NIGERIA’S role in shaping the birth and continued existence and growth of African Union (AU) can best be appreciated in her active participation in the evolution of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from the 1960s. And that is based on the historical fact that the Charter of the OAU which was signed by 32 independent African countries in Addis Ababa on May 25, 1963, was based largely the Lagos Charter. The Lagos, Charter was drawn up by Nigerian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cabinet office and the Federal Ministry of Justice, and was promulgated in January 1962. Indeed, it was the Lagos Charter that achieved the consensus between the perceived radicalism of the Casablanca Group of some African countries and the functional pragmatism of the Monrovia Group of other African countries. Ultimately, the Charter served as a bridge between those African countries that wanted continental Government immediately and those who were convinced that African unity should be built on solid foundation of practical cooperation. To that extent, Nigeria, through her initiative in drawing up the Lagos Charter can unarguably be said to be the brain- child of the Organization of African Unity which twelve years ago metamorphosized into African Union. Yet the decision to establish African Union (AU) was part of package of decisions taken by OAU Heads of State in Sirte, Libya, at the 4th extraordinary session of the African Continental Assembly from 8th to 9th September, 1999. But Nigeria’s role in shaping the African Union like she did in the case of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) some 36 years ago, started on April 26, 2001 when she became the 36th OAU member state to deposit with the Secretary-General of the Union her instrument of ratification of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Nigeria’s gesture in that regard resulted in the achievement of the two-thirds, ratification required for the coming into force of the Constitutive Act. As a consequence, and in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitutive Act, the Secretary-General of OAU announced in Abuja on 27th April 2001 that the African Union took effect on 26th April 2001, that is 30 days after Nigeria deposited the instrument of ratification. The event, in the context of Nigeria’s role in shaping the African Union, was significant in many perspectives. First, it took place in Abuja in the presence of several Heads of State and Government as well as representatives of over forty African countries who were gathered there to attend the Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases. Against such a backdrop, Nigeria was the only country whose instrument of ratification was accepted by the OAU Secretary-General in the presence of such a distinguished gathering of African Leaders. Secondly, it was on record and remarkable that Nigeria’s instrument of ratification brought the African Union into being, a fitting tribute to Nigeria for the role she played in generating the brand of Union envisaged in the Constitutive Act. It is also deserving tribute to Nigeria as noted earlier for the role she played in the early sixties in bringing about the birth of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and in sustaining the organization until twelve years ago when the current African Union came into existence. And of a group of six African experts with various solid backgrounds appointed by the OAU Secretary-General to advise him on how to implement the Sirte Declaration, and in particular to produce a draft Constitutive Act for the African Union, Nigeria’s Professor Adele Jinadu was a member Indeed, through the evolutionary process of the African Union, from Sirte One through Adisa Abudba, Lome and Sirte Two, Nigeria, perhaps more than any other African country, played a key role in the effort to establish the African Union. Such a role has been consistent with Nigeria’s traditional Afrocentric policy. In this regard, Nigeria was deeply involved in all the discussions that took place, and was a member of an inner circle of countries that included South Africa, Mali, Algeria, Libya and Lesotha. Nigeria was the Council Chairman, which rescued the meetings, from collapse, first in Tripoli and later in Lome, where the Constitutive Act was ultimately adopted. Therefore at the expert or official level, Nigeria’s voice in shaping the establishment and growth of the African Union as she did under OAU was clear, consistent and unequivocal. Such a posture assisted many African countries and beyond to see clearly what was at stake and persuaded most to support a balanced position in the formation of the African Union. At the level of the Ministers in the context of the Union’s formation, Nigeria’s voice was no less clear or determinant. On occasion, it was only Nigeria along with South African and very often Algeria that ensured that Africa was not saddled with a Union we knew would not work. In fact, the voice of Nigeria was listened and very often carried the day in the context of the transiting the OAO to the African Union. For example, in Tripoli on May 30 to June 1, 2000, when proceedings were almost deadlocked, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister was quick to strongly state the firm position in favour of the establishment of a dynamic African Union. According to him, “Nigeria favours the establishment of a strong African Union, one, which would replace, over a period of time, existing continental institutions – the OAU and AEC. This needs not be a replica of the United States of America, given the realities in our continent and the political experiences of our nation states. But, it should be of such character, content and form which does justice to the cherished vision of the founding fathers of our continent”. Such an objective and enduring stand by Nigeria suddenly persuaded the minds of pessimists and cynics who now saw the immediate need for the establishment of the African Union. Yet it would be recalled that in the evolutionary process of the African Union, former President Obasanjo was said to have hand-written the first draft of the Heads of State Decision in Sirte Two and passed it on to Nigeria’s representatives at the Draft Committee, foreshadowing the birth of the African Union. He was given the honour to present the Decision to his colleagues. In general, Nigeria’s role in shaping African Union from its birth till date is definitely in accord with the country’s foreign policy goals, which ascribe a primacy of place to Africa. As a matter of fact, the full-scale support for the African Union is a constitutional obligation, especially as Nigerian Constitution of 1999 stipulates that the country’s foreign policy shall, inter alia, promote African integration and support African Unity. To that extent, Nigeria must continue to play its strategic role which implies a wider sociological consideration in the context of sustaining the growth and functional relevance of the African Union by mobilizing African peoples to give the Union the needed strength, character, purpose, focus and direction.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 06:08:27 +0000
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