The War In Ukraine

The fallout of the Russia/Ukraine war is very grave. There is a African lesson in the war going on in Ukraine. The optix of Africans being openly rejected in the plain view of the entire world should give us concerns. In the matter of pandemonium, chaos, impeding destruction and death --- the African is callously denied the opportunity to run into safety. The reason, he is NOT European. He is NOT white.

The African is treated with the worst level of callousness, a frightening coldness. He was told there is no space for him in the vehicle of safety, this is when people who arrived at the station after him, were accorded human dignity and were received with empathy, were provided every imaginable assistance at a chance to run into safety and live --- the difference, they are European, they are white.

I saw a a whole people, my people, a whole family, my family, being left on the train station platform to confront their fate. The same African, who in Africa, any Africa, will sabotage his own brother for the sake of anyone "white" is with reckless abandon, sent a clear message that he is not human, and not worthy of living or to seek life.

In all the madness, I am encouraged by the efforts of Peace Airline which so far is in the forefront of humanitarian airlifts. First in South Africa and now in Ukraine --- one fella had the effrontery, the stupidity to tell me that he was not in it for free. At that point, I just knew, that was not the kind of person I can hold conversation with, for one thing he lacked the understanding of the the horror/pain of the moment, he saw only the dollar value to be made, which I found incredible. I doubt it if the dollar rewards ever crossed Oyeama's mind. With this one guy, he saw only the dollars. Very sad.

Secondly, the role of the Nigeria Foreign Ministry, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa (NIDO coordinator). She made the necessary efforts to provide crucial information about how Nigerians caught up in the war can get to safety. This is first by a Nigerian government since all of my 43 years of living overseas. I am encouraged, the optics of it is huge. It tells the world that Nigeria as a nation is finally waking up to her duties/responsibilities to her people.

The two efforts made (i) by Air Peace and (ii) by the Nigeria Foreign Ministry put Poland and its government to shame. It marked the turning point in the Polish attitudes, that they are spinning their unacceptable treatment of Africans and saying it was because the Africans did not possess the requisite papers to enter Poland. This is at least, if not good, is better than the initial statement, that "you can't come on the train, you are not European".

Author: Michael O. Folorunso

Date: March 8, 2022