The campaign organisation of the Democratic Party‘s candidate for the November 2008 United States presidential election, Senator Barack Obama, has dissociated itself from the activities of a Nigeria-based group, Africa for Obama.

The campaign organisation said in a letter to the Editor, PUNCH online, that it was doing so based on an advertisement that the Nigerian group was organising a fundraiser for Obama.

‘Africa for Obama’ led by the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, had at its dinner/concert in Lagos on Monday August 11, reportedly raised about N100m.

The letter by the Staff Counsel for the Obama for America, Ms. Kendall C. Burman, reads, “We want to inform you that Obama for America, Inc, which is the principal campaign committee for Senator Barrack Obama in his campaign for President of the United States, and the Democratic National Committee are in no way affiliated with this event or with this organisation.

“Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee will not accept any funds raised at this event or through the fundraising activities of this group.

“We want to make it clear that the event and this organisation are in no way associated with Obama for America of the Democratic National Committee should this organisation seek to place additional advertisement in your paper.”

At the dinner in which notable artistes performed, tickets were sold in the category of Platinum (Corporate table for eight people for N2.5m and individual N325,000.

For the gold category, the ticket was sold for N2m for corporate table of eight and N275,000 for an individual.

But in a swift response, Okereke-Onyiuke said the event organised by ‘Africa for Obama’ was not aimed at raising funds for Obama but to sensitise Africans living in America.

The NSE chief who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone on Monday said, ”At no time did we say we were raising money for Obama.

“What we are saying is that Obama is for the world and he has been getting support from Europeans, from Arabs and from all over and Nigerians should not be different.

“We are not collecting money for Obama. I lived in the US for 14 years; I am a Green Card holder and I know the law. We are just mobilising people who are eligible voters to go out and register and voter for him and I don‘t know why this should be an issue.

“The event was a concert and people bought tickets on their own volition. People have been saying I used my position as D-G to compel corporate organisations to donate money. I am tired of all these. This is not true. No corporate organisation gave any cheques.

“The guests came in their personal capacity, whether they work in a bank or anywhere else I do not know. Even the table I bought for my friends and relations was paid for out of my own pocket and the money was used for the food and to pay for the artistes. We ate and danced and enjoyed ourselves.

“Some people, including journalists, came in for free and what I said there was that if there is any surplus, after the accounts have been done, the money will be used for mobilisation.”

She explained that the mobilisation campaign would involve advertisements and online campaigns to encourage African-Americans to register and vote for Obama.

Okereke-Onyuike, who stressed that the event was a private affair, wondered why eyebrows were not raised over similar events where tables went for eight figures.

She said, ”Nobody was forced to attend the event. I have paid N10m for a table at a concert; nobody was forced to pay. The event was a private thing and I used my own money to put it together. Some people like to sit in front of the television and watch history in the making but we chose to mobilise people to vote for someone we believe in.”

The NSE boss, who expressed her frustrations over negative insinuation about the real intentions of the organisers of the event, said that she was very careful in wording the media adverts that preceded the event.

She stressed that it was not a fund raising event.

She said, ”I am a very intelligent person; I have a PhD that I did not buy. We were careful with our advertisements and we were transparent in all we did. I don‘t understand why Nigerians like to be negative. People have been mobilising support for Obama all over the world and they are not being castigated.

“I want to make it clear that I am a Nigerian and I have the right to do anything I want with my time and my money.”

The emergence of Okereke-Onyiuke as the chairman of the group had raised dust as some Nigerians made reference to her role in a fundraiser for former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s re-election in 2003. She did so under the umbrella of Corporate Nigeria.

Okereke-Onyiuke was also believed to be a staunch supporter of Obasanjo in his bid to extend his tenure in 2006.

Many critics had argued against raising money for Obama as US presidential candidates are barred from receiving funds from abroad.

The immediate past General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack, had argued in an article published in THE PUNCH on Monday that ”Political candidates may legally take donations from American citizens or from permanent residents of the United States wherever they happen to live, even if the money is raised overseas.

”But the US political candidates cannot legally accept donations from individuals who are neither US citizens nor permanent US residents.”

Also speaking on the matter, human rights advocate and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, described the dinner/concert as an illegal action that could impact negatively on Obama‘s presidential aspiration.

Falana said, ”The funds raised at the dinner will be contributed to the Barack Obama Campaign Fund contrary to the Electoral Laws of the US, which forbids any form of external financing of political campaigns.

”In view of the clear provisions of the US law on external funding of political campaigns, the ‘Africa for Obama ‘08’ should be restrained from raising funds for Obama‘s campaign. Otherwise, Obama is surely going to be scandalised by a powerful section of the US media controlled by the Republican Party.”

www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200808193131673

What is wrong with Nigerians?

PhD my foot, this is terrible! in a country where it's citizen are dying of poverty, hunger, unemployment etc and here's someone raising funds for a political party that's outside the country and with enough finance to pull through , this is sad, Nigerians we have a long way to go.

nigeria = pathetic urination

Madam Okereke stop making noise, you are a disgrace. Do there are people in this country who can raise N100m in one dinner for an election that has no connection to their country and we have bad roads, no electricity, dilapidated schools and no jobs for our graduates?

Why is Okereke "sensitizing" Nigerians for Obama? Where were these people when we struggled to organize credible elections in 2007?

Obama is for the world? Any American reading this must be beside himself with laughter.

what do expect from this

she should have at least asked The late Stella Obasanjo who her panel beaters were

Whats pathetic about it?? She didn't force those that bought tickets to do so?? What's all the fuss about??
She did what she believes in. Sincerely Nigerians are way too negative. Don't get it.

So because there are poor people in Nigeria, the non-poor people should not hear word again.
So because there are poor people in Nigeria, those that have money shouldn't buy good things.

Pleeeeeaaasssseeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

well she belivs obama wld save us all and dats pathetic 2 begin with

Madam stock exchange with all her education and years abroad should know that this is bad publicity for Obama and right now, he doesn't need it! I wonder how much they've raised in Kenya to encourage African-Americans to vote for Obama.

In Nigeria, a country where so many people can't afford decent meals, wear decent clothes,one would've expected that sensitising African-Americans to vote for Obama would be the least on our priority list!

I only wish madam would be more sensitive towards the plight of ordinary Nigerians in future and make better use of her ''hard-earned money'' because the bitter truth is: she, or Nigeria as a Country has nothing whatsoever to gain if and when Obama becomes president.

Queenisha:

what do expect from this

lol please get that thing out of here it'll give my baby brodas nightmare if dey just wake up and see dis one ahh i'd have 2 sing 4 dem oooh soteeeee spit go dry my mouth

I am having a laugh here. . . I knew these clowns were on a suicide mission. . .

Pathetic!chio!

www.nairaland.com/attachments/92636_okerekeonyiuke_jpg77439e87abf0341c6844475b3017f202

She looks like a man.

What a sigh of relief.

I just read this in the papers and I must have given my biggest emphatic scoff yet (assuming you know me and my scoffs).

This is just another feather in the hat of disgraceful things about Nigeria.

What did they do with the 100mill though? Still sensitising?

It just shows one of the many reasons for the state Nigeria is in. If she and those that attended the dinner channel this kind of effort towards solving the problems in their immediate environment, then this country would no doubt be better off. How about organising such a dinner to raise funds to fix some of the many dilapidated and decrepit infrastructure of schools and hospitals, provide basic amenties etc. Some of them live next to communities that have no good water supply. Unfortunately, most Nigerians would only do something when it benefits them, their image or gives them recognition. I find it hard to understand the wisdom behind using N100m for 'sentisizing' people to vote for someone whose impact on Nigeria, if elected, would be minimal at most, especially with the current set of leaders we have who squander any good benefits meant for the Nigerian people.

Idiots cant reason straight. There are several hundreds of thousands of people who need decent housing, clothing and shelter but these people chose to waste money on something that benefits no one. They think it's a way of getting the attention of movers and shakers in America.

Is it any wonder that Nigeria is in such a comatose state?

Hahaha

i couldnt even laff

Queenisha:

what do expect from this

Oh please stop that!
So what if she isnt as eye pleasing? It doesnt stop her from being a human!

Queenisha:

she should have at least asked The late Stella Obasanjo who her panel beaters were

hahaha-queenie u no go kill me!

anyway@post- is this surprising? Absolutely disgraceful and pathetic!

spikedcylinder:

I just read this in the papers and I must have given my biggest emphatic scoff yet (assuming you know me and my scoffs).

This is just another feather in the hat of disgraceful things about Nigeria.

What did they do with the 100mill though? Still sensitising?

prolly buy a plot of land and a generator for OBJ!

PapaBrowne:

Whats pathetic about it?? She didn't force those that bought tickets to do so?? What's all the fuss about??
She did what she believes in. Sincerely Nigerians are way too negative. Don't get it.

So because there are poor people in Nigeria, the non-poor people should not hear word again.
So because there are poor people in Nigeria, those that have money shouldn't buy good things.

Pleeeeeaaasssseeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well. I guess what you see and what I see are two completely different things.

dreeldee:

“The guests came in their personal capacity, whether they work in a bank or anywhere else I do not know. Even the table I bought for my friends and relations was paid for out of my own pocket and the money was used for the food and to pay for the artistes. We ate and danced and enjoyed ourselves.

You don't care where their source of funds come from?

dreeldee:
”I am a very intelligent person; I have a PhD that I did not buy.

this shows the class mentality that still exists here.

Having your phd != smartness. Moreover, you specialized in an area of interest andI guess SMARTNESS is not a course.

dreeldee:


“Some people, including journalists, came in for free and what I said there was that if there is any surplus, after the accounts have been done, the money will be used for mobilisation.”

Were the journalists not invited?

Without the journalists, the event won't get any attention.

dreeldee:

we were transparent in all we did. I don‘t understand why Nigerians like to be negative.

Nigerians believe we have bigger problems to solve in our DOMOT. We are tired of hearing millions of naira that do not get to the masses. Obama never mentioned taking care of Nigeria's masses (which is the duty of the govt and her people) if he became president or via his policies.

dreeldee:

“I want to make it clear that I am a Nigerian and I have the right to do anything I want with my time and my money.”

No. No .No

you hold such a sensitive post as the DG, NSE.

some of your actions are against the CAC's rules.

dreeldee:

", we chose to mobilise people to vote for someone we believe in.”

charity begins. . . .

Please, what does her name Okereke-onyiuke mean?

LOL I see nothing wrong with motivating Africans who can vote in the US to go out and vote. Whatever it takes for the job to be done is cool with me. She does not owe anyone an explanation after all people are free to do whatever they like as long as it is legal. But then again I'm sure her own native town got more issues to deal with at hand and that should be her own main concern. Since Obama does not want the money she better use it to charity work in her homeland or refund it.

DeepZone:

www.nairaland.com/attachments/92636_okerekeonyiuke_jpg77439e87abf0341c6844475b3017f202

She looks like a man.

Doesn't she remind you of your mother?

This Orobo loves food so much that she can afford to pay N10m for meal. Kudos to one of the ugliest celebrity.

motivate  Nigeria in america to vote?
we have enough motivation here. i wonder if people would have attended the event if it was for fixing one problem (eg) improve one road in nigeria.
misplaced priority i say 

sabi sabi

She is 419.

Thats all to it.

And those banks MD, organisation that when there to donate money use the opportunity to be in good books of NSE.

It is time, we have clear LAW that if you are in the TOP LEVEL in any field; you cant be organiser(direct or indirect) of any FUND raising events.

she is not. she did what is right. It was all to get obama to like nigeria. And I hope she do the same for mccain. it is politics. We have to learn how to play. Since Obama no like the money. Can she transfer the money to http://.com to help improve nigeria image abroad. Abi my people wetin una think now. We can help her use the money to get investor for the stock exchange and improve nigeria Image. If she can raise 100 million. I would like her to raise money for http://.com in nigeria to give google a run for thier money. my email is info@.com 1416 904 5008


The woman made a good political move.

Absolutely an incredible move by Obama.
Since a successful implementation of electric power is currently impossible in Nigeria, someone should advise Okereke-onyiuke, and others to start a fundraiser at home for poor Nigerians to buy candles.

What a lousy big loser!

Climax of Aburdity.that's the only way I cld describe such display of waste.
oh poor Nigerians!