NIGERIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES AU SUMMIT
AT
THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OAU/AU “PAN-AFRICANISM
AND AFRICAN RENAISSANCE” ADDIS ABABA, 25 MAY, 2013
Mr. Chairman
Your Excellencies
Invited Guests
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
1. I am delighted to be part of this historic Summit which
commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU). I join other colleagues in conveying appreciation to the
government and people of Ethiopia for their hospitality and the African Union
Commission for the excellent organization of this unique event.
2.
It is a great honour to also acknowledge the presence at this
occasion, of our elder statesman, former President of the Republic of Zambia,
H.E. Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, one of the founding fathers of this
organization.
3.
What at the time seemed only a vision, was relentlessly pursued,
beginning with the Accra Conference of 1958, through Tunis (1960), followed by
Cairo (1961) to the Conference in this great city of Addis Ababa on 25th May,
1963 when thirty-two (32) African Heads of State and Government founded the
Organization of African Unity (OAU).
4.
As we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our Organization, we can
take justifiable pride in the fact that the objectives the founding fathers set
for themselves have largely been achieved. Their foresight and action have
translated an ideal into reality.
5.
The theme of this special Summit, Pan-Africanism and African
Renaissance, is indeed both profound and apt. It captures the essence of
our Union, its ideals, its aims and its aspirations.
6.
Fifty years ago, the socio-political and economic landscape of
Africa and the entire world was different from what it is today. Africa
was preoccupied with a just struggle to rid itself of the vestiges of
colonialism and racial domination. The world was also in the throes of
the Cold War which impacted on our struggle. But we persevered and stayed
the course.
7.
Fifty years on, Africa is independent. Africa has won its
fight against apartheid and racial discrimination. The OAU and its
rallying philosophy of Pan Africanism gave impetus to our struggle for our
political emancipation and acceptance as full- fledged members of the
international community.
8.
While political independence has been won and colonialism,
apartheid and minority rule have been defeated, we are yet to overcome the challenges
of neo-colonialism, poverty, disease, violent conflicts, environmental
degradation, under-development and economic dependency.
9.
We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to ensure that
Africa succeeds. We must consolidate our achievements, correct past
mistakes and accomplish the new African integration paradigm for political,
economic, socio-cultural and scientific development.
10.
Today, we are reflecting on the philosophy of Pan Africanism and African
Renaissance not at the behest of anyone but of our own accord. We do so because
we are conscious of the need to control our own destiny. For too long,
Africa has been a victim of external domination, exploitation and manipulation.
Africa must rediscover itself.
11.
So, my message today is very simple. Africa must declare an end to
the era of self inflicted wars and conflicts. Africa must usher in an era
of transformation, peace, stability and sustainable development.
12.
We all know that the wars we fight sap our strength, divert our
resources and destroy precious lives and property. We know that these
conflicts hold Africa back. We must bring them to an end immediately to
give Africa respite and space to develop and realize its potential for
greatness.
13.
In this regard, we must first take definite steps and implement all the
frameworks aimed at curtailing the proliferation and illicit trade in small
arms and light weapons in our continent. These are the weapons of choice
in the prosecution of all the deadly conflicts, acts of terrorism, piracy and
armed robberies ravaging many parts of our continent. Given their
lethality they have been aptly described as the weapons of mass destruction and
destabilization in Africa.
14.
Second, with Africa free of all its crises and violent conflicts, we
must commit to deepen our democratic governance and rule of law. We must give
voice to, and respect the wishes of our people when they express them
democratically, freely and openly. Democracy must be allowed to flourish
unimpeded in all our countries. We must end the culture of abuse of power
and impunity. We must embrace the culture of accountability, equity and
justice.
15.
Third, for Pan Africanism to endure and Africa’s Renaissance to occur, a
peaceful Africa must draw lessons from its ancient past as the cradle of human
civilization. In the last 50 years, the world has attained unprecedented
heights in human advancement driven by science and technology. Africa
must be part of that movement and experience. Africa should aim to lead
humanity again in innovation and advancement.
16.
Africa must not remain in the margins of world affairs. Africa
must continue to ask for its due rights and place in the World. Africa’s
demand to be represented on the permanent membership of the United Nations
Security Council is just. It should never be seen as a privilege.
We should, therefore, vigorously press our demand for an urgent reform
and expansion of the Council in order to inaugurate more equitable global
governance architecture.
17.
The transformation of Africa to a strong, confident, productive and
competitive region should not pose challenges of extraordinary nature.
Africa is a continent blessed with a versatile human resource base.
The continent has huge reserves of diverse untapped natural resources.
We must commit ourselves to add value to these resources and use them to
transform the lives of our peoples and nations.
We
must commit anew, to win our battle against poverty, hunger and disease.
Africa can and must take care of its most vulnerable population,
especially its youth, its women and its physically challenged. Africa
must turn its begging bowls into baskets of prosperity and opportunity.
We must give a new face to our people and continent. Our rebirth,
our renewal, our renaissance must begin now.
18.
We signaled this intent with the transformation of the Organization of
African Union (OAU) to the African Union (AU), a decade ago. We adopted
forward-looking and dynamic approaches to Africa’s integration agenda. We
devised a new Peace and Security Architecture. We agreed on a new framework to
ward off the tendency towards unconstitutional change of government and adopted
a Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance among others. We also
adopted the New Partnership for Africa’s Economic Development (NEPAD) along
with the Africa Peer Review (APR) mechanism to fast-track the continent’s
development agenda and enhanced governance process.
19.
Mr. Chairman, as expected, my country, Nigeria, will remain a staunch
supporter and promoter of Pan-Africanism and the ideals and objectives,
championed by this Union. Our steadfast commitment to the Union arises
from our recognition that African unity and solidarity will remain our
strength, both as a nation and as a continent.
20.
Nigeria will be in the vanguard of the collective efforts aimed at the
realization of this continental dream. Nigeria’s policy of placing Africa
at the centre of its external relations is to ensure that, at all times, the
challenge of building and sustaining the Africa of our dream, remains a
priority.
21. It is, therefore, my hope that when the Centenary of the OAU shall
be marked 50 years from now, it shall be said of us that we provided the right
leadership, built on the foundation already laid by the founding fathers,
thereby assuring the renaissance of a proud, dynamic and fully integrated
Africa.
Long
Live Africa! Long Live the African Union!!
22.
I thank you. VANGUARD.
