By Uche Mbah
Suddenly, African has become another beautiful bride. The continent once again is in for another round of scramble since the ill fated ship of Brexit showed signs of floundering. And the scramble begins again. A new ideology-Afrentry-slowly began to enter public discourse.
With the exit date for Brexit set for 29 March 2019, and with a migraine of regrets being largely suppressed by both parties (there were muted ideas of a repeat referendum), grey areas still are being battled, and both The UK and EU have agreed temporarily at least- on the three thorny issues of separation. How much does the UK owe the EU?, How will the thorny issue of Northern Ireland border be resolved? Where does Gibraltar belong? What about UK citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK?. What happens if there is no compromise? Above all, how does this affect Africa?
With the yes verdict on Brexit referendum, African markets, usually with a sluggish reactions to global Market shocks, slowly led the bears into the Markets. From Angola to Lagos to Johanesbourg, the story were the same. It became imperative that the survival of Brexit depends on African virgin economies, to be exploited for the survival of the shock of Brexit. This defines a new bilateral agreement with key African Countries. Africa has a preponderance of Natural and human resources that they could not tap due to leadership poverty, and hence a new scramble for Africa becomes inevitable. First, Emmanuel Macron came, and after meeting the head of government in Nigeria, rushed to Lagos. Though what was mostly on the news was his visit to Fela Shrine, a far more important discursion held with the Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, with trade agreements signed. Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. So it was not surprising that the Visit of Theresa May also ended in Lagos. This time, there was no covering visit to the shrine, though she was said to have signed bilateral trade agreement with the government. There are indications that Nigeria may not have read the fine prints-so overwhelmed was the All Progressives Congress government that they could have signed off their independence without any care in the world. South Africa and Kenya may have been more circumspect in their dealings. The vultures are circling. Soon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will follow suit. Trump has his day in Washington-and promptly declared the Nigerian President lifeless.
The second scramble for Africa is on. And this is not the first time Africa will bail out Europe, nor Nigeria Britain. As an Italian based international consultant puts it, “Look back at history; anytime Europe sends her female leaders to go & dance in Africa,they are in trouble and we are sold for 50 yrs”.
Afrentry is only history of slavery repeating itself.
