₦airaland Forum

Biography of Thomas Sankara.

Thomas Sankara was Burkina Faso’s president from August 1983 until his assassination on October 15, 1987.
Perhaps, more than any other African president in living memory, Thomas Sankara, in four years, transformed Burkina Faso from a poor country, dependent on aid, to an economically independent and socially progressive nation. Thomas Sankara began by purging the deeply entrenched bureaucratic and institutional corruption in Burkina Faso. He slashed the salaries of ministers and sold off the fleet of exotic cars in the president’s convoy, opting instead for the cheapest brand of car available in Burkina Faso, Renault 5. His salary was $450 per month and he refused to use the air conditioning units in his office, saying that he felt guilty doing so, since very few of his country people could afford it. Thomas Sankara would not let his portrait be hung in offices and government institutions in Burkina Faso, because every Burkinabe is a Thomas Sankara, he declared. Sankara changed the name of the country from the colonially imposed Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means land of upright men.

Thomas Sankara’s achievements are numerous and can only be summarized briefly; within the first year of his leadership, Sankara embarked on an unprecedented mass vaccination program that saw 2.5 million Burkinabe children vaccinated. From an alarming 280 deaths for every 1,000 births, infant mortality was immediately slashed to below 145 deaths per 1,000 live births. Sankara preached self-reliance, he banned the importation of several items into Burkina Faso, and encouraged the growth of the local industry. It was not long before Burkinabes were wearing 100% cotton sourced, woven and tailored in Burkina Faso. From being a net importer of food, Thomas Sankara began to aggressively promote agriculture in Burkina Faso, telling his country people to quit eating imported rice and grain from Europe, said, “let us consume what we ourselves control,” he emphasized. In less than 4 years, Burkina Faso became self-sufficient in foods production through the redistribution of lands from the hands of corrupt chiefs and land owners to local farmers, and through massive irrigation and fertilizer distribution programs. Thomas Sankara utilized various policies and government assistance to encourage Burkinabes to get education.

In less than two years as a president, school attendance jumped from about 10% to a little below 25%, thus overturning the 90% illiteracy rate he met upon assumption of office. Living way ahead of his time, within 12 months of his leadership, Sankara vigorously pursued a reforestation program that saw over 10 million trees planted around the country in order to push back the encroachment of the Sahara Desert. Uncommon at the time he lived, Sankara stressed women empowerment and campaigned for the dignity of women in a traditional patriarchal society. He also employed women in several government positions and declared a day of solidarity with housewives by mandating their husbands to take on their roles for 24 hours.

A personal fitness enthusiast, Sankara encouraged Burkinabes to be fitted and was regularly seen jogging unaccompanied on the streets of Ouagadougou; his waistline remained the same throughout his tenure as president. In 1987, during a meeting of African leaders under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity, Thomas Sankara tried to convince his peers to turn their backs on the debt owed western nations. According to him, “debt is a cleverly managed reconquest of Africa. It is a reconquest that turns each one of us into a financial slave.”
He would not request for, nor accept aid from the west, noting that “…welfare and aid policies have only ended up disorganizing us, subjugating us, and robbing us of a sense of responsibility for our own economic, political, and cultural affairs. We chose to risk new paths to achieve greater well-being.” Thomas Sankara was a pan-Africanist who spoke out against apartheid, telling French President Jacques Chirac, during his visit to Burkina Faso, that it was wrong for him to support the apartheid government and that he must be ready to bear the consequences of his actions. Sankara’s policies and his unapologetic anti-imperialist stand made him an enemy of France, Burkina Faso’s former colonial master. He spoke truth to power fearlessly and paid with his life before which one week before his assassination, he declared: "While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas." On October 15, 1987, Sankara was killed by an armed group with twelve other officials in a coup d'état organised by his former colleague Blaise Compaoré.


Upon his assassination, his most valuable possessions were a car, a refrigerator, three guitars, motorcycles, a broken down freezer and about $400 in cash. In death, Thomas Sankara’s burial place is unkempt and filled with weeds (click to see Thomas Sankara’s graveyard http://youtube/bY2UpSxXPlw).
Thee question is do fine Africans like Sankara n Madiba still exist?

http://mysurvivalnigeria..com.ng/2015_12_01_archive.html?m=0
Source:

Yes taste could change especially if the first reason why the guy asked the girl out was very shallow.

Them they craze well well. Did they just realise that those camp existed or they wanted them to multiply before they acted. If not for ISIS's strike on their soil,they wouldn't have done anything to help those poor civilian Syrians.

The west really aren't helping anyone but themselves.

Our government shld realise that traveling to these countries wouldn't get us any aid. Lets fix Nigeria ourselves.

I saw a 240 egg inverter @ 200k...it uses light n car batteries tooo...sounds very expensive isn't it?...
Btw it is made in Iran

Xetima:
Abeg, ask them? What language do they speak. Okay, when Yorubas or Hausas or Igbos want to talk about intimate issues they resort to their common language and dialect. Can SS/ND do that? for your information I am from Delta and there is nothing like SS/ND please!

We resort to pidgin English when we wanna communicate....we have a common accent when we speak pidgin.

Its not by force to be friends with us @Igbo people. If a group of people don't wanna associate with u,u leave them alone.

Its funny most of u create multiple monikers to like your nepotistic comments n feel good ... Learn to live and let live. The sky is big enough for every bird to fly

I got the message tooo....shld I be worried?

elopee3000:
oil money changing enviroments of whole northern state

Its not their fault my bro, they steal but still try to make their environment presentable....Inj the south,our governors steal n degrade our environment. For example Ondo shld be the sixth or seventh richest state in Nigeria n Mimiko has not been able to finish the 10km airport road he started in 2009. What's his excuse?

harristo:
And if it's superficial desire he has for her, she'll end up regretting life when he decides to leave her at the last minute after introductions and all.
A guy that changes his mind about a girl after introductions is not to be trusted, and he's even less worthy of trust if he went through the introductions with the other girl even though he doesn't love her.
The guy deserves to be flogged.

It's better for a guy to change his mind after an introduction is done rather than when he is already married.

My advice is simple,she shouldn't get back with him because she is still too young n might have her head in the clouds as per what a true relationship should be(No disrespect intended)

She should rather date in her age range,so she n d guy can learn together

Hmmmmm..I bet u still Av a tiny bit of feeling for him....Men are like that. We don't value a women's love until we loose it. However I will like to think d guy considered d age difference in d first place that was y he acted d way he did.

Now that he wants u back I guess u grew prettier n more matured that's why he is after u.

If u wud like him back,do ur research well to c if it was engagement he did or just an introduction n be sure he is for real.

tonychristopher:
This is where u make mistakes

South Sudan are Muslim and Igbo are Christian so you don't compare both

Maybe compare north Korea and south Korea to Biafra


Maybe compare Ethiopia and Eritrea


These are non Muslim state

Why are u scared of Biafra

South Sudanese are christians. Only 2% are Muslims...i want u guys to succeed...Why would I be afraid?..I want you all to go... It will be nice to have a new country but not by deceit or break down of order.

acenazt:
Cannibalism,kidnapping and scam has been part of the SE for God knows how long. They will be worse than south sudan.so let em Go. My north people have this sayin 'Idan ka ga gidan Abokin ka na ci da wuta watsa wa taka gidan ruwa' it translates to if you see your friend's house on fire Pour water on yours. If the biafra agitators are wise they will open their eyes and see for them selves the misfortune that southern sudan landed themselves in.

I felt really sad when I saw the news on Aljazeera n other networks. If people want to leave a country for the wrong reasons n they succeed, then there will be problems. In your small country,people will discriminate against u,some will lay claim to the actualization of ur independence from their mums wombs and think they are the 'prima' individuals.

I wish Biafra luck....Am not from the north or south. I am a Nigerian n that's what matters

South Sudan was a country carved out the present day Sudan. Five years ago, they sang songs, rallied support for getting independence,did a referendum and got a resounding YES vote. They got independence, everyone in the south was ecstatic. Some gave their houses away or sold it cheaply and they all left.

Two years afterward, people with oversized ego n selfish personal interest have set the country on fire.A lot of these people have been killed,houses burnt and just disorder all over. As guardian journalist put it 'a level of human suffering I have never seen anywhere else'

Now same people from South Sudan are seeking refuge in the main Sudan in Droves. While some Sudanese wanna help others see it as unacceptable and would want them to leave.

Now in Nigeria,Do we think breaking up is the best way to show our displeasure towards situations or working together to make Nigeria prosper?

If u are in the shoes of those Sudanese will you welcome them back or send them back to their country?

Is this news or a compliant?
To answer if a level16 civil servant can open a landed property in Abuja without being corrupt? Yes they can n they have..Even junior civil servants got houses through the monetization policy of the Obasanjo government. Besides civil servants don't have to be corrupt to own things.

He should learn how to choose the battles he would fight.

kingdompropty:
Thanks Barcanista. You just took a political stand. Even though you are an incredible guy in terms of politic, on this matter I defer with you.

While I prefer a united Nigeria, a big and vibrant country, I don't think radio Biafra is a national threat.

We still operate freedom of all kind and some of which is association and information, this for me is all part of the politics.

How can u not see Radio Baifra is a threat to our national peace?..How did the 1994 Rwanda start? ...Through a damned Radio station that kept prompting a particular tribe to 'Kill the cockroaches' I.e Do away with the other side(hutus over tutsi's)....If the FG Treats the Baifra radio with kids gloves. They should have acted long ago...Don't wait for an ant to grow to a dragon before u fight it. Kill it at the larva stage. I am from the Niger Delta n Biafra isn't for us...we reject it for ever

Abigail09:
WOW! For someone to take time to write all dis abt another person's possession;its really serious. I smell beef. Its so unnecessary. Abeg free Linda o

Its not 'beef' like u said. The writer just made a healthy statement abt us or rather asked if success to us as Nigerians is only measured by how rich people Are. Of which I must say it is.

No one wud respect a top of d ladder retired civil servant who only lives in a modest bungalow or an ex public office holder who is content with being poor.

Its only in Naija prices go up when d festive season is near

U catch d OP's drift now huh?

Caracta:
The blind hatred for Yorubas has clouded sense of reasoning and objectivity. The reactions on this issue is nauseating and disappointing.

Let us be fair. Can this happen somewhere else without worse reaction? Someone even said Akure is no-man's land...just like Lagos. Isn't that hilarious?

You call Nigeria a zoo yet you are flexing muscle over every corner and claiming ownership and control. Live and let live. When we die, we become just another 'body'. Dust to dust. Not Yoruba, not Igbo, not Fulani, not Hausa.

I tire o....anyone that travels out of his village to make money should simply go there to make money. Ignore all the local politics involved no matter how tempting it gets.

Reasons y other tribes in Nigeria don't seem to like the ibos is simple.

They seem to wanna control people in their own domain. Whatever happened to live n let live really?

Wearing contact lenses is basically a medication thing to treat an eye defect. Wearing one doesn't make one gay. If an optician says u should,then u shld. No biggie.

Or is carrying walking sticks for women that have issues with their legs a sign that they are homosexuals too?

108m dollars is like a 5th of Ghana's yearly budget..where are they gonna c that?

jewelbaby55:
please guy tell me. Are you sure? Because I hope it is

Jon Snow actually died but he would be woken by the god of light(the priestesses god). He is too central to the northerners to die.

My theory...He rules at the end

Lol...Nice seasonal movie,forming d dotraki language was genious....i actually thought it was a language spoken in d Persian Gulf or eastern Europe.

Nice concept. For any venture to really thrive,finance is the key

AwonWerey100cent:
Olosho gerraaara outtta my thread mehn shit!

This was too rude na,haba....

Idrismusty97:
So? Oliseh reminds me of when John snow of Game of thrones became the lord Commander of castleblack(Or whatever). We all remembers his first decision .

John Snow will be back in season 6 just as Enyeama won't be out for long

This is no longer funny honestly

englishmart:
I thought davido is 22, that girl looks 25

She is 28

2goodbobo:
In as much as their joystick is not afraid of pouring the akamu inside,most of them are afraid of the responsibilities that comes with pregnancy becuase they are not ready or financially gallant.

Though I saw this 2years later but u spoke the truth

Keneking:
Great

The under listed should be on standby

- Jonathan
- Oduah
- Iweala
- Orji
- Akpabio
- Mark
- Bankole
- Saraki
- Patience

Include

Tinubu
Amechi
Okorocha
Oshiomole

To ur list. Don't be partisan except u are a paid publicist