WITHOUT ECONOMIC LIBERATION, AFRICA WOULD NOT PROGRESS – OBASANJO
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Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, urged African nations to combine their resources in order to forge closer economic links across the continent on Tuesday.
In order to develop economic power for the common good, African people, whether on the African continent or in the Diaspora, have traditionally been called upon to pool their resources under the traditional economic notion of pan-Africanism.
During the celebration of Angola’s National Founder and Hero’s Day 2024, which is observed on September 17 every year, Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday in Lagos.
The purpose of the celebration was to honor the memory of Agostinho Neto, the first president of Angola, who declared the nation’s independence on November 11, 1975.
The event, with the theme, “Pan-Africanism in the Political Course by Agostinho Neto”, was organised by the Embassy of Angola in Nigeria.
Neto who died in Moscow at the age of 56 was Angola’s president from 1975 to 1979.
In his address, Obasanjo highlighted various pan-African struggles.
“One of the things we tend to do as humans is forget the past and our leaders who made sacrifices for what we are enjoying today.
“We have achieved political and cultural pan-Africanism to an extent but now we have to focus on the economic liberation of Africa.
“I want to talk about the economic aspect which seems like we have yet to pay enough attention to until now when our leaders started to introduce African Continental Free Trade Agreements.
“Our pan-africanism must be strong. When we were formulating the charter for a new African Union from Organisation of African Unity, we dwelt more on economic ties,” he said.
Former AU chairman Obasanjo emphasized the significance of deeper economic links for Africa’s development.
“One of the things we have been doing is struggling for the economic emancipation of Africa but we have not done this too well.
“We should ask ourselves, why did we have slave trade? It is because some nations want energy to develop their new world and make money.
“The slave trade was substituted with colonialism and then exploitation to develop other continents. We got others, but they are still withholding economic power.
“Economic pan-africanisim is what I believe we should now pay attention to which will lead to the economic liberation of Africa,” he emphasised.
Along with praising Fidel Castro’s contributions to the liberation of Angola, Obasanjo described them as noteworthy.
Obasanjo claimed that the Nigerian government gave the Angolan government financial support of $20 million to aid in the liberation effort.
“As far as pan-africanisim is concerned, as long as we are economically weak, we are going nowhere and we can’t do it alone.
“Pan-africanisim today should be the liberation of Africa economically and we have to continue together from where Augusto Neto stopped.
“We need to ensure and achieve the economic liberation of Africa,” he stated.
José Zau, the ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, claimed that Neto’s ideas influenced modern African brotherhood ideology.
He claims that because of the late Neto’s historical connections to Lagos, the city was chosen for the tribute event.
“It was here during the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo that Neto was honoured by the University of Lagos in the 1970s with the prestigious award of Doctor Honnoris Causa.
“This award from the University of Lagos, associated with Neto’s political career made him an unavoidable figure in the history of political ideas in Angola and Africa,” Zau said.
Olamide Adediro, on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, reiterated the close bonds of friendship, solidarity, and collaboration that exist between Angola and Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria is still dedicated to strengthening its alliance in the spirit of pan-Africanism as the two countries collaborate to overcome obstacles and fulfill Africa’s ambition.
“Nigeria is proud to have played a part in supporting Angola’s independence struggle guided by the same ideals that have shaped our own journey.
“Neto’s vision of a united and self-reliant Africa is one we share with our Angolan brothers and sisters. The Libration of Angola was not only a triumph for Angola but a victory for all African and the entire black race.”
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