Re: Embassy Angers Nigerians

Dear Mr. Babalola:

Good day to you. I have just finished reading your article with respect to the above caption. I am not shocked at all. Nigerian officials only exist for themselves. They do not have any sense that they should be representing Nigerians. Having said that, there is really nothing to celebrate about Nigeria's supposed independence.

In Toronto here the story was different. Some of us demonstrated at the party because there was nothing to celebrate and this eventaully prevented the ambassador from attending. He was very angry and tried to get us arrested, but his naivety was exposed by the police who told him there was nothing illegal about demonstrations in Canada - I guess he thought he was in Nigeria.

Next time, maybe you guys should go there and demonstrate, they will hear you then. Trust me. You guys should let them know that next time they try to hold a "by invitation only" independence day dance, your group will demonstrate at the site of such party. You mark it, you will hear from the embassy very quickly - they are chickens who cannot stand demonstrations.
I wish you good luck in your struggle with these irredeemably corrupt officials. Have a wonderful day.

Regards,
Majek Adega
ChangeNigeria Group
Toronto, Canada


Dear Mr Babalola,

I can not but agree with the above comments of my fellow Nigerian (Majek Adega). The celebration of our Independence Day (should) signify our national unity, which is even more important for those of us living in diaspora. I think this negligence sums up what the embassy in Budapest stands for.

A few weeks ago I was invited (unfortunately due to late invitation I personally could not attend) an African Development Forum sponsored by one of the arms of the United Nations, held in Budapest. The aim of this organization is to arouse commercial and investment interests among business people in Hungary.

As you can imagine, the official representatives of our great country were invited. Surprisingly not a single "busy" member of the Nigerian Embassy officials in Hungary could attend - they had better things to do (hopefully something that yield more dividends for their country) than giving a short speech about Nigeria, or talking about the business environment at home, or even encouraging business people to invest in or trade with Nigeria.

When the Hungary organizers asked you to rally around and get Nigerian business people to attend such occasion, you cannot but advise them that their best bet would be the Nigerian Embassy. But alas! They had tried, but our people were too busy...

There are a million ways to hold a celebration party and still have the reputation of the embassy intact. When you do not have enough trust (and respect) for your people, believe me, those foreign dignatories invited will come and politely "toast" with you, but they have no more respect for you than you have for your own people...

Oluremi Durosaiye, Budapest

Re: The Arrest & Hunt for Nigerian Online Publishers

From Dr. Bankole Okuwa
A Rejoinder
okuwa1006@cablelynx.com

Nigeria is expected to emerge as a meaningful leader among black nations because of its aboundant natural resources, but it cannot because of its aboundant dishonest and corrupt leaders read more

The Arrest & Hunt for Nigerian Online Publishers

By Hakeem Babalola
Press Freedom

If Jonathan Elendu is involved in money laundering for a South-South governor and in blackmailing a senator with an alleged demand for N20 million to keep some secrets from being published, as reported by Dipo Kehinde of the Compass - then he must face the music. If however the arrest is due to his being critical of the government, then the SSS should be ready to arrest yours truly as well read more

Fund Raising Ball for Refugees & Victims

Archie Bonka reports

A fund raising ball for Somalian refugees and the victims of the atrocities caused by the Lords Resistance Army in the Ugandan town of GULU was held recently at the exclusive SYMBOL restaurant in Budapest read more

related story here

Audience Criticise Stereotyped Film on Africa

A film that meant to enlighten Hungarians about Africa and its people eventually turned the audience off at the inauguration of Afrimage, a film project designed to show both the positive and negative sides of the continent. However, some of the audience accused the organisers of what they termed lack of taste and formulaic conception.

The event which attracted mainly Hungarians was held on 14 January at the African-Hungarian Union Office in Budapest where two different films were shown about Africa and its people.

The first film focuses mainly on the hustling and bustling lives in the capital cities of the two Congo Democratic Republics - Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Artisans, craftsmen, market women, painters, and the Congolese National television staff are seeing being interviewed in the documentary.

The second film concentrates much on pigeonhole that stereotyped Africa and its people as lazy and poor. It shows about fifteen Congolese teenagers, including children living in a pathetic condition that makes slum a luxury. Although the moderator had warned the audience about the nature of the film, many still believed it shouldn't have been shown because of its sensitivity and gory message.

Unable to hold back their disbelieve, three Hungarians who had spent several years in Africa criticised the rationale behind such blatant display of a film lacking originality or individuality.

Questioned about the offending film, the brains behind the project, Sorel Kembe-Arthur and David Abia-Okon whose fathers are from Congo and Nigeria respectively, said that better films will be shown as time goes on, adding that this was just the beginning.

Bálogh Sándor, African Hungarian Union president, who is the sole sponsor of the event, spoke about the difficulties facing most African countries, especially the ongoing war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo which, according to him, has displaced women and their children.

Reports by Archie Bonka
Written by Hakeem Babalola