RADICAL APPROACH TO XENOPHOBIA: LESSONS FOR AFRIKA
As a postgraduate student of a Marxian Scholar at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna — Moses E. I. Tedheke Ph.D; Political Economy of African Security is a Course I offer in my Second Semester of Course work.
I’m exposed to the place of economic relations on Africa’s weak defense and security and above all Africa’s economic crises and continental security.
To think that some South Africans claim that other Africans are competing with them on dwindling cum scarce resources is sheer ignorance. I have not verified this claim but it’s necessary we enlighten ourselves and not entertain such thoughts perhaps they exist.
Political Economy as Tedheke avers, is a CLASS PARTISAN science that studies the relations of production, consumption, distribution and exchange! It asks the question who produces and who consumes.
It takes from the worker what is NECESSARY LABOUR. Fellow Africans are not your competitor in South Africa. The energy used in xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans should be channeled towards annexing the potentials of compatriots and Africans alike.
It is important to know that the SWEAT that is stolen from the workers is known as SURPLUS VALUE. Surplus Value is composed of PROFITS, RENTS and DIVIDENDS . The CAPITALIST controls the means of production.
My dear friends in South Africa, he who controls the MEANS OF PRODUCTION gets the LION SHARE in DISTRIBUTION. Nigerians do not control your wealth, other Africans do not but the CAPITALIST. The Capitalist swallows all the sweats of your workers.
The problem is CAPITALISM don’t be deceived. The civilizing mission of the West in Africa must be caged. It’s all a lie.
The deities that promote IMPERIALISM and CAPITALISM in Africa wine and dine with us and we do nothing about them. I am talking about the Conditionalities of the IMF, World Bank, etc.
Instead, our fellow Africans are now our perceived enemies. This is quite disheartening, disturbing and highly unethical.
The saying that Africa produces what it does not consume and consumes what it does not produce is true. It is not a fallacy my dear friends.
With Political Power, the Means of Production can be controlled. Africa today lacks the political wherewithal to call the West to order.
There is a preponderance Class Struggle in South Africa and the fundamental question of how the economy should be owned, controlled and used should be addressed, hence, conflict and confrontation from all sides.
I take solace in the solutions proposed by Dr. Charles Omole and many more solutions that will emanate in the coming days geared towards addressing the #xenophobiaattacks in South Africa.
Way Forward:
Africans should acknowledge the fact that there is a growing challenge of identity crises in the continent. We are First HUMANS, then AFRICANS. These identity crises brews animosity and the need for LOVE cannot be overemphasized.
Ultimately, Africa needs to gain true independence from her colonial mentality, economic dependence on the West and above all deal with the leadership virus that is fast permeating the corridors of power, then we can boldly say there is a future.
#SayNoToXenophobia
Ifeoluwa Ariyo-Agbaje is a Postgraduate Student of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy,Kaduna.
ifeoluwaariyoagbaje@gmail.com
