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| AFRICANS MAKE QUANTUM POLITICAL LEAPS ::: |
3/9/2009 |
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ROTIMI ADEBARI::
2008 will enter the records as the year Africans (full or half) made the giant leaps in the political ladder in the Western nations. It may be a warning signal that Africans have finally arrived. The equivalent of Berlin walls have fallen and barriers that hitherto looked insurmountable have been broken and dreams that seemed unattainable and unrealizable have been accomplished. The ascendancy of some Africans in the political arena in 2007 was but a tip of the iceberg. It was in 2007 in the Republic of Ireland that, a Nigerian-Rotimi Adebari who fled to Ireland as an asylum-seeker became the country’s first black mayor, in what is seen as a landmark in multicultural relations and integration. He was elected Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council and received a standing ovation amid scenes of celebration. Rotimi made it his mission to promote cultural understanding and integration between the Irish and immigrant communities. He declared: “This is not just a country of a thousand welcomes, but a country of a thousand equal opportunities.”
In a similar development, Ricardo Lumengo, who also fled Angola as a student activist in 1982 to Switzerland made a very rapid political progression in the Swiss political scene. He was naturalized as a Swiss citizen in 1997 in Fribourg, and was elected to the Biel municipal council in 2004, and in 2006 to the cantonal council of Berne. In the 2007 federal election, he was elected to the Swiss National Council, as the country’s first national counsellor of African origin and the first former asylum seeker to be elected into the council.
MS. ELIZABETH QUARSHIE (NEE KOTEY)
The Government of Saskatchewan in Canada appointed a Ghanaian Ms. Elizabeth Quarshie (nee Kotey) as the Deputy Minister of Environment. Ms. Quarshie from Ghana, who has been a Canadian citizen since 1977, has sterling academic and professional qualifications. She holds a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Washington State University, an MBA from University of Saskatchewan, and B.SC in chemistry and Biological sciences from Notre Dame University. In addition, she has a certificate in Oil and Gas economy from Princeton/Oxford University. She is a member of the Association of professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and she is one of the 180 certified professional environmental Auditors in the world. Ken Kravetz, Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan asserted that Ms. Quarshie appointment was based on her qualifications and extensive experience in the energy and mine field.
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BARACK OBAMA
The lists of people of African background being elected and appointed into elite political positions in foreign lands and those aspiring to take the political batons have started to swell in 2008. The eagle in the fold is the charismatic Barack Obama whose father was from Kenya. With his slogan of “change, yes and we can”, he won the presidential election in style. He has already started changing the status quo in a positive manner across the broad spectrum. He has broken the Black Africans political barrier and jinx. He has changed the status of inferiority to one of superiority. The outcome of the nov.4, elections seemed like a mirage to most black activists. Most of the descendants of slaves, who thought that the dream of Martin Luther King would not materialize in their time, saw Obama’s victory as a consummation of that noble dream.
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J ENNETTE ARNOLD
Jennette Arnold who used to be a nurse, originally from the Caribbean Island of Montserrat has become the very first black woman elected chair of the London Assembly. Following a successful career in nursing, Jennette Arnold worked as an Industrial Relations Officer and as Regional Director of Services and Special Adviser (Equalities) to the General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing. Jennette was elected to Islington Borough Council in 1994 and held a number of key positions, including a term as Deputy Mayor. In 2007 Jennette was listed by the New Nation Newspaper as one of Britain’s 50 most influential Black Women. In her acceptance speech an elated Jannette had this to say- “I am delighted to have been elected as Chair of the Assembly for 2008/09 and look forward to working with Darren Johnson AM (London-wide Assembly Member for the Green Party) who was elected as Vice-Chair.”
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DR. JEAN-LEONARD TOUADI
The list also includes Dr. Jean-Leonard Touadi of Congo Brazzaville origin, a holder of doctorate degrees in political science and philosophy, a member of the center-left Italy of Values party who was elected a Member of Parliament in the April 2008 elections. That was only half the story in Italy; the Assembly would also have another African in the person of Souad Sbai- of Moroccan origin from the People of Freedom Party.
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EZEKIEL OBASOHAN
On May 17th, 2008 Nigerian-born Ezekiel Obasohan who came to London 18years ago was elected a mayor of London Borough of Baking and Dagenham City. He clearly defeated his opponent in a history-making event. Like the legendry Martin Luther King, the elated Obasohan echoed that philosophy of “I have a dream!” in his acceptance speech.
AHMED ABOUTALEB
The Rotterdam City Council in the Netherlands, on 16th October has voted Ahmed Aboutaleb as its mayor. He was then the deputy social affairs minister and member of the Dutch Labour party. He would assume office in January 2009 and became the first ever Dutch mayor of Moroccan origin. Aboutaleb’s election is remarkable; his Islamic faith makes the appointment unique. His climb up the political ladder was fast. In February 2004, he became Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen’s alderman for Work and Income, Education, Youth and Diversity. And in the spring of last year, he joined the national government, taking his present post of Social Affairs State Secretary. His move to Rotterdam now is certainly yet another elevation. He combines his Muslim faith with a political style that is typically Dutch- consensus and dialogue is paramount. The Moroccan community organization noted that they are making history by providing such a large and leading city with its Lord Mayor.
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The social mobility of these people with African background up the political ladder speaks volumes for the promotion of multi-culturalism and integration. The concept of political participation is one major avenue of encouraging multiculturalism. The ability of those elected and appointed people to “deliver” would go a long way in justifying that the pre-conceived notions about them were erroneous. It would further consolidate the fact that if equal opportunity for all if made a reality instead of a myth, will make the society better off.
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