By Professor Sule Magaji.
We Africans are expressing a fear that we are shifting from Western Masters to a new one, China. The new master, in an effort to maintain hegemony, may be more aggressive in the exploitation of Africa’s resources and interfere with the political and economic policies.
However, we don’t have to be pessimistic about the current change in the global leadership.
We should take into account that China is also in rivalry with the West. That is also to the advantage of Africa.
In addition, we should always have in mind that Africa has been stagnated, exploited and humiliated by the West since the era of slave trade. So the fall of the West should be seen as an opportunity for Africa to throw away the yoke.
Going down memory lane, recent turmoils in Africa is attributed to the struggle by the Western countries to hedge against their potential economic and political irrelevancies.
Africa may be better off despite its high level of disorganisation.
This disorganisation is indexed by corruption and selfish interest in politics, religion and economic life in particular.
For example, almost every one of us is after economic accumulation by hook or by crook. Politics is a business in Africa. Elected leaders loot dishonorably.
There are more religious leaders in Africa than decades ago but morality, honestly, tolerance and humility are at lowest ebbs. Religious leaders are but competitors in economic accumulation with politicians and business class.
Business is being done in an unethical ways as all and sundry are not guided by laid down rules and regulations and no adherence to religious code. A poor, ordinary man in remote a area has similar corrupt tendencies ready to double-cross anybody on his way.
At the global level, the crude mode of imperialists penetration is changing from the use of military force to biological weapons and foreign capital. That gives China an edge over the broke West.
Looking at the current situation in Africa, our selfish leaders can also connive with foreign investors to defraud their countries. For example, with the current possibility of using biological weapons, the entire population of an area where there is economic interest can be wiped out through conniving African leaders.
However, there is light in the tunnel. Africa has abundant resources less likely to be exploited as awkwardly as done by the West.
In addition, Africans in diaspora should be expected to return home as the opportunities in the West are going to be limited. More so, the youth have been beaten several times and therefore, polished enough to reengineer Africa in their own ways.
▪ Magaji, is of the University of Abuja, and sent this via WhatsApp.