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Why the AU should humbly reject Col. Ghadafi’s plans

Author: Pa John Baimba Sesay - Freetown

The creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was recently transformed to African Union (AU) was done out of the intention of African leaders to see how the continent could be united, taking into consideration the way it used to exist prior to it formation in the early 1960s. The late Kwume Nkrumah was a pivotal figure on the formation of the OAU, so also were other African leaders,; When Ghana gained independence, I read in history books that, Nkrumah said, the independence of Ghana was meaningless until the whole of the continent was liberated from colonial suppression and other forms of colonialism.

Nkrumah was a great leader that was loved by not only his people in Ghana, but by the Africans for his fearless stance towards the West. He was particularly concerned about the unification of the African continent and he did all he could, but was, in my viewed, with support from the West, overthrew from the President and died in exile in Guinea. And that was after he had spent years in Egypt following his overthrow.Â

However, it reached a time when the dream of the founding fathers of the OAU was misplaced by some other African leaders who were egocentric in their ways of thinking and behaving. Â Some were, and are still self centered when it comes to political power…just look at the continent, from the north, to the west, south and east Africans and see what I am saying.

However, in the area of Africa’s economic standings, the OAU helped in literally destabilizing the economies of some African countries, a case in point being Sierra Leone.Â The hosting of the OUA in Sierra Leone in 1981, to an extent helped in putting our economy where it is today. Siaka Stevens, from what I have read, (since I born a year later) did not listen to advice given him against hosting the OAU in the country, especially by the then Bank Governor Sam Bangura.

In fact allegations abound that Sam Bangura was killed for his position that Sierra Leone was not economically stable to host the OUA at the time. Â And in actual sense, the effect of us, hosting the OAU are still hunting us as a nation; this is nothing political, but the then APC government of Siaka Stevens went the wrong direction, in my opinion, insofar as the hosting of the OAU could go. But it was hosted, and just as we recent hosted the African Bank Governors conference here, the OUA left some indelible marks in our country’s history.

Col. Ghadafi should allow Malawi to chair the AU

And recent development within the ASU calls for thorough perusal by all critical minds, and this I am attempting to do. Â We are now beginning to observe that the issue of country/regional politics is at place from within the African Union, with particular reference to Col. Mohammed Ghadafi’s from north Africa, not wanting to hand over power, after his one term in office, as AU Chairman, to Malawi. It is well known that the leadership of the African Union is rotational and that a country can only lead the Union for one year. But latest indications are that Ghadafi, who is the current chairman, is not prepared to let go the ‘throne’ and is at the moment lobbying other African countries to see how he could remain as Chairman for the Union for another one year.

In whatever shape or form one may want to discuss this issue, Ghadafi is a rich man and can buy the political leadership of the African Union. We have seen how in recent years, he zigzagged the African continent by road, in complete demonstration of his wealth and influence over the continent.Â In terms of financial commitment toward the AU, when most countries could not pay their dues, it is, from reports, Ghadafi that will pay the dues of most countries. He is indeed a rich man. Here in Sierra Leone, his name is a household name.

But I am definitely going to send a word of caution to those who shall be casting their votes for or against Ghadafi when they converge in Ethiopia for the next AU Summit soonest.Â The economic weakness of a given country should not be used to determine the chances of that country assuming a particular leadership role, as in the case of Malawi, a country is supposed to assume the leadership of the AU. Malawi may not be as rich as Libya, but they must get what is theirs. No African country, especially my country, Sierra Leone should be coerced to vote in favor of Libya, insofar as this issue is concerned.

Now, it should be made clear that the integrity of the African Union is at stake at the moment, and it will diminish if Libya succeeds in serving as Chair for the AU for two terms contrary to what had been happening. John Kofour handed the chairmanship to Ghadafi with no problem, so why can’t Ghadafi do likewise? Â Africans should not, for one, handover the integrity of the continent to a single man simple because he is rich.

It is a bad precedent that is about to occur in the AU, and if that is to happen, then it will serve as an indication that we have not been able to produce the strong leaders that we want as a continent. Malawi can produce a strong leadership, and they must be tested. I therefore implore on my President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to give his opposition to what is about to happen with the AU, despite what Ghadafi had done for us as a nation, both in the positive and in the negative senses

Cosmetic window dressing drama at the AU should not be allowed; the leaders must tell Ghadafi that he should not go for another term when that is not the norm. Â Malawi, a country in the Southern Africa Development Community must be supported; the country should be encouraged as it is only through such an action that we could be able to man our affairs as Africans. I say no to Ghadafi’s intentions. This is my take.

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One Comment on "Why the AU should humbly reject Col. Ghadafi’s plans"

Abdurrahman T. L. Nelson on Sun, 31st Jan 2010 1:50 pm

With due respect for my Brother in Sierre Leone, I must disagree with his opinion that to re-elect His Excellency Brother Colonel Muamar Qaddafi to head the AU is a bad precedent. To the contrary, what is a bad precedent is what has been happening all these long and painful years: a failure of Africa to Unite.

One major reason that Africa has not United in these past 60 years, repeat: 60 long hard years, is the weak centralized head of the organization. Drawing on historical precedence, and here we note that John Hanson, the first one-year president of the United States of America was an African (http://www.nowpublic.com/the_first_president_of_the_usa_was_a_black_man?page=1), the United States of America abandoned the practice of one-year presidencies in favor of longer terms because it did not work here. And so far, it has not worked in Africa and will not work to actually Unite Africa.
The fact that Brother Muamar has finally made the suggestion that a leader needs more time in office to make a positive impact towards Unity is a sign that we are finally coming of age. This is a small tiny step in the right direction. And, it is long overdue. It is a belated step towards African Unification.