allAfrica.com * Nigeria And Africom Leadership (Abuja) OPINION 18 December 2007 Posted to the web 18 December 2007 By Kabiru Mato Precisely, it was a little over two weeks ago that the National Council of State met in Abuja and decided in no uncertain term that Nigeria had rejected the proposal for the establishment of the headquarters of the African Military Command in its territory. This information was greeted with fan fare as most citizens especially those who understand the implications of the situation of the American imposition on any territory. The decision was seen as a welcome development in view of the fact that it is an internationally established fact that the Americans bulldoze their ways into any territory on the surface of earth as long as certain interests, mostly economic, are at stake. When the government of General Obasanjo which the current one seems to be covering up to a fault was dragging the Americans into strategic partnership in various economic interests, they did not perhaps know the implications of that action which invariably could lead to apparent occupation for the sake of protecting its (America) investments and other allied interests in the region. From the Middle East to the Caspian Sea region, the American capital has fought wars to keep its interest and sustain the benefits that accrue to it and its nationalities at no matter what cost. That is the center piece of American foreign policy. Permanent interest. No permanent friend, no permanent enemy. All these could change depending on circumstances. What remains firm and unshakeable is the American interest. No doubt, the resource that abound in the Gulf of Guinea is too important to be forsaken by any serious capitalist. The involvement of American interests in the exploitation of this resource though thought to be simple economic partnership may soon turn out to be very strategic that will require heavy American military presence as a guarantee for not only securing its investments but most importantly, for protectionists reasons that will ensure the exclusion of all other likely competitors in the region. Another issue revolve around the current American craze for what it calls 'terrorists' breeding areas especially in some sections of Northern Nigeria. The failure of the local and international intelligence services to appreciate the economic undertones of the agitations by young elements who normally steal any platform available is responsible for this international gangstarism that has led to declaration of war on innocent peoples in the Middle East and western capitals. The intelligence community seems to be oblivious of the genesis of the agitations by those who live under the religious banner to protest the growing inequality and injustice in local and on international horizons. The need to continue to nip such agitations in the bud is another reason the American state machine is making desperate efforts to establish a military command on the West African waters so that those who dear say no to American interests, no matter how exploitative they may be, are given the right treatment. The war against terror has since re-colonized, not only the Western ruling classes but equally their intelligentsia who have successfully fallen victims of a monster that is their own creation. That is why President George W. Bush for instance got an easy ride in winning the second term. The terror scare was so severe that the mentality of the West was conquered and the only game in town is war against terror. That is not the issue or at least the main issue as far as the AFRICOM development is concerned. What the Americans want us to believe now is that there is the need to enter into strategic partnership with countries of Africa that will re-enforce defense and possibly trade and other ties. Ready instruments to legitimize this economic and military re-colonization are certain instruments and agreements that are tied to the neo-liberal theology of liberalization and breaking down of national economic boundaries. The decision of the council to refuse the Americans the latitude to station their command headquarters in Nigeria might have precipitated the invitation that President Yar'adua got to Washington DC last week. Yes, Americans are resolute in using every available means at achieving their objectives. To house the command headquarters whether on or off the shores of Nigeria is a big legitimacy additive to the Americans. Despite the helter appeals by the Liberian Ellen Serlif Johnson, it is not likely that both she and her country will make any meaningful appeal to have the command headquarters located in her territory. This is easily understandable in view of the dynamics of politics that are involved in the entire occupation agenda. If Nigerian government will accept that the headquarters of Africom may be put up within the territory, the implications will be that the protection of the high mineral deposits and gas in the Gulf of Guinea will be the main item on the agenda while the war against the development of militancy and other forms of insurgency will be just other items on the agenda. Many citizens were jittery when they received the news that President Yar'adua was billed to visit the White House. Even if his attention as he indicated was to put the issue of Daffur on the front burner of discussions, it was clear that what was more interesting to the American state establishment was the issue of peace and security in the West African sub region. The reason of course is clear. What the president said after the White House meeting suggested that there was some kind of rethink on the entire rejection of the AFRICOM palaver. While it has not been made clear yet whether the government will be prepared to present before the National Council of State any new development in the issue, I want to believe that President Yar'adua's statement simply implied that Nigeria is prepared to cooperate with the Americans in their drive to establish military presence in the region. That may not however mean that Nigeria is ready to house the AFRICOM headquarters. I personally do not see any benefit from hosting such an invading army. It has not proven to have impacted any positively on all those previous cases and as such if history is anything to rely on, then, Nigerians must continue to encourage their government to take pro-active steps in ensuring that the command is not successful. In my view, it is an intrusion. It is another way of colonizing the continent. As has been persistently argued, the main motive of any occupation is economic. That is why they came in the first place. That is why they are here again. The difference is in time and style. While in the earlier colonialism the style was through trade and boundary protectionism, the new style is via globalization and the breaking down of national economic boundaries. That is why they have babies like the Millennium Development Goals. All the items on the agenda are merely a distortion of the reality that is on ground. They must devise means and ways of confusing the underdeveloped peoples of the world. The resources that abound in the third world nations must be taken to by all means whether the people like it or not. That explains why the AFRICOM in the first place. By the way, what wouldn't African leaders pay more attention on the need to have an African High Command that will play several roles among which is the intervention role in areas of intra African conflicts? Why would the leaders watch helplessly as a foreign power makes strides to invade and dominate the continent militarily all for the sake of exploiting the numerous oil and gas resources that are found within the African shores? Without the discoveries in the Gulf of Guinea, the Americans would certainly not have thought of stationing their troops on the continent. They will not stake the life of any American if money is not involved. The message here is that Nigerian government must not under whatever circumstance allow any foreign power invade our privacy. Nigeria and in fact the independence of all African nations must be asserted if we are to earn any respect in international affairs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2007 Leadership. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------