President Bola Tinubu has revealed that the fullness of the economic integration will continue to elude Africa as long as several of its nations are in the midst of violence and war.
Tinubu spoke on Sunday in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, at the fifth mid-year coordination meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU).
The new chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said African countries must have visionary leadership because past history and current global difficulties are against the continent’s success.
“The world we inhabit is often unkind and uncertain. Past history and current global difficulties argue against our future success,” the president said.
”Lessons of the past few years teach us that the world economy can be disrupted in ways that halt progress and invite downturn. Our nations can suddenly find themselves in dire situations if we choose to be passive observers of our fate.
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“Such passivity does not commend itself to me. I will not listen to it. Neither should any African. The challenges we face mean that governance will be difficult.
“They also mean that visionary good governance is necessary. Some observers assert a new scramble for Africa is afoot and it is much like the old scramble that plundered our continent.
“But, here and now, let it be said to whomever the new scramblers might be that our continent may be old but our spirit is new. And it is strong. The bad that took place in the past must stay there. It shall never be repeated.”
Tinubu said Africa would have a vibrant economy if it is able to mitigate the numerous security challenges facing it.
“We sit here in a meaningful discussion of vital economic matters. Yet, it will be impossible to bring full meaning to what we attempt unless we give due consideration to the instability and conflict that now scar many of our nations,” he said.
“The fullness of the integration we seek will elude us as long as several of our nations stand in the midst of violence and war.
“The trade and commerce we talk of today refers to valued goods and services that improve life. The trade and commerce these nations suffer is of destruction and disorder that takes lives and steals opportunity.”