THE AFRICA WE INHERITED VS THE AFRICA WE MUST BUILD

Before 1884, there were no structured borders as we now have in Africa. It was until that Berlin Conference. Berlin Conference.

Berlin Conference.

A scramble for Africa. Discussing and coordinating how they're going to carve up and take this continent. And the idea of the structured borders and the dividing lines that we have to achieve several things, mention but a few. One, to make sure that these people never truly unite. But two, to share the wealth of the people and individual entities just grab their own portion of it and then to make sure that they never really unite. Until our perspective of history is correct, we are bound to repeat it because oftentimes we are quick to talk about how the West sabotaged such plans, but we don't really want to talk about how we hand ourselves over to the West because of our own interests. And it is so important to them that Africa never unite. So how important is the unity of Africa in respect to our survival? On today's episode on Declassified Podcast, we're joined by the director of Voice of Africa by Africans, Margaret Ogulu, and Akurimade Oluwadamilola, a corporate lawyer, investor, and realtor. As a Nigerian, do you think Nigeria has been fair to you?

Definitely no. Nigeria has not been fair to me in terms of accountability. There's been no fairness, there's been no justice. Many, many crimes that could have been avoided happens daily in the country, and yet every year we see the amounts budgeted for security, see the amount budgeted for this, these things. So my question is, what is the money being used for? Where is the money going? Who is pocketing the money? Because if you are not seeing the effects, then that means somebody is diverting the funds. Who is calling them to account?

I think sometimes we expect so much from the government and others that we forget to realize that we and ourselves have a role to play both in the sabotage and in the building of our continent. No matter how gifted a person is, if you've been told for so long that you are incapable of doing anything and you have seen for so long that you are incapable of managing and helping yourself, you believe it and then you begin to work in that reality. It has been proven.

Maybe with better information, people would have discovered that it's all man for himself. Maybe that's going to be the most painful realization we have to make, that no one is coming to save us. Hey guys, if you're watching this now, that means you have ears for intelligent conversations and this is exactly where you want to be. We have conversations that will get you at the edge of your seat, and this particular one is one you don't want to miss. I have a very honest request from you as we start this conversation. I'd like for you to like this broadcast. That helps us to get this to as many people as possible. You know, we can work together getting intelligent conversations to people all over the world. And I'd like you to drop your comment. Let us know how you feel. Let us know how this has impacted you. And one thing you want to do also is to subscribe to this YouTube channel, as this will notify you whenever we're bringing up videos, podcasts, or any other kind of video that can be a blessing to your heart. I look forward to having you again and again on this show. Thank you so much. Talking about King Leopold. Yes, sir. When you look at the world ranking of some of the worst leaders, some of the most terrible figures of leadership that the world has experienced, you see that oftentimes they mention names of people that killed whites and those who killed blacks were not referred. I'm not sure there's anyone whose story beat that of King Leopold when it comes to wickedness and atrocities. The atrocities performed on the people of the Congo is one that will never be forgotten.

Yes, sir.

So you said that transport systems, rails, were built with the intention to extract.

Yes, sir.

I want to do a deep dive into that.

Even judging from the ports, even I'll bring it down home to, let's say, take for instance, Nigeria. We up until we are more than 60 years old, up until now, we still, if not for what Dangote is doing currently, we still export most of our crude and we have refineries that are yet to be maintained. We have funds have been released for them to be But I don't know whether it's a psychological problem that seems to— because of— I don't want to lay it solely on that era. It's never maintained, it's never repaired until date, and crude oil still goes out and we import most of the refined products at higher cost.

Something quite bothering about that conversation when we look at the lack of development.

Yes, sir.

Many sectors in Africa, sometimes we conclude and narrow it down on bad leadership. But is leadership, internal leadership, the only problem of Africa? Do you not feel that there are external factors that are sabotaging the leadership of the people, either to make sure that the worst leads the best, or to make sure that certain things that benefit the people on to us.

All right, so, um, my answer to the question, is Africa truly free, is in that direction.

Africa is truly free.

I said my answer to the question, if Africa is truly free, it's going in that direction. Because what measures the freedom of a continent is the, their capacity to be able to do what the, the vision to self-govern, to self-govern, to carry out their vision. Now we have a number of leaders in Africa that have decided to defy the status quo. We have Thomas Sankara, we have Gaddafi, came up with beautiful ideas. Africa should have a unified financial system, the African— away from the IMF, away from the IMF. But Because whenever any African dreams like that, they are structured. They are— it, it appears that there are structures built in place to punish such leaders.

So let's first say this, that before 1884, there were no structured borders as we now have in Africa. It was until that Berlin Conference, and the idea of the structured borders and the dividing lines that we have to achieve several things. Mention but a few. One, to make sure that these people never truly unite. Number two, to share the wealth of the people and individual entities just grab their own portion of it.

Yes.

And then to make sure that they never really unite. I remember it's one of the things that, um, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana Yes. Kept emphasizing on that Africa needs to unite and unite the most now. Also, but every time we have revolutionary leaders like this in Africa, I think until our perspective of history is correct, we are bound to repeat it. Because oftentimes we are, we are quick to talk about how the West sabotaged such plans. But we don't really want to talk about how we hand ourselves over to the West because of our own interests.

Yeah.

You talk about the likes of— you mentioned, what is his name now? Patrice Lumumba of Congo. You talk about the likes of Mobutu. You talk about the likes of Thomas Sankara. His assistant who organized the coup that killed Thomas Sankara was just sentenced about 2 years ago, and he was sentenced in absentia. You talk about the likes of Muammar Gaddafi, and you look at the role that Museveni of Uganda played in his execution. Now you, you look at it till tomorrow. It is not yet ascertained what really killed Kwame Nkrumah, if it was cancer, as alleged, or it was poisoning.

Yeah.

Now we have the likes of Ibrahim Traoré, Nareda, trying to emphasize the same thing. Um, Muammar Gaddafi's son, the simile light of the continuation of his legacy, has been executed. So it looks like the unity of Africa threatens the continuation of many other countries.

Yes.

And it is so important to them that Africa never unite. And these are conversations. So how important is the unity of Africa in respect to our survival?

For every time we go back through history and we check, for any development to actually happen, there has to be unity on course. We see that in the US before actions, policies are carried out, there is unity in execution. Africa has never had situations where the leaders, African Union, they can write out agendas of what they want to accomplish, but when it comes to the point of signing what document needs to be signed for it to be executed, The disparities begin where we have countries fighting against countries. We have governments having disputes that will, will not contribute to continental integration. For instance, the African Free Trade Union, it has been talked about, it has been celebrated that yes, this is happening, but has it really been affected.

What's it about?

So this is where we can have free trade areas, we can trade between borders. No country has actually made— rather, they are even pursuing this AGRA, the United States, with the United States. They're pushing that out more than even the Africa. It's just a mantra that we have on our lips that yes, this will boost continental integration, the Africa Free Trade but it is not being effected.

What was that agreement about?

It's where exports between countries, between the US and some African countries, are made more easier, to put it in a lighter term.

Yeah. Do you feel that there are people in the either African Union or ECOWAS, whose loyalty is more to the Western world?

Yes, it appears so.

Well, you're a lawyer, in what terms, what do you say about that?

Speculatively, I would say yes, because like she mentioned, we have a number of— we actually have— it is not that Africa has not been thinking of a way of uniting. We actually have a number of conventions, a number of treaties that brings us all together. But like she said, we have 54 countries in Africa, but then you find out that for some treaties or for some conventions, we have less than 15 African countries that have ratified it.

Let's not forget that some part of the 54 countries you mentioned in Africa prefer to be identified as Arabs. Yes, about Tunisia, about Morocco, talk about Algeria, talk about—

now you're talking about Sudan, you're looking at, um, so yeah, so we have the, the unifying— we have, we have many unifying treaties, many unifying laws, but it does not become a law in that country until the country ratifies it. And it appears that we're just coming— it appears that the African Union is just coming together, make laws, make treaties And it's just like, oh, it's, it's beautiful.

Is it something you've sat down to think about, what a united Africa would look like?

Definitely.

What does it look like?

A united Africa would be a borderless Africa. I would not need to have a visa to get into any Africa.

You describe it like Europe. If I have the Schengen visa, I can move across any European country.

Yes.

Which means that if I have any European passport, I can move across any European Yes, yes, we are Africans.

I think it doesn't speak well about our unity if an outsider can come and can roam, can move around any African country.

Are you trying to throw shade at Aisha's piece?

Well, we are not throwing shade. It's just what him coming to Africa just further amplified, just how deep—

what gave you the impression that he didn't have issues at the border?

He did not because of his passport. If you have a certain kind of passports, it is easier for you. If you have a French passport, you move around Africa easier than if you have a Nigerian.

Is it verified?

Yes, I think countless Nigerians can attest to this.

But Nigerian passport face a lot of discrimination across the world.

Yes, so, and it's, it's It's a different thing when Nigerian passport faces discrimination across the world and also in Africa.

There's also a part to this. Some people said that if you go anywhere in the world and you don't find a Nigerian there, there's nothing there for you. So maybe you want to look at from the past, from the part that— I was listening to a conversation at some point by Lekki Alder, and he described Nigeria like danfo, that it's colorful on the outside but something else on the inside. It's a place where the country in itself becomes the burial ground of gift and talent, and people do well anywhere else than when they are at home. So if you talk about a borderless Africa, sometimes the fear many have, or something that may threaten that reality, number one is the destabilization of African region, particularly the Sahel. So it means that with further destabilization, there's going to be influx into many countries and they may not have the facility. So, so it, it, it looks like the destabilization of African regions is also intended to continue, particularly so that United Africa will be difficult to achieve. That you also want to look at some African countries where the citizens don't feel that they have access to basic amenities and jobs and all that. And some African countries are better organized than the other. And you have cases where if the border is opened, people want to all move into all this country. You look at South Africa, you look at Rwanda, and some places like that. They have their way of life, they have their pattern. So maybe it is not just enough to open border. Maybe there are now a need for policies that can mitigate what number of people can influx this place per time.

There is that, and there is also the part of where for Africans moving out of the country, it is something that has been drummed into their consciousness from when they were little, that the West is beautiful, that the US is the land of the free and the home of the brave. And there is always this perception that when you go there, it is easier to make it there as well.

Talk about the US as a land of the fair and home of the brave, because all you have to do to die is to be brave enough to video an Iceman trying to assault you. And talking about the, the story sold about the Western world, fantastic story, but you must understand that Hollywood played very important role in driving that narrative. And, um, um, I, I, I, I think when you look at what has happened to the African mind Sometimes there is the temptation to assume that the dysfunction happened majorly through our curriculums and through educational systems and through religion or through westernization or whatever. We tend to look that there was something that educated the generation now functioning far more than the schools did. And it's the movies, it's the songs, it's something that painted a people, a race, a nation as heaven and painted where you are as hell, painted Jesus as white and painted devil as black, something that demonized what you have and then deified what they have. That in a sense has painted a picture in the African mind that he sees life as something that is truly living, worth living, when you step out of this continent.

Yes.

So there is the effect of that.

Sure.

You know, and, um, Let's also look at the brain drain. This is— these are issues.

Yes, there are issues. So, um, for me, I, I want to speak as an African now. I'm very talented. I have, I have what it takes. I have the idea that I know can change a continent. Can change the world, can change the globe. But I found— I find myself in a, in, in a locality, or I find myself in a country where policies, stringent policies— yes, it is, it is, it is, it is claimed that there is, there is a free business. You can, like, you can conduct business in a free environment and everything, but by the time you look at the policies surrounding it and everything, you find that it's It's the country you have found yourself. It's very difficult for you to scale economically.

Do you really think so? Do you want to dive into some of the policies that you feel makes it quite stringent for people?

Okay, dude. Okay, let's talk about the new tax law.

You pay tax in America too?

Yes, you pay tax in America too. Okay, take for instance, you pay tax in America, but you— most of the things that you need are actually—

you can see what you pay, the effects of the taxes.

But we are in a country where those that— recently, recently there was a story I was reading on LinkedIn on how stash of money was found in a, in a particular CIA, a particular maybe deputy of CIA, um, not CIA, NIA. In Nigeria with particular stash of money was found in his apartment. And that was years ago. According to the story, EFCC— it was carried by EFCC. He was actually interrogated, but then after some few weeks, he was released.

And that particular person is currently an ambassador for Nigeria today, which is not so in China because China just indicted one of their attorney general he has left his term, they still investigated and found that he received bribe of $19 million thereabouts, and he's facing life imprisonment.

So when, when we read, when we read stories like that, when you see happenings like that, that it appears that the law was not made— the law, the law is segregated. The law that applies to the rich is different from the law that applies to the poor. The law that applies to the upper class different from, from the law that applies to the middle class. You, you, you'd see that why should I, why should I want to pay tax in this kind of country? Especially take for instance, if as a company, if as a, if as a, if as a company, my annual turnover is more than 100 million, the amount I get to pay in taxes is more than 34 million.

Is that verified?

Yes.

So you come again.

If, if, if as a company my annual turnover is more than 100 million, yes, in Nigeria for instance, the amount that I get to pay— net profit from annual turnover apart from the profit— all expenditures, all expenditures— the amount I get to pay in, in taxes is going— because there's the part where you paid 4% of the total annual turnover before you now start removing the, um, your profit and everything. But as, as long as you cross 100 million in annual turnover, you are not exempted from paying any form of taxes.

Are you saying that one could pay up to like 30 million times? Yes, that's over 30%, about 30%.

Yes.

Is that— is— are you sure that's the law?

I did. Okay, because currently there was, there was a, um, there was a company that needed to file their tax for the year, and I was doing the calculations, and by the time I was done with the calculation, I was like, it is not possible that the, the country expects me to pay this kind of tax. What is the company— what is the country doing for me?

Let me ask you a very important question. As a Nigerian, do you think Nigeria has been fair to you?

Definitely no. Nigeria has not been fair to me in terms of accountability. I hear stories that Snake steals money, Snake swallowed money, or maybe a particular, um, government office is under scrutiny, and the next news I'm hearing is that there's— there was fire outbreak, and that's— that die— that kills the case. And I definitely know that that is not the end of the case. So there's been no fear, there's, there's been no fairness, there's been no justice. Thousands of people die daily. It does not even get covered by the news. Many, many crimes that could have been avoided, that could have been avoided, happens daily in the country. And yet every year we see the amounts budgeted for security, see the amount budgeted for this, these things. So my question is, what is the money being used for? Where is the money going? Who is pocketing the money? Because if you are not seeing the effect, then that means somebody is diverting the funds. Who is calling them to account? I'm not saying I don't want to pay tax, but let me see that the tax I'm paying is reflecting in my country. Let me see that, okay, I have security. I don't— let me stop hearing news about kidnappings. Let me stop hearing news about things that could have been avoided. Why do we have intelligence in the country? When lives of children cannot be protected? Why do we have the— why do we have— why do we have the army if different things can happen in the country and they get there when things have already happened?

Do you feel Africa is the most corrupt continent?

No, Africa is definitely not the most corrupt continent.

Why?

Because like she has said, we have been sold a lot of narratives about the West to paint them as saints in a bid to cover their dark secrets, very dark secrets. When we talk about sex trafficking, child trafficking, Africa is still a learner.

You know, there's a very painful thing in my head. I saw a tweet during the EndSARS protest and someone said, many people shared the opinion then, that if a protest can be sustained for 90 days, It will get international attention.

Yes, yes, was said.

And it looked like for once they were coming to save us, but after 20th of October 2020, The international communities, some of the organizations denied that anything happened. Yeah, maybe with better information people would have discovered, but it's all man for himself.

Yes.

Maybe that's going to be the most painful realization we have to make, that no one is coming to save us.

And because of this, because of Because, because going back to the EndSARS protest, the organization, international organizations that actually said nothing, that said nothing happened.

Yes.

They called for their people before what happened happened.

They called them out of the country.

They called them out of the country. So if they are claiming that nothing happened, Why did they call for their people? And like you said, it is actually all man for himself. But if we have this mentality as Africans, I think there is never going to be unity.

In what sense?

It will be, it will be, it will be that everyone, everyone is, everyone is not thinking about cohesion. We are thinking about— we will become an individualized continent where everyone is seeking— in terms of protection, you are thinking about yourself and your family. You are not thinking about— you're not thinking about, okay, what can we do? There's no longer that expansion of ideas that, what can we do about Africa? But I think because of the trauma, because of the pain, because of what we have been through, because of the things that we have been through, everyone is now— instead of pushing. And I think this may be one of the reasons why some countries are not ratifying some of the treaties and some of the conventions that African Union has made, or— and is still— and is still making. Everyone is thinking, what's in it? The question is now, what's in it for me?

I think in the case of that, that's when we now start talking about African unity. But in the case of are waiting help from the West, hoping that the terms of those partnership, in quotes, and the terms of those aid will be favorable to any African country. Why should— if they are even bringing— if the West, it has been seen in time and time again. For instance, the memorandum of understanding for the health bill that's been passed It was clearly stated there, it's Africa— America first. If we had the mindset of pushing towards African unity, not in the sense of fighting amongst ourselves, but that understanding that help will not come from the West. No one is going to help you if your destabilization or the disunity in you, in your continent, will benefit them, as it were.

Definitely. And For instance, the, the, um, there was an MOU that was signed for, for aid to Gambia, and this was like, this was in December, that they were to release about— I'm not sure about the figure now, but I know it was a billion, a number of, to the tune of billions of dollars. And it was, they, they were holding back from the, from the agreements because they said The US representative said that until some mining rights were given to them, they were not going to proceed with the agreement. So they are not even hiding the fact that—

or the peace deal—

they're not hiding the fact that they are not here to help us.

Or the peace deal between Congo and Rwanda explicitly said this will do a lot of good for America.

There's a lot to unpack. Do you feel many Africans are aware?

For many Africans, I think one of our problems is that we are— let me say in a sentence, it would be that we have gotten so used to the tyranny of the familia.

Tyranny?

Come again with that. I would say that for many Africans, yes, we have gotten so used to the tyranny of the familia. And what do I understand by the tyranny of the familia? The tyranny of familia is that just like, just like, just like in the biblical sense now, you've been enslaved for a long time. You finally get someone that is here to say, I'm here to bring you out. I think the next thing that should come out should be joy, ecstasy, that finally we are getting out. But just because, oh, you want to be free now, let's increase their labor. Then they lash back at their leader, if you had not come they would not have increased our labors. So we are— so we are used— many Africans are used to the comfort that the familiar breeds. Yeah, the devil that we know is better than the devil that we do not know. The angel that we have not known.

That adage in itself kills curiosity.

So we have gotten comfortable in the familiar. We are not willing to— we're not— we're not— we don't— we don't want to step out of the waters. We are— we, we are scared of what it will bring, because definitely by the time you move from the familiar, it will come with things. It will come with responsibilities. It will come— it will come with a number of things that the familiar has not prepared you for.

You are saying, in essence, that we might be in a situation where if anyone comes with strong leadership to help an average African see a better route that push all of us into responsibility, they may not recognize the voice.

Definitely. And history has, history has proven it. We have Gaddafi, we have Sankara, we have We have, um, Patrice Lumumba in Congo. And it— because in this, from these people, it is even their closest allies that kills them.

Yes.

So we are not ready for— we prefer the promise that comes with the familiar. At least we know these people. At least let me get this first.

Maybe it's time we admit that for every, every time Africa was sabotaged. There was someone from inside.

Definitely.

That also struck hands with an outsider.

Definitely.

Is there hope?

I believe no matter how dark a tunnel is, there would always be a lightning at the end of the tunnel. But this is not something that we say with just words or we just romanticize it up. There has to be— there's the part that we have to play. We have to decide that we are— we indeed want to be united as Africans and we are ready to pay the price because there is a price for freedom.

And, and generally speaking, I, I think we need to understand that we each have the power to drive towards that future. Because when you solely rely on the governments, like we solely rely on Western help as it were, because you then realize that— when you then realize that you yourself have a role to play, then you begin to understand what you maintaining your lane in— on the— on the— on the— both of you maintaining your lane on the road, both you the way you dispose your trash, both you the way you pay your taxes, the way you do your work, honest with your work. First, it starts— I believe it starts with individuals. I think sometimes we expect so much from the government and others that we forget to realize that we and ourselves have a role to play both in the sabotage and in the building of our continent. We go out, we make content and skits that misrepresent what Africa is. I took time to go online and search Africa, and what came out were skits of, of what people have made that, that were so, for lack of a better word, so disheartening and disgusting.

Africa is intentionally being painted as smaller and lesser, terrible environment.

Yes.

Where nothing grows, a place riddled with diseases where people are dying, yes, and nothing works.

Yes. And no one—

do you feel that narrative was intentionally crafted so that the same hand that communicates on the other side that is bringing Africa help can loot its resources?

No matter how gifted a person is, if you've been told for so long that you are incapable of doing anything, well, no matter how gifted, no matter how much ability you have. When you've been told for so long and you have seen for so long that you are incapable of managing and helping yourself, you believe it, and then you begin to work in that reality. It has been proven.

I'm looking right in front of me an African proverb that says that the ear that listens only to strangers soon distrusts its own household.

Yes.

So when an outsider says that— we can look at some painful examples. Something happened in Kenya where Nesu brought food for some babies. And we— it was introduced to nursing mothers years ago, and all the children that took that particular baby food, that formula, refused their mother's breast milk. There was also a scenario where they gave mothers certain things, and all the others who took it who not liked it. Now, for the fact that we have this— we trust in anything that is foreign.

Mhm.

Mhm.

We believe foreign is quality. We believe that foreign is premium. We believe that foreign is— we just have many ideologies If it is white, it is better. And we've seen more recent times news coming out, more like death is being packaged. Yeah, for Africa. Yes, more like people are being sterilized against their own will. Foods have been poisoned for the people. No sanctions. Nobody is testing, no quality control. We just grab everything.

I feel that's a case of now the government. If you're going to take or allow anything within your borders, I feel there's a place of empathy in leadership where you, you understand that your actions and inactions have ripple effect on the citizens. For instance, Before they brought those things into the country, there are things you can't travel out with. You can't travel out with soup you made.

You can't travel out.

You can't travel out.

Yeah.

So if those things were coming into the country, who fact-checked them? Who questioned them? Who determined? Was there any medical agency to test?

I don't understand the question of who. If you put such power in the hands of someone who is living in abject poverty, he will bow for any amount.

Exactly, which is—

which is—

so I have two examples that I personally experienced. Yes, here in Nigeria. So I was at the Ministry of Finance to get some documents done, and I had been going to this particular office for like 2 or 3 times, and, um, it's just sit down, just attend to it, you would attend to it later, would attend to it, would attend to it. So I have a friend, I have an Indian friend, I just, I just told about the problem I was having with the Ministry of Finance and, and all. And I was like, oh, I even have something to do there today.

An Indian friend?

An Indian friend, yes. So he went to the Ministry of Finance. I sent him the document, just help me follow up on it. And he said, ah, but you said you've been coming. So when he, when he went there and he was going, he said, but you said they've been delaying you. Now they answered me immediately. What? I had been going there for more than 3 times. And they had been telling me, 'Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.' He went, he said they even get— they even offered him a chair, offered him drinks. I was like, 'Do you mean the ministry, the same Ministry of Finance, or maybe you went to another place?' He was like, 'Yes, they offered him drink, they offered—' That is not the government.

But that's a case of we being taught that whatever is foreign should be treated in a certain way.

Yes, but You see, when we say government, it is people that make up the government. True. If anyone comes to— if anyone comes to that ministry now and sees the way they have been treated, it will be the government of the country because one person there is representing the government. Another case that happened, this I was at the bank, my money. I wanted to collect money, cash, to Millionaire. I was told, my account officer told me, hold on. He called a number of offices and one particular lady said, oh, there is 20 million naira cash with me, just give me a minute. So I was also there with another foreign friend. So myself and the— so apparently the lady came and saw myself and the foreign guy and I thought, these are people that needed, that needs money. And we're like, yes. So he said we should come to his office, was treating us very well. I was like, oh wow, we have, you know, good bank staff here and the likes. Now we came to the point of, okay, can we sign and get the money? And invited my friend to come and sign. I'm like, excuse me, I'm the owner of the money, I'm the one signing. I was surprised at the way she just come I should just change. There is no more.

So now we are getting to the place of mental conditioning.

So I'm like, I was like, excuse me, you told us there was money, that's why we entered your office. He said there's no money. So I had to call my account office. I don't know what is happening to your colleague, but she's telling us that there is no money. My colleague had to call, my colleague had to call her. What's, what's the problem? You said there was money. She said she does not have any money. To release. But you had just called my friend that was a foreigner to come and sign. Are you saying that we as Nigerians, we, I'm the same skin color as you, I cannot have that money?

You know, there's a very similar thing to this going on in diaspora. If you're an African, if you're a Nigerian working somewhere and your boss is white, whatever it is, that is the terms of the employment. You are treated based on that term and the reality of the environment. If you get a case, in some cases where you get a Nigerian boss, So the fellow expects you to know what's going on in Nigeria, and they will negotiate back based on where you're coming from. True. Not where you are. And like you said, Margaret, it's mental condition. How does that work? People treat you based on how they perceive how your government treats you. If a child's father doesn't treat the child well, people averagely feel they have no reason to do the same. So it's the, it's the disdain we have for ourselves because of our taste for hardship. And that's why When people say it's the government, I say we are the government. People make the system. And I think that until there are systems that repairs the people, you keep having deformed leadership. So, Europeans didn't just jump in here. We were starstruck and we view our affinity for mirrors, gunpowders, and for some of these things we sold our people. We sold them for those things then. We are still selling even now because we lied about our stories. It's not the story of just one person bullying. It's a story of agreement. Yes, we agreed with external forces that we are all being traded for peanuts. We showed the disdain for our people by showing what we are willing to trade them for. In the same light, they viewed them with the value of a mirror and the value of gunpowders. We empowered outsiders to take us as slaves, and we are still doing it now. And that brings us back to the recommendation of Kwame Nkrumah. He might be long dead, but those voices still echo today. Africa must unite, and unite she must, even now. Yes. I want to thank you guys for spending this time today. Thank you so much. It's such an awesome time having you here. Thank you.