society

Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans

Published

1 year ago

May 2, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Africa, the cradle of civilization, blessed with an abundance of natural resources, vibrant cultures and a resilient people, remains shackled by the chains of artificial borders, ethnic rivalries, neocolonial puppetry and corruption. These chains are not natural to the continent, they were sown and watered by centuries of colonial conquest and sustained by post-independence complicity. It is time for a radical, pan-African operation; Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans to reclaim our dignity, sovereignty and future.

Historical Seeds of Division: Colonial Cartography as a Weapon
The so-called Scramble for Africa, formalized in the 1884 –1885 Berlin Conference, was nothing less than a calculated mutilation of African identity. European powers without African representation carved up the continent along arbitrary lines, dividing ethnic groups and lumping incompatible communities together. The Igbo of Nigeria, the Ashanti of Ghana, the Tutsi and Hutu of Rwanda, the Zulu and Xhosa of South Africa, all were manipulated into manufactured rivalries and fragile national structures.

As Professor PLO Lumumba rightly asserts, “Africa is the only continent where borders were drawn in foreign capitals. And we wonder why we don’t have unity.” The colonizers sowed discord to divide and conquer and even after independence, many African leaders maintained the colonial architecture for their personal gain.

Modern-Day Betrayals: African Elites and the Puppet Strings of the West
Post-independence Africa saw a new breed of leaders, many of them more loyal to their former colonial masters than to their own people. Through neo-colonial tactics such as foreign debt, military aid tied to political allegiance and control of extractive industries, Western powers have continued to manipulate African governments.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, a rising voice of African resistance, recently declared: “We must stop begging the West for help. Our salvation lies in African solidarity, not in foreign charity.” His bold stance echoes the legacy of Thomas Sankara, who called the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank instruments of economic warfare. It is this courageous defiance of foreign control that must form the nucleus of Operation Uprooting.

Internal Division: The Ethnic and Political Time Bomb

Nowhere are the seeds of discord more dangerous than in the toxic brew of ethnicity and politics. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, stands as a tragic case study. Instead of building a national identity, the ruling elite continues to exploit tribal sentiments to win elections, appoint cronies and suppress dissent. This ethnicization of governance is not unique to Nigeria, it plagues Kenya, South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia and beyond.

Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, once declared: “We cannot continue to blame colonialism for everything. We must take responsibility for our own divisions.” Rwanda, which suffered the 1994 genocide, a horror catalyzed by colonial ethnic labeling is now a model of unity through deliberate nation-building. Under Kagame, ethnic identity cards were abolished and national unity became policy. The lesson: ethnic discord can be uprooted, but only through bold, honest leadership.

Neocolonial Economics: Resources Without Power
Africa possesses 30% of the world’s mineral resources, 60% of arable land and a demographic boom of young minds. Yet it remains home to 33 of the world’s 46 least developed countries, according to the UN. Why? Because Africa exports raw materials and imports finished goods, perpetuating dependency. French control over West African currency through the CFA Franc is a colonial relic that still drains African economies.

As President Patrice Talon of Benin noted: “It is time we took back control of our own monetary policies. France cannot dictate our economic future.” Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have taken steps to kick out French troops and review foreign mining contracts. These are not acts of rebellion, they are acts of liberation.

Media and Education: Minds as Battlegrounds
One of the most insidious forms of colonial legacy is control over education and media. African students still learn more about Shakespeare than Chinua Achebe, more about Napoleon than Shaka Zulu. African children grow up admiring Western heroes and demonizing African resistance fighters.

As Lumumba states, “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” The battle must be waged in classrooms and newsrooms. Operation Uprooting demands a complete overhaul of education systems to center African history, philosophy and innovation. Our languages, our heroes and our truths must be taught with pride.

Military Sovereignty: Ending Dependency on Foreign Guns
The African Union’s standby military force is a noble idea sabotaged by a lack of funding and willpower. When conflicts erupt; whether in Mozambique, the Sahel, or Congo, African governments still run to France, the U.S., or the UN. This is unacceptable. We need robust, African-led security coalitions that respond to African crises with African solutions.

Kagame again emphasizes this necessity: “No one will fight for you. If you are not ready to defend your sovereignty, you do not deserve it.” Rwanda’s disciplined and professional military has proven its capacity in peacekeeping missions across the continent. We must replicate this model.

Reclaiming Pan-Africanism: Unity Is the Antidote
The dream of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Sekou Touré and Gaddafi was a united Africa; economically, militarily and diplomatically. That dream has been buried under selfish leadership and artificial divisions. But it can be resurrected.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, potentially creating a $3.4 trillion market. However, free trade means little without political will, infrastructure and mutual trust.

We need a new African political class, a generation not bought with Western scholarships or IMF packages but trained in the spirit of Sankara, Nkrumah and Biko. As Lumumba puts it: “Africa must think, speak and act for herself.”

Concrete Steps Forward: What Operation Uprooting Must Achieve
Abolish colonial-era borders: Encourage regional integration and gradual dismantling of artificial lines.

Pan-African military collaboration: Fund and operationalize the African Standby Force.

End French economic control: Dismantle the CFA franc and create a continental monetary policy.

Rewrite education: Center African voices, histories and inventions in all curricula.

Control resources: Audit and renegotiate all foreign mining and oil contracts.

Media reform: Fund African-centered media to counter Eurocentric propaganda.

Leadership renewal: Enforce term limits, reject sit-tight dictatorships and encourage diaspora participation in governance.

Furtherance: Africa Must Choose Its Destiny
Africa has a choice: continue as a fractured continent manipulated by foreign interests, or rise as a united, sovereign powerhouse. Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord is not just a slogan: it is an ideological war against dependency, division and delusion.

The time for rhetoric is over.
The time for action is now.

Let me end with the words of Thomas Sankara: “We must dare to invent the future.” Africa must dare to imagine a future free from the ghosts of colonialism, the chains of corruption and the lies of inferiority. That future must be shaped by Africans, for Africans, and with Africans united, unapologetic and unbreakable.

society

Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos

Published

2 days ago

June 2, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Police Officers Detained as Family Property Dispute Sparks Demolition Controversy in Lagos

By Ifeoma Ikem

A property dispute within the Omotayo-Ojo family has taken a dramatic turn following a controversial demolition exercise at a residential building in Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos State, which reportedly left tenants displaced and led to the detention of some police officers allegedly involved in the operation.

The property, located at 23B Loveall Street, Ikosi-Ketu, has been the subject of a prolonged ownership tussle since the death of its owner, Chief Oludola Omotayo Ojo, the Babaalaje of Imesi-Ile, Osun State, in 2019.
Residents said tension erupted when a group of individuals, accompanied by security operatives, stormed the premises and commenced demolition activities.

According to eyewitnesses, portions of the building were pulled down while tenants rushed to salvage their belongings from affected apartments.

The residents alleged that windows, doors and roofing sheets were damaged during the exercise, exposing parts of the building to the elements and causing significant losses to occupants.

At the centre of the dispute is Mrs Mojisola Omotayo Ojo Alolagbe, who claimed that the property was allocated to her by her late father during his lifetime as a source of financial support.

She alleged that some family members had persistently challenged her ownership claim despite ongoing legal proceedings relating to the administration of the deceased’s estate.
Alolagbe further claimed that the latest incident was part of a series of attempts to wrest control of the property, citing previous cases of alleged vandalism and partial demolition in November 2025, January 2026 and February 2026.

The situation escalated further when reports emerged that police officers allegedly involved in the demolition were later apprehended and conveyed in a Black Maria vehicle over questions surrounding the legality of their participation in the operation.

Sources familiar with the matter said those behind the demolition had initially claimed to be acting on approval from the Lagos State Ministry of Lands. However, the authenticity and extent of such approval could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The development has generated concern among residents and community members, who questioned the involvement of security personnel in what they described as a civil matter.

Some tenants, who said they had recently renewed their tenancy agreements, lamented the destruction of their property and appealed to the authorities for protection and possible compensation.

They also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition, insisting that the rights of all parties involved should be protected.
Stakeholders have urged the Lagos State Government, security agencies and the judiciary to intervene and ensure that the dispute is resolved through lawful means to prevent further escalation.

The controversy has continued to draw public attention, raising concerns over property rights, estate administration and the role of law enforcement agencies in civil disputes.

society

UKA Gears Up for Final ATC Exchangeability Test Run as June Preparations Begin

Published

4 days ago

May 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

UKA Gears Up for Final ATC Exchangeability Test Run as June Preparations Begin.

May 30, 2026 – As the month of June gathers momentum, the *United Kingdom of Atlantis, UKA*, a sovereign nation has unveiled a series of vital guidelines and preparatory packages to ensure citizens and stakeholders run the *ATC Exchangeability* process effectively.

In an official update, the *President of Atlantic Crown Limited, Empress of Attica Empire UKA*, confirmed that the *Final Test Run of ATC Exchangeability* is scheduled for the month of June 2026. The exercise marks a key phase ahead of the *Official Exchangeability Window, set to run from July 2026 to February 2027*.

### Key Highlights from the Presidential Briefing
1. *Final Test Run – June 2026*
The test run is designed to validate systems, procedures, and user readiness before full activation. Citizens, partners, and designated participants are urged to follow all official advisories released by UKA authorities during this period.

2. *Official Exchangeability Period*
Following the successful completion of the June test run, the Official Exchangeability will commence in july 2026 and we are Expecting Full Exchange ability between July Ending, 2026 to February 2026.

UKA stated that detailed schedules, eligibility requirements, and step-by-step instructions will be communicated progressively through verified UKA channels.

3. *Benefiting Packages for June*
In line with UKA’s commitment to citizen empowerment, the month of June will feature “benefiting packages” aimed at education, preparation, and seamless onboarding. These packages are intended to equip the people of UKA with the knowledge and tools needed for effective participation.

4. *Commitment to Transparency*
Addressing the nation, the Empress of Attica Empire UKA emphasized:
_“Final Test Run of ATC Comes up in The Month of June, As We Prepare For The Official Exchangeability, Between July 2026 To Feb 2027. All Information Will Be Communicated.”_
UKA reaffirmed that only information released through official UKA platforms should be regarded as authoritative.

The United Kingdom of Atlantis is encouraging all citizens, representatives, and interested parties to remain alert to official communications, attend designated orientation sessions, and avoid unofficial sources. UKA’s dedication to order, clarity, and the collective benefit of its people as the nation moves into this significant phase.

For updates, advisories, and participation guidelines, citizens are advised to monitor official UKA communication channels.

United Kingdom of Atlantis, UKA, is a sovereign nation, committed to national development, citizen welfare, and structured economic participation through initiatives such as ATC Exchangeability.

society

Three Years On, General Buratai Hails Tinubu’s Economic, Security Achievements

Published

5 days ago

May 30, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Three Years On, General Buratai Hails Tinubu’s Economic, Security Achievements

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as bold economic reforms and improved security efforts as the President marks three years in office.

In a goodwill message on Thursday to commemorate Tinubu’s third anniversary as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Buratai said the administration had taken courageous decisions that would leave a lasting impact on Nigeria’s development.

According to him, President Tinubu broke a long-standing cycle that had hindered national growth by removing fuel subsidy and implementing foreign exchange reforms aimed at stabilising the naira and strengthening the economy.

He noted that the reforms were beginning to yield positive results, citing the global acceptance of Nigerian debit cards, the gradual revival of local refineries, access to student loans, and ongoing road and infrastructure projects across the country.

“The FCT Administration has also recorded remarkable progress, completing major road projects that remained unfinished for over 16 years,” Buratai stated.

The former army chief also praised the administration’s security efforts, saying renewed military offensives against insurgents, terrorists and bandits had led to notable successes across various parts of the country.

He specifically lauded recent joint operations involving Nigerian and United States forces against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, as well as intensified counter-banditry operations in the North-West.

“We have seen notorious ISWAP commanders being neutralised. I congratulate the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of intelligence agencies for their efforts,” he said.

Buratai, however, acknowledged that challenges remained, stressing the need for more aggressive military operations and intelligence-driven strategies in the coming year.

While urging Nigerians to remain hopeful, he said celebrating the President’s achievements did not amount to ignoring the difficulties facing the nation.

“Because you truly care, you have shown the courage to trade short-term comfort for long-term hope. Nigerians need your reassurances, and that is why we remain optimistic and full of confidence,” he added.

The retired military officer reaffirmed his support for the Tinubu administration and expressed confidence that the foundation being laid by the government would deliver a brighter future for the country.

He also prayed for God’s guidance, wisdom, strength and good health for the President as he continues to lead Nigeria.