TRAFFICKING IS AN INTERNATIONAL CRIME

Why should NGOs and donors lavish efforts and resources into finding a humanitarian solution to a large scale criminal aspect of political office holding?  

Corruption in public offices is the root cause of trafficking of Africa's girl children and women for prostitution and other vices. This was the point I made at the workshop organised by Comic Relief in London on Thursday 3.5.12 to find ways of preventing this crime against women and humanity.

To prevent this crime against humanity, there need to be combined campaign to raise the profile of trafficking. World citizens should join hands in persuading the British Government and other international governments to assist in tracking down embezzled and laundered public funds and these international thieves prosecuted and brought to due justice where ever the stolen wealth goes. These people kill and rob their own citizens to fund their personal lifestyles with impunity.

The British Government succeeded in bringing James Onanefe Ibori of Delta State to justice for embezzling and laundering the resources of  Delta State blessed with abundant crude oil and natural liquid gas. Yet, the people of Delta State - Nigeria are amongst the poorest and most brutalised in the world.

I congratulate grass roots women and children of Delta State for their courage in presenting Victim Report to His Honour Judge Pitts of Southwark Crown Court, London, informing him of the impact that James Ibori's crimes continue to have in their every day and life chances, the tragedies they face while trying to escape from Delta State - Nigeria to foreign lands.

Those who died on 30th March 2008 in the coast of Libya trying to cross to Italy after under taking dangerous routes to arrive Libya, were victims of these crimes and the women ensured that the HH Judge Pitts knew about this. They told him of a young lady who was raped over and over again during the journey, she became pregnant but drowned trying to cross to Italy.

I am deeply grateful to the British Government for succeeding where Nigeria failed to hold James Onanefe Ibori accountable for his crimes against humanity and the people of Delta State. It is my hope that the case of James Onanefe Ibori would send a strong warning signal to all those whose main reason for imposing themselves on the people of Nigeria under the guise of being political leaders, know that it is only a Matter of Time before they are held accountable for their own crimes against the Nigerian people.
                                             
                                        JUSTICE DELAYED IS NEVER JUSTICE DENIED

International trafficking and illegal migration from Delta State and other parts of Africa is as a result of the embezzlement and laundering of public funds.  It is sad that while other nationals are working hard to make their natural resources serve their people and their country, there are those who are killing and robbing their own people to fund their personal lifestyle and starching their people's wealth away in foreign banks.

I wish grass roots women and children of Delta State best of LUCK as they aim to pursue the return of their stolen wealth to Delta State. I am aware that Deltans are concerned that returning the loot to the current government amounts to returning the loot to James Onanefe Ibori through his first cousin, family members and cronies. I will strongly advise that we should allow the women and the children of Delta State to cross that bridge when they get to it. I am aware that in the Victim Statement, the women and children made their fear in this regard known to HH Judge Pitts.

GREED IS A MENTAL ILLNESS THAT WOULD LEAD THOSE DIRECTLY AND         INDIRECTLY PLAGUED WITH IT TO DESTRUCTION

Alice Ukoko for Women Of Africa: “Why do civilizations flourish and fail?”

Alice Ukoko for Women Of Africa: “Why do civilizations flourish and fail?”: “Why do civilizations flourish and fail?” World history maintains that humanity and civilization began in Africa Throug...

“Why do civilizations flourish and fail?”

“Why do civilizations flourish and fail?”

World history maintains that humanity and civilization began in Africa Through missionaries, transatlantic and commercial slave trading Africa, like a dutiful Mother supported world development and civilization

The delay in Africa’s modern day civilization can be traced to the far-reaching impact of external disruptions in Her developmental process.  It is a fact that Africa is largely regarded as a member of the unified world although in terms of development, African countries are lagging behind in most aspects of the global partnership, a world partnership recognised only as allies to support the interest of the rest of the world to the detriment of Africa

It is therefore not surprising that Africa although politically independent is not able to take control of its own affairs to meet international standards and to deliver for Africans worldwide the dividends of political independence from colonialism and end to the transatlantic slavery

The failings of Africa to develop to international standard through realistic reform was raised on 7^th December 2010 in Brussels during the EU- Dev Days (6^th to 7^th December 2010) by a prominent member of the European Parliament. According to the MEP, Africans should stop blaming others for their failings and to realise that the responsibility of Africa’s reform is theirs alone TRUE

Repeatedly the EU event stressed the need for African governments to include Africa’s civil society in the development of the Continent

Africa needs to reform and the violence and abuse of African women and girl children need to end. This is the driving force of the work that WOA is doing to raise the profile of African women for international recognition through remote support

Without liberty and shared sense of responsibility amongst Africans, it is not possible for the Continent to recover and reform in our lifetime. Traditionally, women define Africa’s culture and traditions it therefore stands to reason that unless African women are brought to the decision making process in Africa’s affairs as equal stakeholders, the African dream will not be realised and nor, would the challenges in global peace, economic and political stability be achieved

Although I am outside of the age limit for this summer school, I am encouraged to present this application by the urgent need that I feel to take African women to the world stage to encourage the Legatum Institute and other members of the global world to support the efforts of WOA towards achieving liberty and responsibility

My participation at the summer school would be of mutual benefit to LI and Africa as it would confidently discuss the challenges women face and Africa’s reform and how, the outcome of the African women Congress and Commission that WOA is working to deliver can be adapted globally to support women universally

Alice Ukoko is member of Worldwide Who is Who Directory and Professional of the Year 2012 – 2013. As I am outside the age limit I feel the necessity to await favourable consideration before approaching professionals for support.