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| Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Church |
Here's the real one
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| St Peters Rome |
Well not to be out done in the self aggrandisement stakes, Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has started a gigantic, multi-million dollar bronze statue named "African Renaissance".
When it is finished, the statue will be taller than New York's Statue of Liberty (or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, depending upon the version of the story).
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| African Renaissance |
However, what makes this just a little bit more than just another bad governance African 'big man' story are the sub plots ......
Firstly, this statue is meant to represent African 'self reliance' but at a price of $27m (£17m) it is being made by North Koreans.
Secondly, the financial demands of the president are that "The land is state property and the fees to build the statue have been paid by the state... but I am the designer, the one who conceived it," said President Wade. "So we should see how we share the benefits. The state will go with 65% and l shall take 35% for myself."
Whoever said Africa was governable?
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