AFRICAN UNITY MUST ENCOURAGE AND DO MORE. MUST NOT OPERATE BUSINESS AS USUAL

The ‘colonizers’ did not recognise that African culture had its own wisdom, insights and values that informed the lives of Africans. Thus, the missionaries approach to Christianise Africans was based on coercion. They required Africans to renounce everything related to their religious beliefs to be a ‘proper’ one–Christian. It is repeatedly being told that Africa is growing and prospering and has become the fastest growing economy. The change in the global narrative about Africa previously deemed as the Dark Continent may be soothing to some minds, but it is simply not true. Africa is already the most conflict ridden continent and contrary to what many may say, it is not the fastest growing economy and it is not prospering but remains to be the poorest continent and its people are displaced. The continent continues to suffer under very rapid urban growth accompanied by massive urban poverty and many other social problems. This kind of tragic situation accompanied by oppression injustice and inequality lead people to take extreme measures. African leaders have to understand that an inclusive and transparent system and a fair distribution of resources is the only way to prevent conflict and fight terror of whatever form and allow their countries to prosper in the real sense. Africa must educate, train, find ways to resolve the ongoing grievances of the past where the status quo is unsustainable and must start by rebuilding ethics-based models for leadership within the countries governments, institutions, civil society and social structures. As Obama time after time stated in several of his deliveries, “change takes time”, it’s time for us to take responsibility for our own predicaments. Obama clearly told African leaders on the future of Africans: “We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans. I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family’s own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story. …” “Development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans. … “Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions….” Africans must begin to trade with its African Union member countries and other developing neighbours. The recent G20 summit 2020 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union will convene from 21-22 November 2020, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting is overshadowed by the leaders of the free world’s 20 wealthiest leaders. The premier forum being for international economic cooperation and increasingly the central opportunity for all questions of global governance, only one country, South Africa, was there representing the whole African nations. Although, it’s a symbolic photo opportunity for the rest of attendees, the decisions will most likely be made by, business as usual, the domineering four or five powerful diplomatically astute countries. Don’t exactly know the selection’s criteria or the qualifications to attend the summit, but the country with headquarters of the African Union, Ethiopia, decently a black nation, is more deserved to represent the African nations than South Africa, if not at least two or three countries should have been invited from the continent. We hope the summit will be looking forward to future successful meetings with more inclusions of thoughts from invited leaders of developing countries, not just invitations to take photos together, with opinions considered. My message to all Africans, make no mistake, those days of until death do us part is over and look no further than the transformation of Ethiopia led by one of the new generations of brilliant and reformist young leaders, Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed. What we can do now is a change that course of exploration, annihilation, domination or association, or whatever you want to call it, with sincere appreciation and reconciliation to transform everything to create New Africa. LONG LIVE AFRICA.