*AFRICAN UNION: THE LAME DUCK*

*AFRICAN UNION: THE LAME DUCK*

Beloved, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which later metamophorsed into African Union (AU) came into existence in May 1963 when 32 heads of "Independent African States" met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

The vision of the founding fathers was "An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena".

It's objectives included to rid the continent of the remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid, to promote unity and solidarity amongst African States, to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development, to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states and to promote international cooperation.

The OAU Charter specified the purpose of the organization namely:

a) To promote the unity and solidarity of African States.

b). To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa.

c). To defend their territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

d). To eradicate all forms of Colonialism from Africa

e). To promote international cooperation having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The African Union was birthed through the Sirte Declaration of 9th September 1999 in Libya and was formally launched to take over the activities of the OAU in 2002 with a membership of the 55 African States on the continent.

The underlying philosophy of the AU at creation include freedom, equality, justice and dignity which were essential objectives for the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples. Emphasis was also placed on the need to foster cooperation amongst African peoples and States respectively in response to the aspirations of Africans for brotherhood and solidarity in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national differences. The guiding philosophy was that of Pan Africanism which centered on African Socialism and promoted the communal characteristics and practices of African Communities and a drive to embrace Africa's culture, common heritage and Unity.

After the launch of the AU in Durban South Africa in 2002, there was a new focus since the OAU had successfully midwifed ridding the continent of apartheid in South Africa. The AU now concerned itself with increased cooperation and integration of African States to drive Africa's growth and economic development.

Additional Obectives of the AU are to:

1). Promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies.

2). Advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, especially science and technology.

3). Promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples.

4). Coordinate and harmonise the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union.

CRITIQUE:

Although the vision and objectives of the OAU/AU are laudable but the most important which I believe, are to coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa thereby raising their living standards and eradicating all forms of colonialism from the continent are yet to be achieved.

Majority of Africans are still living in abject poverty, the educational sector is derelict, healthcare is moribund, productivity of the agricultural sector is very poor, there is a dearth of centres for scientific and technological development. There is acute housing problem and organs for conflict resolution to ensure peace and stability are weak or non-existent.

It is little wonder that France and other colonialists still have a very strong presence in most of the former colonies decades after their independence.

The continent is already walking as if blindfolded into another era of colonization as China has virtually taken over the economies of many African nations.

*RECOMMENDATIONS: *

In this END TIME, the AU should further unite to present a common front by taking advantage of the prevailing uncertainty of the period to dispassionately negotiate the writing off of all foreign loans of African nations and set in motion the process of getting France and other colonialists to take their greedy claws off Africa. Enough of the exploitation and plundering of our resources.

Failure of the AU to do this will increase the level of poverty on the continent. We were able to get rid of apartheid, so if we jointly resolve , we can get rid of the forces of neocolonialism currently building up in the continent

We should also urgently Create seven Industrial Hubs in seven economically viable regions of the African Continent in preparation for the imminent homecoming of our brothers in the Diaspora. A uniform currency (The AFRO) should be adopted as a Continental unit of negotiation with all our trading partners and should go into circulation within the shortest feasible period.

. Let the LAME DUCK that is the AFRICAN UNION wake up to its responsibility .

Shalom.

God Bless Africa

God Bless Humanity.

Kindly Visit https://ayoogunjobi.blogspot.com

Very Truly Yours

Elder Ayodeji Ogunjobi (Deja Vu)a.k.a. ORUNMILA messenger to OLODUMARE

Please Circulate Widely for Ripple Effect POWERED BY JAMESON SOLOMON CONSULTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF SAMSOL NIG LTD