Inside My World
Tourism & Peace
Since President Barack Obama who is of African heritage was elected and the 2010 Football World Cup to be held in South Africa was announced, tourism in parts of Africa has increased. The head of the UN World Tourism Organisation says, “There has been a shift in the way people look at Africa.” Africa was the only continent to see an increase in tourism since the recession. In 2009 international travellers increased by 5%.
The top two African countries to receive the highest influx of new tourists were Ghana and South Africa. However, President Obama’s father originated from Kenya which has led to a small increase of American tourists. There has been a steady rise in the number of global visitors to South Africa, with more expected once the football competition begins in June of which 32 nations are taking part.
Last July, Obama visited Ghana but not Kenya his own homeland. Why? Ghana has had five successive elections since 1992. The peaceful transfer of power after a close presidential election is more attractive to president Obama. This is in stark contrast to Kenya’s continual political crisis since 2007 where post election violence led to more than 1,500 deaths. Ghana is a model of stable governance. The nation serves as a backdrop for Obama’s push for more democratic and economic developments across Africa.
Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since its independence. Both 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and similar to Kenya, with violence. Did you know that in 1990, a tourism policy was produced in Nigeria with the basic objective to make it the ultimate tourism destination in Africa? (I can hear you laughing and asking, how this can be possible.) I understand there are enormous potentials and investment opportunities in the Nigerian tourism sector. But, I believe the one main impediment to the development of this country is the same reason Obama did not visit Kenya: Stability.
Like Ghana we need a viable democratic system that guarantees political stability. We need a governing body that improves international relations and promotes respect for human rights; these basic fundamentals would enhance investment opportunities in our country. Where was our president when Nigerians were labelled as “terrorists” and the world black-listed us? Who stood up for us then to improve international relations? Where was our respect for human rights and human life when 200 people were killed in Jos this past week? What image are we portraying to the world? How can we possibly become Africa’s most popular destination when we lack infrastructure, bad roads, terrible drainage and waste management system, we have electricity that is as stable as our president’s health and an education system that teaches illiteracy? As it is, we may be a country, but we are far from a nation and even further from a united nation. Until attitudes change and those in power, genuinely want to serve the country and improve its condition, those in power will only serve themselves. I hear people every day, from various walks of life complain about what is wrong with Nigeria; the list is endless. It saddens and frustrates me that nobody feels like they can make a difference, that their voices, sentiments and opinions are all gone with the wind. So they all complain but no-one changes and everything remains the same. Without each individual person that voted for President Obama, there probably would never have been a black president in America...every vote counts, every voice is heard and everybody can make a difference.
Plateau state is often referred to as ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’. How absurd! Jos, the capital of Plateau state, lies at the point where Nigeria’s Muslim north and predominantly Christian south meet. The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignacious Kaigama, told the BBC that religion was not the real cause of the violence. “It is a struggle for ethnic and political superiority in Jos” he said. “If this issue is not resolved then we will witness a cycle of violence. There has to be some political solution”. I ask, why wait for incompetent political leaders to resolve this matter? After all in Rome, there is rising tension between Catholics and Jews. The current Pope Benedict XVI decided to visit the main Jewish synagogue; he is the first pope in 24 years to visit the Great Temple. He called on both religions to talk more and focus on bigger problems such as poverty and disease, rather than fighting each other. The root of this ethnic-religious-political problem needs to be established so a resolution can be put in place. My only fear is that it is a deep rooted angst, where one solution is almost impossible. If political leaders cannot step in, then perhaps religious leaders in Nigeria should take a page from Pope Benedict’s book and visit other religious places of worship. Perhaps they can influence and encourage their followers to get along better by setting an example. After all have you ever heard of Pastor E.A Adeboye visiting the National Mosque in Abuja and discussing with the Chief imam Ustaz Musa Mohammed, the current state of affairs of our country and how they should encourage their followers to work together and focus on bigger world issues such as eradication of poverty and hope for world peace. Not to fight against each other and to believe that Nigeria is big enough to peacefully sustain more than one religion. These are my hopes and dreams for this country: Peace.
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