I by Carlos Mundy Billionaires are easy and vulnerable targets of autocratic governments but also of democratic ones, as we have seen by the unjust persecution of oligarchs by Western governments for the only crime of being Russian. persecution that has even been applied to well-renown Russian athletes and artists too!
Jack Ma ©
Because of their visibility and influence, when they raise a voice against the established power or give an opinion outside of the established thought pattern, they are at risk of being targeted. Multinational companies can also become enemies when billionaires conclude deals with them and don’t fold to their ways. Governments as well as very large multinational companies then use all the tools at their disposal, including the courts, the mainstream, and social media, to discredit their good name.
Some believe that billionaires are good for business, while others see them as the cause of global income inequality. But it is a fact that many in the business community look to billionaires for their wise instincts and bold words when they have advice to share. Some examples include Carlos Slim's insistence that we should face our problems to overcome them and learn from our mistakes, or Warren Buffett's famous argument to think long-term, even if you're worried about the posterity of your investments.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky Source Wikipedia
These are the best of times and the worst of times to be a billionaire. People adore some of them. They envy and hate the rest. Elon Musk is a prime example. He is a hero to many and a villain to others. The fact is that he is a visionary with the wealth to innovate in ways that can materially contribute to solving the world's most intractable problems. But with his purchase of Twitter, now rebranded as X, many powerful critics surfaced, including the US and Western governments.
Elon Musk, after the acquisition, immediately restored accounts of many that had been censored by the previous owners, including former President Trump. The democratic governments that are trying to implement the WOKE agenda dislike any thought that differs from the established one, and the mainstream media tried unsuccessfully to massacre him. Oligarchs in Russia are persecuted by the government unless they submit to the autocratic power of the Kremlin, as was the case with Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky. In China, billionaires simply disappear, are executed, murdered, or suddenly commit suicide if they don't toe the communist line. This has been the case of Jack Ma, Xiao Jianhua, Ren Ziqiang, Sun Dawu, Bao Fan, and Guo Guangchang, to name but a few. This persecution is politically motivated. In the United States, Donald Trump is currently accusing the Biden administration of politically motivated persecution against him. Africa has its share of persecuted billionaires. The latest is Benedict Peters, one of the most revolutionary businessmen and philanthropists on the continent. He is the founder of the country's largest independent oil producer, Aiteo.
Benedict Peters Source Daily Post Nigeria
A global human rights group, the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has condemned what it calls a campaign of calumny against him. Its coordinator, Nduka Edede Chinomso, described the attacks as a malicious international conspiracy to discredit his good name. The statement read: "As a global human rights group, we are concerned about the orchestrated and sponsored attacks on the founder of Aiteo, Benedict Peters. We have noted that the attacks have been consistent, a clear indication that this is a calculated attempt to destroy a man created by God. The attacks are nothing more than a malicious international conspiracy to destroy Africa's revolutionary businessman and philanthropist. This is a man who recently unveiled an initiative that will significantly increase the nation's oil production.
Elon Musk © AP
Multi-national corporations
Through his oil company, Peters has decided to revitalize the hitherto dormant Nembe Creek, among other innovative solutions aimed at repositioning the oil sector. We are tempted to believe that those who do not wish the nation well are behind the sustained campaign of calumny against Peters.” The ACJHR frowned at the continued media and trumped-up allegations against Mr. Benedict Peters on issues that competent courts of law have clearly cleared him of any wrongdoing, saying it's wicked and desperate to keep recycling old, unsubstantiated allegations just to tarnish the image of a successful businessman and philanthropist. She strongly condemned the attempt by a controversial Ghanaian politician, Okudzeto Ablakwa, who she said was on a mission to destroy Ghana's growing foreign investment drive by attacking the good works of Frontiers Healthcare Services, which greatly helped Ghana survive the worst moments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ACJHR also warned that, as a public interest organization, it will not hesitate to launch a legal contempt offensive against anyone or any individual who attempts to tarnish the reputation of Benedict Peters over any of the wild allegations both in the UK, Africa, and any part of the world where competent courts have cleared him of any wrongdoing. Some people believe that billionaires have too much money and that it is harmful, but this is a myth. In fact, during the pandemic, many governments struggled to help their people while a good number of billionaires used their wealth to benefit society and further their charitable goals. Ordinary people find it hard to have such a large impact on the world, but billionaires have the means to do so. The increase in worldwide philanthropy during the last four decades has been an encouraging development, and affluent philanthropists have significantly aided the enhancement of people's welfare and public goods internationally. Often, billionaires are criticized for their lavish expenses, with some asserting that the amount spent on owning a mega yacht could better serve feeding the less fortunate. However, such claims are unjustifiable. The fact is that one of the ways billionaires stimulate the world economy is through their expenditures. To all critics, I challenge you to consider the reverse scenario. Think about the many companies and individuals who contributed to the creation of a mega yacht, such as ship builders, fabric producers, engineers, and interior designers, amongst many others. The same applies when a billionaire throws an opulent party. Hundreds of people benefit as money is spent and circulates throughout the system. A tight-fisted millionaire may seem useless to everyone. Attempts to solve this with redistribution plans could ultimately harm 99% of the population.
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