"Some skeptical people have been writing nonsense and rubbish in the newspapers that what is my business with Obama. But they are free to continue to write petitions. It is not their money that we are spending. Ask them is it your money that we are spending?" These are the exact words of Professor Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Africans for Obama 2008, a non-governmental Nigeria-based group that is campaigning vigorously, raising funds and mobilizing support for the US Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

There were reportedly 56 buffet tables at the dinner, loaded with
champagne, red wine, beer and assorted drinks, Obama's posters decorated
the stage and the entrance, with a 25-metre long rug on which was boldly
written: YES WE CAN. It is probably the most expensive dinner anyone has
ever eaten in that Shell Hall, at N2. 5 million for a Platinum Corporate
Table and Individual: N325, 000, and for a Gold Table: N2m and N275, 000
respectively. Madam Okereke-Onyiuke does not want to be criticised,
because after all it is not our money that was being spent. The event, not
to talk of the idea of a fund-raising dinner for Obama, is an invitation
to commentary. She should know that.

The Madam admires Barack Obama. We all do. His brilliance, his charisma
and the historical significance of his emergence as a leading contender
for the US Presidency - all of this is impressive. From China to Chad,
there is a phenomenal obsession with Obama and his message of change.
Okereke-Onyiuke had once met Obama in the United States, had had the
chance of a photo-op with him and even a brief conversation.. In 2003, she
organised a similar fund-raising shindig under the umbrella of Corporate
Nigeria, to help the Obasanjo re-election campaign. In 2006,
Okereke-Onyiuke was one of the staunch supporters of Obasanjo's
anti-democratic Third Term Agenda. She had also helped to raise funds for
Transcorp of which she was one of the original promoters, although through
a sleight of hand at the Stock Exchange.

Since this woman is so gifted in raising funds to help others, why is she
not on record yet as raising funds to support worthy causes that may
benefit the poor? When would she mobilise her rich friends to raise funds
to help motherless babies homes in Nigeria? Or the army of unemployed
youths on our streets? Would she and her friends some day consider
organizing fund-raising dinners to support the fight against HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria? Madam Onyiuke gives the impression that she
loves to raise funds to support powerful men: Obasanjo in 2003 was the
most powerful man in Nigeria. She had enthused at the controversial dinner
on Monday, that Obama, as President of the United States will also be the
president of the world: a position she created! Rich Nigerians like to
support themselves or their ilk, but imagine how many Nigerian lives N100
million can transform.

The fund-raising dinner for Obama was bound to be controversial.

Onyiuke says the money will be used to mobilize five million Africans in
the United States to vote for Obama in the November US Presidential
election because "he is our brother". The ideological basis of the
exercise is flawed, informed as it is by sheer racism, and this is a
reflection of the Nigerian political process. Nearly every Nigerian that I
know who has been supporting Obama does so largely because the man is "our
brother". This politics of exclusion cannot serve Obama's interest if it
gets reported in the American media that some African natives have been
staging a song and a dance for him and pretending to have a say in the
American election. Obama was endorsed during the primaries by blacks and
whites, and for the average American, the main issue is not simply race
but health care, the economy, Iraq, NAFTA and so on.

Obama is not running a racist or tribal campaign. As President he will not
go out of his way to defend black or African interests. The myth that when
our own "brother" is in power, he would defend our interest is a major
shortcoming in African politics, but it is a myth that has been exploded
again and again. How many brothers and sisters from our streets, residents
associations, or professional groups have we voted into power or whose
pre-eminence we have celebrated only for them to turn around and
disappoint us thoroughly? In South Africa, two black men have been
President since the introduction of black majority rule. How much change
has that brought to the average black South African?

In June, the Obama Campaign team announced that they were not interested
in public campaign funds, and therefore opted to devote more energy to
raising funds from private sources, particularly individuals. But the kind
of money that Onyiuke and co have raised is not the money that the Obama
campaign needs or is looking for. It is money that it should reject. The
US Foreign Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1974 "prohibits any foreign
nationals from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with
any federal, state or local election in the United States, either directly
or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that
ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them.
Persons who knowingly or willingly engage in these activities may be
subject to fine and/or imprisonment."

The Africans for Obama 2008 group had tried to circumvent this by stating
that part of the money raised will be used to sponsor some of their
members to the Democratic Convention in Minnesota later this month. This
would be illegal within the purview of the US law, more so as these
self-appointed "delegates" intend to use the money to mobilize African
support. Moblise? Do they intend to bribe voters? Or travel to the US with
election monitors, ballot box snatchers, ghost voters or able-bodied men?
Eric Wright, Obama's policy maker for Africa attended the dinner on
Monday. Does this not amount to solicitation or willingly and knowingly
encouraging foreign funding of the Obama campaign?

Wright said he was not speaking for Obama or the campaign team. What was
he doing at the dinner, then? The FECA further states that immigrants with
"a green card" may contribute to US elections, US citizens too of course,
and foreign nationals can only take part in non-election activities. There
are members of the Onyiuke group who are Nigerians in Diaspora, but who
are they? There are hidden ways in which foreigners have tried to
influence American elections through donations. The 1996/97 scandal of
"the China plan" has shown just how embarrassing an eventual discovery of
this could be. If the Nigerians raising funds for Obama are not stopped, a
scandal may be in the offing. The staff of the Nigerian Stock Exchange
were actively involved in the Obama event on Monday Was this part of their
official assignment? Is there no more serious work at the Stock Exchange?

The Obama website provides detailed conditions for donating to the
campaign: For example: "We don't take money from Washington lobbyists or
special interest political action committees". How are we sure that there
are no lobbyists among the August 11 Obama dinners in Lagos? And
definitely an Africans for Obama group that is preaching racism is a
special interest political action committee. The Obama website adds that
donors must also meet these conditions:

1. I am a United States citizen or a lawfully-admitted permanent resident.

advertisement

2. I am at least 16 years old.

3. This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a
corporation, labor organization or national bank.

4. This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action
committee.

5. This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person
who is a federal contractor.

6. This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual
registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is
a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.

7. The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person
or entity for the purpose of making this contribution

The Africans for Obama fund-raisers are off course in relation to most of
these conditions. Well what does it matter: they are already "eating" the
money themselves. N100 million at the rate of N117 to the dollar is about
$854, 900. 85. They spared little espense in organizing their dinner and
concert. A total of five musicians, one compere and two stand up comedians
and newspaper and television adverts. This costs a lot of money. The
dinner must also have cost a fortune, with the Obama campaigners guzzling
wine and food ravenously. In Nigeria, oftentimes, money raised on behalf
of a candidate may not even be handed over to him or to his campaign
office, but the money can be spent on his behalf and in his name to bribe
voters or to encourage voters as it were! The Obama Campaign team should
issue a disclaimer on all foreign groups and persons purportedly raising
funds on their behalf.

It is instructive that the success of the Okereke-Onyiuke initiative is
spawning a copy-cat syndrome and may soon grow into a lucrative
enterprise. Last week, some other persons announced the formation of
"Africans for Obama or McCain 2008"; in response to "Africans for Obama
2008." A Legislators for Obama 2008 group already exists! We are expecting
Nigerian Students for Obama., Nigerian Widows for McCain, Nigerian Youths
Earnestly Ask for Obama ...all of which may announce fund-raising events.
The charade must end. The Obama brand and message face the threat of being
commercialised, and monetised by the candidate's Nigerian admirers. And
yet we have no stake in the American election. What is the matter with us?

Dear Mr. Jackson,
We'd be honored by your allowing us to post this excellent article by
Reuben Abati on www.GoodNeighborLaw.com
Thank you,
RBS

Please feel free to use and credit source.
Thanks.
Jackson