...drafts six-pronged priority agenda for Jonathan
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday said the responsibility of delivering good governance and quality development in Africa lies squarely on the shoulders of leaders on the continent who, he said, must be held responsible for every failure to deliver effectively to their citizens.
Obasanjo also rolled out what could be seen as a six-pronged agenda for President-elect, Goodluck Jonathan. He listed the economy, security, unemployment, fighting corruption, infrastructure generally and power which, according to him, must be given priority and urgency.
He was speaking in Cape Town, South Africa during the launch of the 2011 Progress Report on Africa which singles out the importance of “transformative” power of partnerships in transforming the continent.
The report which was launched at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa which began Wednesday particularly finds that Africa’s economic recovery was strong but characterised by “low quality” growth.
“I will immediately advise the incoming administration on six areas they must take very seriously and they cannot even afford to lose much time on it: the economy, security, unemployment, fighting corruption, infrastructure generally and lastly, specifically, energy, which is power. These are six areas I will immediately recommend for the president to immediately work on.”
Announcing some of the findings of the report at a press conference, Koffi Annan, United Nation’s former secretary general and Africa Progress Panel chair, had noted progress made on the continent but stressed the place of viable partnerships with the private sector, development partners, civil society groups in order to further push an inclusive growth on the continent.
But in his speech, Obasanjo insisted that although such partnerships were necessary to forge a virile development on the continent, whatever efforts put in must be seen as complementary.
“I will want to emphasise that the responsibility lies squarely on governments in Africa and whatever else the development partners, private sector and the civil society. The responsibility for really moving any of our countries forward lies with the governments.
“The efforts of the private sector, civil society, and development partners can be regarded as complementary. The governments and the leaders must fulfill their commitments to their own people. As have been said as in our democracy, when they go out to campaign, they make promises, they make commitments, these must be fulfilled.
“They must be able to be taken to account for what they have committed themselves to do. They must also fulfill commitments to themselves in Africa; we have NEPAD, we have APRM, these are commitments among the African leaders and these must be seen to be fulfilled, must be seen to be carried out, I believe that this is very important and I believe the bottom line of all these of course is good governance.”
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has advised sit-tight leaders across Africa that time is running out and should take a cue and bow out peacefully.
He urged African leaders to realise that there is life after the state house.
