Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to speak at the plenary session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopa was occasioned by a bilateral meeting on infrastructure in West Africa held on the sidelines of the summit.
“It is perfectly normal for Presidents to meet on the sidelines of any international meeting, and as the AU plenary went on yesterday (Saturday), many Presidents stepped out to hold bilateral meetings, and return to the hall,” Abati told THISDAY inside the AU building in Addis Ababa.
According to him, it was incumbent on the minister standing in for the president to seek for another speech slot to enable his principal return to the hall or go ahead and read the prepared speech but Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, chose to read the president’s speech.
“President Jonathan was perfectly in order. He did not abandon his duty post. He was in fact busy at work on behalf of Nigerians. I see the mischief that has suddenly erupted around this matter as a classic case of much ado about nothing.” Abati said.
The statement added that
President Jonathan was an accomplished diplomat under whose watch, Nigeria’s relationship with other countries has continued to grow strong.
“We are witnessing under this administration, a truly golden and glorious moment in Nigeria’s foreign policy process, an achievement which President Jonathan cherishes,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the president, in his speech read by Ashiru at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity/AU with the theme, “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”, said the continent could 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. 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,” he said.
According to him, political independence has been won and colonialism, apartheid and minority rule have been defeated even as Africa was yet to overcome the challenges of neo-colonialism, poverty, disease, violent conflicts, environmental degradation, under-development and economic dependency.
“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,” he affirmed.
He continued: “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”.
President Jonathan reminded African leaders and citizens that the wars fought within the continent to sap its strength and divert resources as well as 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 realise its potential for greatness.”
To achieve this, he suggested that the first step must be to implement all the frameworks aimed at curtailing the proliferation and illicit trade in small arms and light weapons on the continent.
He sees these as the weapons of choice in the prosecution of all the deadly conflicts, acts of terrorism, piracy and armed robberies ravaging many parts of Africa, adding that given their lethality they have been aptly described as the weapons of mass destruction and destabilisation in Africa.
“With Africa free of all its crises and violent conflicts, the president said the continent must commit to deepen 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,” he added.
“President Jonathan maintained that democracy must be allowed to flourish unimpeded in all African countries just as an end must be put to the culture of abuse of power and impunity.
“We must embrace the culture of accountability, equity and justice,” he said.
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