Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, has urged African leaders to be prepared for violent takeovers if they fail to secure peaceful democratic procedures and sound governance.
Thus, he called on African states to make significant improvements in governance and transition processes, adding that “those who impede peaceful change of government must be prepared for violent change that would follow”.
Mr Obasanjo spoke at the African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC) conference in Mankessim, in the Central Region.
The conference, which aims to give youngsters the tools they need to actively participate in the government of their individual countries, is being attended by 65 participants from 27 African countries, including Canada and the US.
The former president found it alarming that poor leadership and governance have plagued Africa for years, pushing the majority of its nations into underdevelopment.
Touching on recent coups d’etat in the sub-region, Mr Obasanjo described the happenings as indicative of bad governance in the region.
“What we have in West Africa today is not just unconstitutional change of governments that will transition to civilian government now; no.
“I visited one of such countries not long ago and after two nights, I came out with the feeling that the young boys in charge of government currently are not thinking of transitioning in three years, five years or even in 10 years.
“They are thinking of a generation.
They believe they require a generation to bring about the necessary change colonialism, neo-colonialism and bad governance had visited on their respective countries,” he said.
The former President said leadership in the region was not in the best of shapes.
Mr Obasanjo further said that after 60 years and over, many African countries had put colonialism behind them and with the slave trade ending over 150 years ago, Africa could no longer give excuses for its underdevelopment.
He also said it was worrying that armed robbery, arms trafficking, human trafficking and drug trafficking and money laundering were gaining ground in many countries in the sub-region.
Mr Obasanjo said these, coupled with generally poor leadership and governance, had resulted in a state of lawlessness in most countries, making life unbearable for many.
The former President, therefore, said Africans, both on the continent and in the diaspora, must work together to ensure good governance to effect necessary changes and make life meaningful for the people.
He said many African countries had failed after independence because they did not understand freedom in the context of global economic and socio-politico dynamics.
“This is coupled with mismanagement of our countries’ diversity and the marginal education of our people has contributed significantly to the continent’s complex developmental problems,” Mr Obasanjo added.
He commended the African Union (AU) for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative and called for intensified regional trade to promote the economic growth of the continent.
The former President also urged the youth to be inquisitive and proactive, positively disruptive and responsibly radical and non-conformists, adding that they must deploy appropriate technology to bring about the needed change in their respective countries.
The Omanhen of Mankessim Traditional Area, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu, advised the youth to maximise the use of technology for the development of their communities and countries.
The President of the AYGC conference, Aissatou Bella Bah, said it was time to remove all barriers that hindered the development of the youth, particularly girls.
Source: Graphicsonline
