Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has asserted that till Africa breaks utterly from slavery and colonialism of all types, it could by no means be capable of make progress because it ought to.
Obasanjo stated that the continent should do all it will probably to shrug off residues of colonialism and Slavery, in order to not be re-enslaved once more.
He said this throughout his 88th birthday celebration and e-book launch, held on the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state on Wednesday.
The previous president, talking about his new books, lamented that Africa, though but to get well from the impact of slave commerce, should not neglect the darkish historical past and painful previous.
The books, titled “Lest We Overlook: Slavery, Slave Commerce, Emancipation and Reparation” and “Nigeria: Previous and Future” had been unveiled on the occasion.
Obasanjo stated, “A part of our issues in Africa is what I’ll name residues of slave commerce, slavery and colonialism and till we are able to break ourselves utterly away from it, we might not be capable of make progress as we should always do.
“Now we have to shrug off residues of colonialism and slavery, we’ve got to do that in order not be re-enslaved once more after greater than two centuries that we suffered the primary one.
“We should not neglect slavery, whether or not transatlantic or trans sahara slave commerce, they’ve the identical impact on us. If we neglect, not solely will we proceed to endure from the impact, however we might be reenslaved once more.
“We haven’t come out from the one we’ve got suffered for greater than two centuries. It’s for us to see the place we’ve got gone improper with none exception as a bunch and search the way in which out.
“For me, I’m an incurable optimist about Nigeria. Sure, the scenario is unhealthy little question, however I imagine that in my lifetime, we could have a Nigerian that we are going to be happy with.”
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele described Obasanjo as a worldwide icon and pan-Africanist whose contribution throughout the continent stays invaluable.
In the meantime, Eghosa Osaghae, the Director-Common, Nigerian Institute for Worldwide Affairs, talking on the subject, “Echoes of the previous, Visions of the Future: Reflections on Slavery and Colonisation and Nigeria’s Journey In direction of a Promising Future,” disclosed that over 12.5 million persons are trapped in fashionable slavery in Africa.
In line with him, the quantity represents about 60 per cent of the worldwide complete of 20.9 million enslaved individuals.
Osaghae argued that for Africa to actually expertise true liberation, there’s a want for an additional independence of significant decolonisation whereby Africans will firmly confront the devils of colonisation.
He stated “We want a second independence, it’s the independence of significant decolonisation the place we are going to lastly confront the devils of colonisation and demand that Africa is our personal. We have to have a decolonisation technique of second independence.
“Don’t be deceived, the African situation right now is authentic. This technique of decolonisation can not occur state by state, it will probably solely occur by coming along with Africans and that’s the reason the message of Obasanjo should exit.
The occasion had in attendance Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, former governor of Ogun State, Sen Ibikunle Amosun, former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, the 2023 Labour Social gathering presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his working mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed amongst different conventional rulers and captains of Trade.
