Can political events happening in the United States be used to explain events in Nigeria? There are some interesting developments between the United States and Nigeria in respect of U.S. Presidents and some Nigerian Politicians. Amongst other things to note are the Higher Education institutions as jointly attended by these personalities.
Firstly, General Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President of the U.S.and President Muhammadu Buhari, an ex Major General, both studied at the the U.S. Army War College. Eisenhower died on March 28 1969 whilst Buhari was elected on March 28 2015,
In his farewell address as President, Eisenhower expressed his reservations at what he termed the “Military Industrial Complex” whereas at the beginning of his tenure as President Buhari advocated for what he called “A Moderate military industrial Complex”.
Eisenhower handed over to John F.Kennedy whereas Buhari was sworn in on the anniversary of the birth of John F. Kennedy May 29, 2015.
Secondly, history seems to be repeating itself with John F. Kennedy and Nigerian Prime Minister Abubaka Tafawa Balewa on the one hand and Olisa Agbakoba and Abdul Tafawa Balewa (Son of the late Prime Minister) on the other. The latter co-chairmen of the Nigerian Intervention Movement.
John F. Kennedy and Olisa Agbakoba were both born on May 29, 1917 and May 29, 1953 respectively. Kennedy and Agbakoba both attended the London School of Economics. Kennedy and Agbakoba are both Catholics. John F. Kennedy in 1961 met with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in the U.S. the first such meeting for a Nigerian leader described as Nigeria’s finest moment in the United states
Thirdly, Barack Obama 44th US President has some things in common with Fela Durotoye who expressed his intention to contest the presidency then on February 22, 2015, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, First President of the U.S.
Obama and Durotoye are both Alumni of Harvard. They are both married to lawyers. They have both been singled out for their oratorical prowess. They both have masters degree, and they are both children of Academics. Obama’s mother was a PhD in Anthropology and Durotoye’s Mother a PhD in Geology. They both lost their fathers prematurely. Obama’s father died from a motor accident whilst Durotoye’s father died due to diabetes. Obama was born 1961 and Durotoye 1971.
Obama is a Senator from Chicago capital of mid west America, home of the world’s first skyscraper and printing capital of America. Relatedly, Durotoye was born in Ibadan, Capital of South West Nigeria, home of tropical Africa’s first skyscraper and publishing capital of Nigeria.
Obama was a community organiser in the south side Chicago and Durotoye as well has been a community organiser, and is most notably referred to as the “Mushin Make0ver”
