Friday, May 5, 2006
Before leaving for Tanzania, the NABJ delegation on Friday met with UN Under-Secretary-General Prof. Ibrahim A. Gambari, head of the UN Department of Political Affairs, reporting to Secretary-General Kofi Annan (we were also supposed to meet with Annan, but he was traveling). Gambari, who spoke in front of NABJ at the 1989 convention in New York City, is the highest-ranking African in the UN and was ambassador from Nigeria. He addressed topics ranging from blacks outside of Africa — “The black diaspora has been officially designated as the 6th Region of Africa” — to international influence in Africa — “In the past, EVERYBODY was an expert on Africa except the Africans” — to war and politics in Africa — “Ten years ago, half on the countries in Africa were run by dictators. Today, there is only one” — to the trouble in Darfur — “African leaders have been working hard to resolve that issue” — to embattled Nigerian president and former colleague Olusegun Obasanjo — “I don't know if he’s my friend, but he's my president.”
