Opinion: Nasser, the Good; Sadat, the Bad; and Mubarak, the Ugly, By Owei Lakemfa
In a bold move, Nasser, on July 26, 1956, nationalised the Canal and turned it into a huge income earner for Egypt. For this and other perceived aggressive acts of the Egyptian government, France, Britain and Israel formed an alliance to invade Egypt, seize the Canal and Cairo, and overthrow the Nasser government.
Political parties and the Muslim Brotherhood organisation were banned and replaced with the Liberation Rally party. In November 1954, the revolution consumed its head, General Naguib, who was dismissed from office and placed under house arrest. The country had no president until 1956 when Nasser stepped in and the era of Nasserism began, with Nasserites not just taking over the levers of power in Egypt but in some other countries.
But soon, he began to reverse Nasser’s anti-imperialist policies, made Egypt a stooge of the United States, repressed civil society, ran an inept economic system and in the name of peace, traded away Palestinian and Arab rights. Sadat, in 1978, signed the Camp David Accords with Israel. For this, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Egypt needed funds for development, to tackle mass poverty and fund fundamental projects like the construction of the Aswan High Dam, but the Europeans continued to dominate and exploit its economy, including control of the Suez Canal. In a bold move, Nasser, on July 26, 1956, nationalised the Canal and turned it into a huge income earner for Egypt.
A fighter pilot, he became vice president in 1975. As president, Mubarak denied Egyptians basic rights like those to assembly, free speech and subjected them to detention without trial. He named no vice president until the dying days of his regime, when he appointed spy chief, Omar Suleiman to fill the position.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Islam and Good Parenting, By Murtadha Gusau - Premium Times OpinionIn the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger, his family, his Companions and those who follow him till the Hour is established. Dear brothers and sisters, throughout …
Read more »
THE LAST GOOD BOOK I READ… Janet Adebayo Adenike (Artist) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Daily TrustJanet Adebayo Adenike said her last good read is ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. “I read the book because it was recommended by a good friend. It helped me understand what it means to be a Nigerian and the effect of war on people’s lives. Before I read it, I didn’t …
Read more »
Premium Times Daily data-react-helmet=trueBreaking news, Investigations, Multimedia, Analysis, Opinion, Business, Sports & more... by Premium Times data-react-helmet=true
Read more »
Premium Times Daily data-react-helmet=trueBreaking news, Investigations, Multimedia, Analysis, Opinion, Business, Sports & more... by Premium Times data-react-helmet=true
Read more »
Islam and Good Parenting, By Murtadha Gusau - Premium Times OpinionIn the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger, his family, his Companions and those who follow him till the Hour is established. Dear brothers and sisters, throughout …
Read more »
The Heat This Time, By Udeme Nana - Premium Times OpinionThere is a general outcry about the preavailing hot weather especially in the cities.People now sweat more and are having frequent baths.There is restlessness among urbanites. The signs of the heat now being experienced have always been there but perhaps, the signs were not seen in complete and correct context, …
Read more »