The most powerful man in the world, President Barack Hussein Obama of the United States of America, made a very wise choice. He spent the Christmas holiday in Honolulu, Hawaii, with his family and friends. The Elder Senior Citizens were invited just to bear witness to the fact that “24/7” the president is on duty regardless of the golfing, strolling around, dining with friends and generally trying to “hunk down”.
Incidentally, Barack was born in Hawaii. It’s on his birth certificate dated August 4, 1961, but his detractors insist that he was born on foreign soil – in Kenya!
On previous occasions when Barack chose to spend his vacation in the Hampton’s, the exclusive playground of seriously rich old money, the conservatives were quick to slag him off as a “nouveau riche” or social climber. Can you imagine, not even the president of America is free to choose where to spend his vacation! Just because he is black.
Anyway, on Christmas day itself we were aghast that the day was ruined by the poisonous “Christmas card” from the Leader (and God) of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, who released the following damnation of Obama: “We hold the president of the United States of America responsible for Sony’s release of ‘The Interview’ (an action comedy which depicts a plot to assassinate Kim). Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a BLACK monkey in a tropical forest.”
In subsequent versions, “black” was deleted. The “Red Necks” in America chose a different ploy. They resorted to sly tactics and planted the following story from Saturday Sun newspaper of 27th December, 2014 for wide media circulation with the sub-text of Kenya as the birthplace of Barack Obama. Headline: “Young Women Dragged Away From Their Village For Dowry Of 20 Goats And Three Camels”.
According to the story, “Inside the ‘traditional’ tribal wedding that still takes place in Kenya is the heartbreaking moment young girls in Kenya are sold into arranged marriages for a dowry of livestock as part of a traditional ceremony which marks their passing into womanhood. Clad in tribal jewellery and with their hair tied up in braids, some of the women can be seen struggling as they are hauled away, traded by their fathers for 20 goats, three camels, and 10 cows. Many of the girls, who are members of the Pokot tribe, are not aware they have been bargained away until their husbands come to collect them after spending a month in isolation before the ceremony takes place. Often their parents will keep the details of the marriage hidden for fear that their daughter will run away if she finds out about the deal they have made.”
As part of the subtle but unrelenting efforts of Republicans to get at Barack Obama by emphasizing his African ancestry, salacious stories about the African continent have become the staple diet of the formidable right-wing section of the US media – largely culled from the internet. Here are a few samples:
Front page of Vanguard of December 16, 2014: Headline: “Tourism Potential Of Dog Meat Delicacy In Akwa Ibom”:
The story reports that Dog meat, a delicacy for the Ibibio, Oron, Annangs, Eket and Obolo-speaking people of Akwa Ibom State, has turned out to be not only a source of foreign income earnings to the sellers in the state, it is also enticing consumers and tourists from neighbouring African countries and beyond.
New Telegraph of November 24, 2014: Front page headline: “Why LASU Awarded 19 PhD Certificates In Error”:
“The Lagos State University (LASU) has said that it decided to withdraw the 19 PhD certificates suspected to be awarded in error in order to check the ‘certificate mess’ in the institution. Briefing journalists at the weekend, the LASU vice-chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, said that the errors in the certificate were discovered when one of the owners refused to collect hers on the grounds that she was awarded PhD certificates in the programme she did not enrol for,” the paper reports.
“The VC also said the ‘certificate mess’ was part of the rot in the university, adding that the Senate of the institution was committed to streamlining the problems of ‘double honours’ in the certificates and rectify those awarded for programmes not run by the university,” it further reported.
National Mirror of December 25, 2014: Front page headline: “My Parents Recruited Me, Says 13-Year-Old Suicide Bomber”:
According to the story, a 13-year-old female suicide bomber, Zarau Babangida, who declined to detonate explosives loaded on her, said that her biological father introduced her to the Boko Haram sect.
Zarau Babangida, who reportedly spoke in Kano when she was paraded by the state’s Police Command, was among the three female bombers primed to attack Kantin Kwari Market, Kano, on December 10. The two other girls managed to detonate their bombs, leading to the death of 10 people, while many others were injured. Zarau said that her biological father took her to a bush in Bauchi State, where she was indoctrinated into the Boko Haram group.
Daily Independent of December 16, 2014: Front page headline: “I Killed My Son Because He’s Stubborn – Father”:
The story reports a 43-year-old man, Rabiu Yusuf, who resides at Maina Maji in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, as having tortured his 10-year-old son, Aliyu Rabiu, to death due to his alleged stubbornness.
New Telegraph December 5, 2014: Back page headline: “Officer Steals N20m, Draws Salaries From 15 Commands – Police”:
According to the newspaper report, a policeman, Victor Banor, allegedly stole N20 million and collected salaries from over 15 different commands. Banor, who has been in detention, as at the time of the report approached a Lagos Federal High Court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, accusing the police of infringing on his fundamental right to freedom and asking the court to compel the police to release or arraign him.
“But the police, which opposed his application, said Banor also opened over 25 bank accounts with different names, forged documents and identity cards presenting him as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and Superintendent of Police (SP),” the report said.
J.K Randle
