Shithole: ECOSOCC demands apology from President Trump

ITREALMS:

African civil society under the auspices of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) has asked Mr. Donald Trump, the president of the United States to tender unserved apology to Africans over his latest lambasting of the continent and tagged it a ‘shithole,’ reports ITRealms.

A press statement made available to ITRealms ECOSOCC said, they received with utter shock the news of the uncouth words used by the President of the United States in reference to African people and people of African descent.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the racist undertones of this language and the clear expression of naivety about the place, role and value of African people by the President of the United States,” the group said.

In Africa, they said, elders are highly respected and the language that elders use should be respectful as well to befit the positions that they hold.

The President of the United States, they said, should be an elder and should exude wisdom, deep respect of cultural and social diversity and value of humanity, describing as unfortunate, that the President seems to be depicting the contrary.

“We therefore call upon all citizens and peoples groups, religious and faith leaders, private sector and professional organizations, academics and civic actors in the US and Africa to condemn this language in the strongest terms,” they said.

Citizens across the world, ECOSOCC noted, should be respected for what they are and referred to in appropriate and respectful language.

“To continue to propagate racism through language in the world, is to fuel other types of violent behaviors that we see around the world,” they said.

ECOSOCC therefore, asked US President to seriously consider withdrawing the controversial  statement and issue a public apology to the all Africans and people of African descent in the world.

“The President should note that the social, economic and cultural contributions of Africans in the United States is one of the highest in the world,” they declared.

Stressing that the United States has a big number of African people in a diversity of professions that do not fit the despicable description used by the US President.

In addition, they said, that one of the Agenda 2063 Aspirations developed by African people and its leaders is: An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.

ECOSOCC, they said is as an organ that promotes and popularizes the Agenda 2063 and strives to build an Africa and world that is ethical and value-based. We therefore call upon the President of the United States to embrace this aspiration and other progressive and positive aspirations of the African people.

African civil society and ECOSOCC therefore joins the rest of the world to condemn the language of US President.

We call upon the President of the United States to restrain himself as well as educate himself about the world and its people and ensure that he espouses the values that the United States people have been known for over the ages.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!

Africa is future economic engine not a ‘shithole’

ITREALMS:

The African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has expressed deep disappointment over the rather unfortunate comment attributed to the President of the United States of America (USA), Mr. Donald Trump, which described Africa as a "shithole" as widely reported in the media, reports ITRealms.

The Group Managing Editor, at ALM, Mr. Kingsley Okeke told ITRealms that instead of seeing Africa as such, that Mr. Trump should see Africa more as the future economic growth engine of the world.

ALM in a press statement also made available to ITRealms, noted that the aforesaid comment is very unfortunate, and displays a posturing of a person that is not in tune with prevailing realities.

According to Okeke, available data has proven time and again, that Africa is a resource-rich continent, which has consistently rewarded American companies doing business on the continent.

Experts, he said, have projected that Sub-Saharan Africa, will reach a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $29 trillion by 2050.

“The continent is also arguably blessed with some of the most outstanding human resource on the planet today, plying their trades in very key strategic roles globally,” he said.

Decrying that to describe the generality of the continent as a whole in such derogatory parlance is generalization and freedom of expression taken too far.

“Certainly, a continent that has experienced growth, with over one-third of Sub-Saharan African countries posting 6 per cent or higher growth rates annually, and another 40 per cent growing between 4 per cent to 6 per cent per year, cannot be a "shithole".

“A continent, described by international business observers as the future economic growth engine of the world, is definitely not a "shithole."

ALM, therefore urged President Trump, when next he is in search of a narrative for the continent to consider these indices, as well as the 1.8 Million African in diaspora, that are contributing to the growth of the American economy.

“And we call on all people of good conscience to condemn this denigration of our beloved continent, while thanking the American people who have risen up to condemn this attack on Africa - the cradle of civilization. We hope that President realizes his error and retracts this statement,” Okeke concluded.

Nonye Dom/GEE

ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!