I have been trying till now to keep my nose out of what is none of my business. I am not a politician and I am not one to spend time debating on political issues. However, I am a businessman, anything that has to do with Nigeria and doing business in Nigeria is my BUSINESS!

I was minding my business and going about my online research when I noticed an article from Loy of StartUpsNigeria announcing that Google has launched Google News for Nigeria of course I was thrilled and I decided to check it out.

Well, maybe it was a wrong timing. I actually love the new services, but one of the first story that caught my attention is one posted by NigerianMuse about The N100 million dinner for Obama (written by Reuben Abati). You may be wondering what that has got to do with me. Well, the organizers of the dinner, Africans for Obama 2008 is being led by none other than the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke.

Well, that is not a crime, however, a statement credited to her is worrisome and that happens to concern me;

“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?”

The writer insists that those are the exact words of Professor Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke, Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Africans for Obama 2008. That is a rude shock to me.  After reading the rest of the article, I could not help but ask, What is Nigeria’s business in Obama 2008?

I personally think that the Americans are in a better position to know what is good for them. They  know the Presidential Contestants better than us, so What is Nigeria’s business in mobilizing vote for one candidate or the other? We have myriads of unsolved challenges facing us. Instead of getting busy at combating them, we are trying to educate those who are practically ahead of us! Maybe I am missing somethiing here.  If you have a better answer, I will like to know.

6 Comments on What is Nigeria’s Business in Obama 2008?

cchiovitti on Fri, 15th Aug 2008 7:24 pm


Do you think that it might be racially motivated? Perhaps the Nigerian leaders want to support him because they like how he looks? I hope I’m not out of line in saying that, but I’m sure politicians of ALL backgrounds do this, even if it’s not a conscious thing.

Nigel on Sat, 16th Aug 2008 11:04 pm


It’s interesting that searching on Obama Nigeria in Google produces over 2,000,000 results!!! That’s a lot of connections between Obama and Nigeria. However, the “Five Million Nigerians for Obama” initiative at http://www.obamanigeria.org only has 1330 people enlisted.

Oluniyi David Ajao on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 7:41 am


Welcome to my world. I blogged about Nigeria for Obama: A Misplaced Priority earlier this year and Nigerians descended on me. Some pro and some against but I think those pushing this thing are in it probably just for the money. Frankly.

Oluniyi David Ajaos last blog post..Nigeria Customs Service website review

Oluniyi David Ajao on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 9:00 am


Nigeria for Obama, Africa for Obama: This NONSENSE must stop!…

I am so infuriated this dawn, after going through a few headlines on Google News Nigeria. When I blogged about Nigeria for Obama (ObamaNigeria.org): A Misplaced Priority in March 2008, putting a spotlight on an effort by some Lagos State legislators, I…

Ife on Wed, 20th Aug 2008 8:55 pm


I think its basically a misplaced priority and the problem of having money and not knowing how to spend it.

As I read in the Punch Newspaper, Obama’s campaign headquarters has even denied the fund raising or rather sensitization has the NSE DG would call it.

Again where is the FUNDS going since the US presidential candidate is not allowed to collect funds from abroad?

Ifes last blog post..Why you may not make MONEY blogging

asset protection on Thu, 28th Aug 2008 5:33 pm


Thanks for the informative post… I searched for a while to find the right answer to my questions!

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