As I began observing
and monitoring NED as an organisation and some NED staff, my objective went
beyond finding out whether they were genuine or different from other dubious
western organisations. I also wanted to find out whether they (NED) were
impartial in their handling of Africa in comparison to other parts of the world:
Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and China.
The other dimension to my investigations or observations was to find out
whether their staff or workers were genuinely dedicated and truly loved what
they were doing. And to my greatest
surprise, I discovered that or should I say, barring some inherent errors of appreciations
or evaluations on my part, that a majority of NED staff or at least those that,
I came across, really loved their job and above all, they were fastidious and were
devoted at what they were doing. They were not a pretending lot, they really
meant business as far as the promotion and defense of democracy and pro
democracy activists were concerned. My final observation was that, Research
Fellows came from all over the world and as such, their cultures might deeply
be at variance with American values, hence the need to have Research Assistants
who were capable to work with people from different race and religion. Here
again, I was positively impressed. It
looks as though, a proper vetting system was put in place in order to make sure
that only those who really have the spirit of the organisation should filter
through. I was equally glad to discover
that NED paid attention to Africa, especially Nigeria, the DRC and Zimbabwe to
name these few and many others. Regarding NED
staff, besides Marlena that I had already made my observations on her known
from day one at the start of this chapter, below are my observations of other
NED staff that I came across:
Megan Caro
She seems at
first sight a reserve and distant person or even a tad arrogant. But her true
self can only be discovered or revealed when you get closer to her and have the
opportunity to speak with her. She is in my opinion extremely, humble,
intelligent and shows concern and equally takes great interest in Research
fellows and their difficulties. She also has a sound understanding of
international affairs, in particular the Middle East. Her regard toward Iran is
something that I admire, because it is not dictated by popular believes within
the established press and intelligentsia in the United States, who are more
often than not, pro-Saudi and anti-Iran. She looks independent minded and it is
a quality that I treasure in people, because, personally, I am independent
minded and I don’t like to be told what to do.
Emily Milestein
Even though,
she left for law school while my fellowship was ongoing, I kept fond memories
of her. The ever smiling research assistant did not only loved Africa and immigrants;
she had visited and stayed in a number of African countries which made her to
master African history and politics, better than most Americans that I have
come across during my stay in the US and at NED. She also has a knack for
details and for work that is well done.
Evan Abramsky
Until I met
this very intelligent young research assistant, Emily was the only one I
thought in their group who had genuine interest for Africa. Evan also has
excellent knowledge and understanding of Africa added with a great sense for
details. He is also ever ready and willing to help research assistants in their
various challenges and difficulties.
Ian Graham
I also came
across the football or as the American would call it, the soccer loving research
assistant from Utah who also likes eating carrots. Perhaps it was for vitamins or for more hair
growth. He was the only research assistant that, I came across who loves soccer,
in particular the English Premier league and his favorite soccer or football
team was Arsenal FC. I noted that, Ian Graham was a man who takes interest in
people or in Research Fellows and he likes to talk or he is a tad chatty, which
is in my opinion a thing in a rather sometimes doll environment. And just his
colleague, Emily Milestein, Ian is always ready to help and makes sure research
fellows have all the need. And finally and which endears him and distinguishes
him, is the fact that he has a generous heart.
Eshe Hill
I admired her
first because she was the only African American Research Assistant that I met
while at NED. I must be honest to point out that, the fact that, there weren’t
any single African American Research assistant at NED made me sometimes felt uncomfortable.
I did ask myself this question: is the management of NED trying to tell the
world that, there were no competent or interested African Americans for the
post of research assistant? However before I could leave, that anomaly was
corrected with the recruitment of Eshe Hill and I hope many more African
Americans will be given the chance in the future should the need arises. Her
presence among the group of research assistants was to me a welcome
relief. Later on, my admiration for Eshe
Hill went beyond her ethnic background, but was more based on her professionalism.
She assisted me enormously before and during the preparation of my presentation
on Kleptocracy. She was the one who
prepared slides for the presentation and she equally helped me in the selection
of pictures.
Zerxes Spencer
At NED, I was
impressed by the neatness of the manager of Fellowship programme and also the
way he takes his time to chose and pronounced words. It was as though, he was
taking some extra time to mold every word that he wanted to pronounce in the
English language. In short, he was careful the way he spoke, I suspect because
he did want to hurt or he wanted to make sure that, whatever he said was
properly understood by his interlocutor. I later on noticed that, he was an
excellent writer with a gift in brilliant formulations of sentences and
phrases. He would make an excellent teacher if he chooses to and he could
easily blend into any multicultural milieu. I don’t know whether the fact that,
he is originally from Pakistan has any influence in the way he looks and handles
things. This is so because, I sensed that, he understands people better or
Research Fellows from developing countries and their preoccupations. Even though he doesn’t talk much, I also
noticed that, he understands the intricacies and challenges of working and
living under dictatorial regimes, perhaps more than most of his colleagues.
This was demonstrated by his desire to listen and willingness to offer
assistance to me while I was still a Research fellow. He personally took me to
a lawyer when I was at one point considering to stay in the US, but I later on changed my mind because of two
things: my younger sister and what I thought I could contribute in my country
in her quest to become a liberal democracy.
Sally Blair
Dr Blair had
one thing that I admired very much in her, besides other qualities that I dictated.
She was/is a modern and well educated woman, who above all else had great
respect for family values. I was always happy whenever I overheard her talk
about her son and husband and also when she said or told us via mail that, she
was traveling to see her family or in-laws. Her
outstanding educational background, excellent job, where she had executive
position and by extension power and influence did not make her to be distant or
arrogant with Research Fellows, especially those from developing countries. Instead
I suspect, her position has forced and forged her to become an extraordinary
kind and humane person, who takes great interest and pleasure in listening to
the stories of Research Fellows. The other thing that I admired in Sally Blair
was that, like Zerxes Spencer, she spoke perfect French and Russian. She also
knows how to keep or make research fellows comfortable. When I newly arrived in
DC, she sensed quickly that, I wasn’t fully equipped for the wintery weather
and she brought me some warm cloths and some Tea bags. Those are positive
gestures that I can’t easily forget and I will want to thank her hereon.
Carl Gershman
He is the
President of NED. He is an amazing man who does his job with passion. Although he
seems advanced in age, he exudes an extraordinary youthful vigor in the
discharge of his duty. He is earnestly focused in his campaign for the
promotion of democracy and respect for human rights around the world. I also
observed during my stay at NED that, he genuinely loves Africa and wants Africa
to improve positively in all aspects. I had
meetings with him twice in his office courtesy Melissa Aten. And through the assistance of Mr Gershman, I
was equally able to meet some staff of the US Energy Department in order to
explain to them how Congo Brazzaville was circumventing EITI regulations to the
advantage of the system: government and the ruling Nguesso family. While he is
passionate at promoting democracy around the word, sadly, the US government and
other Americans don’t share his zeal.
Melissa Aten
When I was at
NED, besides knowing that, she was a staff, the only other thing that I knew
about her was that, she loves her dog very much. Anyway that was what the
pictures posted regularly on her Facebook page showed. It might sound strange,
but I discovered more of her very late and in the process, I saw her astonishing
potentials and equally the love and concerns that she exudes, in particular for
Research Fellows from dangerous parts of the world with hostile governments.
She seems to keep track of all Research Fellows who have left and resides in
high risk countries. She is simply amazing with a gift for details and
organisation of events. She also seems to be a person who is very punctual all
she does and always determined to make the most difficult task look simple and
workable.
Dave Peterson
Within the
Africa team of NED, I discovered a gem, a person who does his job with honesty
and dedication. He also truly loves Africa because he seems to have
crisscrossed the continent as a reporter and adventurer. Whenever I entered the
office of Dave Peterson, I was impressed by the number African handicrafts and
other crafts he had that relate to Africa that he exhibited. In the office
of Dave, I noticed that, it had a large map of the African continent that was
occupying an entire section of his wall. It is not often common to see or find
a Whiteman who openly shows his love for the African continent the way I have
seen Dave do.
Kamissa Camara
The other
person at the Africa team who impressed me was Kamissa Camara. She loves her
job and loves Africa, in particular, Mali her country or that of her parents.
Her love for Mali was surprising, giving that, she was born in France. And most
often, children of immigrants, especially females born in France that, I know,
do prefer their country of birth over that of their parents, especially if
their parents were Africans. She is an ambitious young woman, who if she
properly harnesses her potentials, she will go places. I also sensed that, NED
was not giving her the position that she might inwardly desire; hence I don’t
think she will stay longer than necessary.
Pierre Tchantou
I had known
Pierre a year before officially starting my Research Fellowship. He is a
hardworking young man who likes his job and he is also very careful with what
he does or says. He talks very little about politics, perhaps he is afraid to
expose his real opinion or that he may not have one. While his love for Africa
and his native country, Cameroon is not in any doubt, unlike me, he handles or
treats African political subjects as a man who is walking on eggshells. He
doesn’t seem to relish adventure or speculations. And he seems an enigmatic
person whose true thoughts and feelings are difficult to decipher. He will make
an excellent career in politics should he ever desires or should leave NED one
day.
Rudy Massamba
I came to be
very close to him perhaps because he was originally from Congo Brazzaville, a
country that I love. But one other thing that made me to be closer to him was
that, I noticed that, he was sincere toward me and he also believed in
increasing financial support for prodemocracy across Africa, in particular for
prodemocracy groups and activists within the Central Africa region. My
admirations for him amplified when I realized that, he has not forgotten where
he came from and he seems to be a good practicing Christian. My stay or
Research fellowship period was a great and an outstanding experience, partly
because of Rudy Massamba who made me more than other NED staff to feel at home
away from home.
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