Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, said Africa’s problem could best be solved by using African solutions.
Obasanjo stated this while making reference to how ceasation of hostilities was achieved between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF).
The former president spoke as he hosted some students from Tigray Region, Ethiopia and some African countries, who were on a thank you visit to him at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, for the role he played in achieving cessation of hostilities, which had led to reopening of schools in their country, earlier ravaged by civil war.
Obasanjo played a key role as High Representative of Horn of Africa, which led to the efforts and agreement that brought about relative peace in the Tigray Region.
The delegation also noted the other peace building roles that Obasanjo had played in Ethiopia and Africa at large.
Delegates to the visit included the President, Mekelle University Students’ Union, Weldebrhan Azazi; Oli Bedane Wako for the Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions Students Union (EHEISU); President, United Youth of Africa Nation (UYAN), Dr. Daysman Oyakhilome; and President, All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Osisiogu Osikenyi E.
While appreciating the delegation for the visit, Obasanjo said there were more grounds to be covered despite the cessation of hostilities, as many adverse situations that occurred during the hostilities, were yet to be resolved.
He said, “What is very important and which I want you to take very seriously is that the peace that we were able to achieve in Tigray between TKLF and the Federal Government of Ethopia is what you and I will regard as finding an African solution to the African problem. And this is what our leaders have been clamouring for even from independence in the early 1960s.
“And how did it happen? AU decided that as our continental organization, we should not continue to fold hands where there is war raging or where there is fire burning in any of our countries.
“Then they decided to appoint what they called High Representative of the Horn of Africa, not only that all the leaders of the Horn of Africa supported the AU in seeking peace, in promoting peace, security, stability and enduring and sustainable development in the whole of the Horn of Africa.
“Not only that, we said to our development partners that they should let us be in the forefront, let us spearhead, leave us in charge, but whatever assistance you want to give, give it within the demand and the requirement of those who are in charge of the process and that was what happened and we were able to get what we are celebrating today.
“AU took the right step, the right decision at the right time. That same organisation found the right instrument to use to achieve the right purpose that it wanted to achieve. Then our leaders in the region and in the continent backed up the process.
“Our development partners supported the AU effort, there was no question of working at cross purpose. We all worked together and archived together and we can all claim credit together and thank God together for what we have been able to achieve.
“It is a great lesson for us to know that, yes, whatever may be our problem-political, economic, social in Africa we can solve them if we go about seeking a solution rightly.
No problem in Africa is too great for us to solve.
“Where there may be problem of peace, problem of insecurity, problem of youths unemployment, youths lack of empowerment, youths lack of acquisition of skills, youths frustration and of course general bad governance.
“But let me deal with the specific issue raised with the situation in Tigray. I think we must thank God and appreciate the fact that since 2nd of November last year, when the Pretoria agreement for cessation of hostility was signed, there has not been a shot fired. But that is not enough. The fact that a shot has not been fired in anger does not mean that all is well and that is what you have pointed out.
“There should have been total demobilisation so that those who were conscripted during the civil war will be able to go home and start their normal life. There should have been nobody left in IDP camps. By now, they should have gone home and resume their normal life. All schools should have opened by now and then, of course, there should be continued provision of humanitarian.”
The former president, stated that it was not enough to use some problems bedevilling any country or the continent to generalise and condemn the entire continent or country.
“There are a lot of not so pleasant commentaries on Africa generally and on different countries. My point is that yes, there are many things going wrong in Africa but we cannot take one white brush and paint the whole Africa or the whole of a country and say Nigeria is only a country of cheaters. No, we have decent, honourable eminent Nigerians all over the world.
“I won’t because of one apple in a basket that is rotten and say I have a basket of rotten apples. I will say yes, I have a basket of apples but one is rotten. Yes, there are men and women, who will fall short of expectation in character, in morality, in integrity and in honesty but don’t take a broad brush and paint a sad and bad image.
“Where you have a population of 225 million people you must make allowance for a devil that will be among the saints and that happens in any country, not only in Nigeria alone.”
In his remarks, Wako, who said, the African students’ leaders paid a thank you visit to Obasanjo, said the deadliest war in Tigray region of Ethiopia has brought immense tragedy, claiming the lives of countless young individuals and leaving behind widespread destruction and trauma.
He, however, noted that the move initiated by Obasanjo had saved countless lives and provided a foundation upon which they could rebuild the war-torn region of Tigray.
James Sowole
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