PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

American Corner in Kano Hosts Discussion on Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy and Lessons from America’s Peaceful Democratic Traditions and Transitions

Venue: American Corner, Kano
Date: January 22, 2009

CPAO Atim Eneida George addressing the audience | Full size

January 22, 2009 was an important day in the historic city of Kano, when the American Corner hosted a program in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King (MLK), featuring video clips of Dr. King’s speeches and a lecture on “America’s Enduring Legacy of Democratic Traditions, and its Relevance to Developing Democracies.” The program also featured a roundtable discussion on the way forward for Nigeria’s development. 

The lecture on America’s democratic legacy and traditions was delivered by Dr. Abubakar Jika Jiddere of the Political Science Department, Bayero University Kano, more than fifty participants from Kano’s political, academic and civil society groups, including elected and political party officials, youth leaders, library professionals and Non-governmental Organizations’ representatives were in attendance.

Focusing on the outcome of the 2008 U.S. Elections and its relevance to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Abubakar Jika Jiddere, said that “for the first time, in a long time, America has elected a President, who has been globally accepted as a leader.”

He said that the election of an African-American as President of the United States in the person of Barack Obama, has proven the enduring legacy of America’s democratic tradition based on its constitutional framework; respect for the rule of law, transparency, popular participation and the independent press. 

Dr. Jiddere urged Nigerians to stop agonizing, and start organizing.  He said “We would be deluding ourselves to think that we must wait for 230 years before Nigeria evolves into a truly transparent system  with democratic elections and peaceful transitions.  We should not expect America to come and change our system for us; we must stand up and insist that the rule of law must be respected, that a true democracy must evolve now.”

Most participants said the lecture was thought provoking and plan to hold another forum to continue the discussion of issues raised that are too critical to Nigeria’s democratic future.  Questions ranged from the optimists asking “what should we do to make a difference?” to the skeptics “blaming external influences for Nigeria’s political bumpy ride.”    

Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs, Atim Eneida George, told participants that as they seek to perfect Nigeria’s democratic aspirations, citizens should not loose hope, but must constantly remind themselves that “it will take a disciplined leadership to get there.”  She said Nigeria should wake up and take its place of leadership in Africa.

She also told the audience that the trip to Kano was an opportunity to introduce the Embassy’s new Information Resource Officer, Linda Parker, and Eva Lilley of the Embassy Media Support Team, who were making their first trip to Kano.

Contributing to the discussion, Dr. Sule Bello, a senior faculty at the Bayero University and a member of the American Corner Board in Kano, suggested the establishment of the Democratic Leadership Project, to continue the discussion adding, “Good people must rise up and put an end to the rot in Nigerian politics.”

The Executive Director of the Kano State Library Board, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Ado was the special guest at the MLK program, organized by the American Corner Kano Coordinator Maryam Adamu Maishanu in collaboration with the Director of the Embassy’s Rosa Park Information Resource Center, Mrs. Elizabeth Akinbulumo