By Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje
May 25, 1963 the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now African Union was born in Adisi Ababa, Ethiopia with the ideology of Pan – Africanism and a core mandate of a United State of Africa with a view to fast tracking socio- economic development of the emerging states. But as the drum of celebration reaches the air, Africa and African is yet to actualize the dream of a continental body with its full potential of integrating the various federating units of 54 states that sought a blissful union fifty years ago.
Undoubtedly, the continent exhibits the longest and most extensive forms of crisis which cannot be ignored. What does it means to celebrate 50 years of independence ( flag freedom) when there are still so many injustices in the economy and politics in Africa, unfair terms of trade, wanton destruction of the environment and gross disregard for human and people’s rights and identities are resulting in mass poverty and deep social and political inequalities. What is more, many African countries where
majority of the populations live in poverty particularly, women, children, disabled, and diseased continue to suffer and even die in silence.
The golden anniversary celebrations is time for African and its leaders to look to its future by looking back to its past for working with its present in order to negotiate those critical milestones toward building formidable base and frame works for responding to the negative factors impinging on its developmental agenda. Events of recent time point us to directions that should be firmly rooted in our own traditions. From the time of mercantilism through colonialism to development, African has always been at the receiving end, begging for its own pillaged resources first from the West and now the East. Our leaders watch on helplessly while our resources are plundered only to turn around and about with pans in hands begging for crumps from Africans stolen resources.
Furthermore, a balanced score card of the Africa Union at 50 also shows that it is one union too divided against itself and everyone for themselves. It is a statement of fact that Africa had witnessed the most heinous and horrendous crime against humanity emanating from civil wars orchestrated by brutish and seat tight leaders who parade themselves as democrats. The case of Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir who is wanted for war crimes and crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court is clear testimony that there is leadership glut on the continent of Africa. Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s recently elected president, is set to stand trial on similar charges later this year for election violence that engulfed Kenya in 2007.
The 2012 Ibrahim Mo Foundation confirms that governance progress has been made since the year 2000 within the sustainable economic opportunity and human development categories, but safety and rule of law and participation and human Rights have registered declines. Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa which are regional players in Africa have shown unfavourable governance performance since 2006. This characteristic remains an important concern in Africa. If good governance is about harnessing a country’s resources to achieve the results any citizen living in the 21st century has a right to expect more from their leaders. African leaders has collectively failed to address the lingering root causes of conflicts with little or no focus on human security and inclusive political participation in their respective countries thereby endangering the prospects and the broader goal for continental union in the nearest future.
Sadly, human security is still major a challenge in Africa. In Somalia, Al Shabaab continues to threaten the peace and transition process and then there is Mali, which has opened a gateway to global terror group Al Qaeda to enter the African continent. The heightened rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has the potential of destabilising the entire Great Lakes region. In Nigeria the Boko Haram sect will also undermine the democratic gains in the last 14 years. Robert Mugabe has been president since 1980 and his country has seen regression and corruption rather than development. He reigns as a dictator and intolerant of other vibrant opposition groups in Zimbabwe. This insecurity has generated an unprecedented internally displaced persons and refugees whose living conditions are unbearable and undefined. It’s also on record that three-quarters of the world’s AIDS population lives in Africa; most have no access to lifesaving drugs, testing facilities or even basic preventative health care. Indeed, in many African countries, life expectancy is dropping from more than 60 years to around 45 years or even less. On the other hand, Africa’s contribution to world trade is less than 1% and 25 of the world’s bottom poor countries. Regretably, also the continent remains heavily dependent on the export of a few primary commodities, most of which had suffered significant decline in prices over the years, leading to large trade losses and worsening balance of payments.
African political leaders and intellectuals in my view have so far failed the continent in the emancipation of Africans who have contributed in no small measures to their education and social well being before their emergence to position of authority in their respective countries. Therefore, there is need for attitudinal change in Africa. We should realize that the overall development of the continent, including the economic, social, cultural and technological development is the responsibility of all Africans at home and in the diasporas.
In the final analysis the theme of the golden jubilee celebration of pan Africanism and African renaissance must been seen as a wake up to invigorate the union and Africans on the genuine pact to reclaim its actual place in history and a continent that can stand on its own in science and technology and cultural values that will guarantee the rebirth and a new beginning for sustainable progress and development. It is hoped that a united Africa with an African president is achievable in the future. Africa it is yet Uhuru!
Samuel Akpobome Orovwuje, Humanitarian Affairs Specialist and Founder, Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons, Lagos. (08034745325)