America’s Hypocrisy Exposed

Nigeria celebrated its 63rd independence anniversary from British colonial rule on 1 October. In this 1996 interview with US news programme, “60 Minutes,” Louis Farrakhan exposed and challenged US hypocrisy in judging Nigeria. The Nation of Islam leader said Nigeria is a young nation working to overcome its challenges. Hence, he added, it does not need the United States to lecture it on how to run its affairs.

He questioned the United States’ moral authority to impose governance on African nations. He criticised the United States for disregarding its own past atrocities, such as the atomic bombing of two Japanese cities—Hiroshima and Nagasaki—and the genocide against indigenous peoples. He challenged the portrayal of Nigeria as the world’s most corrupt nation and called for an end to hypocritical moralising.

Parallels can be drawn with recent events, as the West expects Africa to toe its geopolitical line on the war in Ukraine. They want Africans to forget that the United States and its allies bombed Libya, and invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let us know what you think about Farrakhan’s remarks.