Al-Bashir? How Bizarre...

It got late too early these days, he thought as he unfastened the buttons of his shirt. It used to still be bright when he got back from work. Darkness often allowed him undress and begin the ritual of making supper before descending on the area. Could be the worsening traffic situation, he reasoned to himself. But it was not that bad today, was it? He killed the thought when the grumble in his stomach reminded him that the last time he fed it was before leaving the house for work in the morning. Most of what remained from that meal of beans and corn must have passed out to the nether regions when he used the conveniences in the office. He did not indulge in the gala and lacasera stomach-padding due largely to personal health concerns and the hole they pick in his finances. In his boxers and singlet, he stepped out of his living quarters. He would buy bread. At least there was some beans left. They go well together. He was already salivating.

Agege Bread

The convenience store where he bought groceries ran adjacent to the gate of the compound in which he resided. He considered it heaven-sent not having to cover many miles to get basic needs. The voice of a female newscaster could be heard from a radio in the store as he approached the gate. He could make out a story about some furore caused by the country's reception of the ICC-wanted leader of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir for some crimes in the Darfur crises. He shrugged. Distant worries. He had not the time for those. His immediate concern was apprehension. Where there used to be some partially baked bromate-filled dough, also known as bread, there was, at present, only space. Void. His saliva dried up. His stomach rumbled this time. But why? There was always bread at this time. In fact, he had bought bread as late as 11pm in the past. He needed to have bread. There must be bread, he forced himself to believe. The storekeeper shook her head to answer the obvious question that was not yet asked. Yet he asked. No. The answer did not change. He felt like shouting at the newscaster to shut up. What was his business about Al-Bashir when he could not get his daily bread? But that would task his reserves. And would be of no consequence.

He learnt the storekeeper did not get her daily supply because the bakery had been cut off the electrical grid. That was typical of the area. But it did not stop anything. It did not mean businesses stopped functioning? Then came the extra news. Their generating set had be vandalised with functional parts missing. That was also typical. Double jeopardy. It meant there was not going to be bread for half a mile radius. The bakery supplied the shops around. The thought of eating only beans did not appeal to his appetite. He closed his eyes, sucked in air and exhaled to calm himself. The gears in his head spun as he tried to conjure up a menu of what possible alternatives there were. He came up with nothing. Then, the sudden general silence prompted him to open his eyes. Yes, that does it, he nodded. The holders of power had cut off electrical supply to the area. It perfectly mirrored his mood which darkened as the night wore on. Still standing in front of his gate, he realised it was not totally quiet. The newscaster was recapping news items over the radio. He could make out the words she was saying. It must have been on battery all the time.

Al-Bashir, in a photo captured in 2009

This time he allowed himself to concentrate. The ICC wanted Omar Al-Bashir to answer for crimes committed under his watch in the Sudan crises. The AU indicated its unwillingness to surrender him to the ICC. He remembered seeing Wole Soyinka's condemnation of the Darfur crises way back in a newspaper report. Al-Bashir's crimes must have been heinous. By now, the same newscaster was entertaining calls from listeners to discuss the very same issue. As he listened, he reasoned out the case. His leveraged on his knowledge of current affairs and what little background he had in politics. Ordinarily, the views of the majority of the callers could have been plausible. That our country was a sovereign nation. That she had to respect her position as continental leader and provide examples of sisterhood to other African nations. That you could not hand in a serving leader of another sovereign nation. That the ICC has shown itself partial to African leaders. That it was simply neo-colonialism masquerading as pro-democratic pursuits. After all, America will not allow any of its citizens to face trial under the ICC.

He did not think much of their opinions. Much of them were entirely sentimental. The rest, quite uninformed. The issue of sovereignty of nations could not be entirely realistic. The international system presented that as a front, assuaging the bloated egos of some third world countries. There were enough examples of recent history (invasions of some sovereign countries, covert and overt) to prove that sovereignty had been sacrificed on the altar of National Interests long ago. Countries today are deemed sovereign as it pleased the interests that are involved. The position of continental leader was disputable. Apart from population advantage, there was not much to be pompous about the country. Years of gutter politiking and rudderless groping about in the international arena had wiped out any respect the country had previously. The dearth of leadership had even conspired to turn the advantage of population to a minus. A bloated viral plague. The effects were only being seen with peripheral vision. Internally, it stayed infecting everything positive.

United Nations Security Council

He shook his head. He thought whoever advised the president to welcome Al-Bashir was an Enemy of State. You do not strut your stuff to the vexation of the UN-backed ICC while you vie for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Especially when you know you are not the most favourite candidate for that position. When you know that there are some waiting for you to slip, to capitalise on your capitulation. When you know you depend on the goodwill of others. In the international system of today, national interests are the priority in the pecking order. In the scale of preference. What serves the nation’s goals? What furthers her interests? Those come into consideration first. Exactly what South Africa (this nation’s stiffest competitor for the seat on the UNSC) must have reckoned with when they denied the same Sudanese leader entry into the Rainbow nation. How do this country’s leaders think? Do they even think? What advantage did having him here bring the country? What did it add to the meeting of African leaders?

And what? Someone said neo-colonialism? He allowed himself smile. Indeed. Of course, it was either that or something close. But who was to blame? The president was all too happy to sell out to the Chinese recently, as some alluded, to snub Obama in return for snubbing his government’s efforts at bringing the country out of the doldrums. But who was he deceiving? Recent Snowden-inspired leaks prove that they know more of governments around the world than these governments know of themselves. They must know how widespread corruption is here. Heck, they might agree that they could be infected by just accepting a handshake from this country’s leaders. That is the recipe for colonialism. It worked extremely well in the past. Why not now? Everything is for sale to the corrupt leader. Even their entire country. So, yes. Neo-colonialism is real. Whether is it couched in pro-democratic ideals or preached by economic incentives. It exists in real life. It dances with wolves in international politics. It is fed by the avarice of debauched leadership. This is not entirely replicated in North America. Their politicking wears a human face and has a human feeling to it over there. That is perhaps why their citizens are not sacrificed to appease any political divinities. After all, they consider themselves demi-gods. Furthermore, it is ultimately not in their interests since they are always on the lookout for subsequent election victories and would do everything possible to win over their people’s confidence and votes when that time comes.

Besides, for a country to wield such clout as some of those callers were apportioning to this country, its place in the international arena should be rock steady. It should not be requesting for a seat in the UNSC. Its position should be indubitable. A given. Not even a happenstance. It should have a voice that is not only strong but is sought for. It must be a nuclear power. A world power. And unless there is something akin to that, they can only waste their little credit calling in on radio programmes to express views not backed by the facts on the ground. Then, it hit him.

Where art thou, NEPA?

He also wanted to buy some MTN credit. But, the radio had been silenced. He turned around. While he was busy engaging in all these thoughts, the storeowner had closed shop. The power outage must have caused that. He looked down the street. Light from varied other sources shone out from a few windows. He knew that the closest vendor was some distance away. He was still thinking of that when the sudden lurch in his stomach confirmed his resemblance to his country. He had left what should have been the highest in his scale of preference to worsen while engaging in less important matters. He still did not have what to eat. There was still no power supply. With his neighbour’s son exiting the gate with an empty bucket, he knew they had also run out of water supply. A mosquito buzzed about his ear, reminding him that his Mortein had run out last night. And he had replaced it yet. He was entering a battle with mosquitoes tonight. It had been a hot day too with no rain. His room conserves heat during the day and distributes freely at night. It was going to be a terrible night. And he still did not know what to eat. His health senses triggered off to warn him not to attempt beans so late.

If he had known. He would have let the ICC, the UN, the AU and those radio people deal with their issues themselves and catered for himself oo. Which one concern agbero with Al-Bashir? Mstchewww!