Obasanjo’s African Union Presidency: A new impetus to the Darfur Region and NEPAD

By

Dr. Chidi Uzoma

Rome , Italy

Threeseasons23@yahoo.com

 

 

President Olusegun Obasanjo was announced on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia as the new chairman of the African Union (AU), succeeding Mozambican President Joaquin Chissano. Obasanjo adds this new position to his chairmanship of the Commonwealth and the New Economic Partnership for Africa ’s Development (NEPAD) Implementation Committee.

 

President Obasanjo’s administration while having problems at home with his domestic policy is on the contrary receiving considerable attention outside. It is a clear demonstration of what a stable Nigeria could represent to the African continent and in extension the international community. Many African leaders and neutral observers have quite often made this consideration. On the contrary, it remains to be proved if Nigerians, in particular Nigerian political gladiators do comprehend as much.

 

This investiture comes at a critical time for the AU: the war and its humanitarian crisis in the Darfur Region of Sudan and the implementation of NEPAD. The Sudanese crisis has become another litmus test for the world community. Africa in particular cannot take pride in what is happening in Sudan , where tens of thousands have fled their homes.  It would be sad, really sad if someday someone would have to apologize for not acting, just as it happened with the genocide in Rwanda . On the other hand, NEPAD a programme drawn up about two years ago by Africans for Africa and considered in many quarters as the new hope and opportunity for Africa’s renaissance, becomes critical as it enters its implementation stage.

 

Meanwhile, both the US Secretary of State, Collin Powel and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan have visited the Sudanese troubled region, getting assurances of an end to the conflict from the government. Also the world food programme and food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have both launched special appeal funds for the Sudanese food emergency situation.

Furthermore, it is good news that African Union is also sending troops to the Darfur region, and it has been reported that Nigeria’s Brigadier General Festus Okonkwo has been speaking with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum on the modalities of the troops deployment due to arrive by the end of July.

 

The new AU chairman would need all his resolve and power of persuasion to bring to bear on the rancorous African governments not to relent until this over two decade-long remaining war-front on the continent is resolved. This much was captured in Obasanjo’s acceptance speech “We intend to confront headlong, the conflict situations in Africa with renewed vigour and determination. We like to enlist the support of members of the Union , especially the peace and security council and other development partners to achieve the goal” (Vanguard, Wednesday, July 7, 2004 ).

 

Adding his signature to the resolution of the Darfur crisis would no doubt add to Obasanjo’s already long list of events and episodes, which all seem to be written in the stars for him.

 

He was also present at the critical moment of the end of the Nigerian-Biafran war in 1969/70. It has not escaped our memory how he was literarily lifted from the hands of death, unto the presidency of Nigeria at a very crucial time in the nation’s history. The late playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa was not as fortunate on the contrary.

 

One therefore wishes that President Obasanjo understands the import of this singular episode, which has nothing to share with “one playing or wishing to play god”. This is why many are hoping that he doesn’t fail this nation, for its consequences might be bitter, very bitter indeed. This is also why who succeeds Obasanjo is as important and critical as to why and how he emerged the Nigerian leader in 1999.

 

While we wish him good luck in his new African assignment, we only hope the president is not too distracted from these foreign engagements to the disadvantage of the home economy. It is true the Nigerian economy is in good hands judging by the attributes of the people at the helm of affairs. But our judiciary though recently described “as one of the best in Africa ” by vice-president Abubakar Atiku for example deserves equally greater attention. The continued lingering election petitions in and around our law courts, one year plus after elections are increasingly becoming incomprehensible and a disservice to democracy, even under the much-touted Nigerian democratic learning process.

 

 

13 July 2004