STATEMENT
BY
H. E. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE
JONATHAN, GCFR
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
AT
THE
FORTY-SEVENTH
ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ECOWAS AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT
ACCRA, GHANA
19
MAY, 2015
Your Excellency,
President John Dramani Mahama,
President
of the Republic of Ghana, and Chairman of the
Authority
of Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellencies,
Brother Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellency, the
President of the ECOWAS Commission;
Honourable
Ministers;
ECOWAS Commissioners
Distinguished Ladies
and Gentlemen;
Mr. Chairman,
I must start this brief remarkby
expressing my profound appreciation to you, the Government and People of Ghana
for the warm reception accorded me and my delegation since our arrival here in Accra. The traditionally warm hospitality that has
been extended, inspires admiration of the brotherly people of Ghana. It alsocertainly underscores the committed,
forthright and exemplary leadership that you have personally offered our
sub-region since assuming the Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of
State and Government.
2. Similarly, may I also thank the President of
the ECOWAS Commission for the earnest efforts that went into the convening ofthis
47th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS.
It is no wonder that our Organisation continues to move from strength to
strength in the face of both the strong leadership provided by our Chairman and
the tireless work of theCommission under its President and staff.
3. As we are all aware, this Summit coincides
with the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of our
Organisation. I believe that this
milestone calls for acknowledgement of the exceptional vision of the founding
fathers which has inspired a united approach to addressing our common challenges.
Unity of purpose and action has enabled us to buildour strength as we move
forward to enhanced sub-regional cooperation and integration. The significant progress we have made so far,
can only be sustained and built upon through even closer consultations,
collaboration and cohesion amongst us.
4. With regard to our integration agenda, it
must be said that we have achieved considerable progress. We have gone beyond our Protocol on Free
Movement of Persons and Goods, to the harmonisation of trade and our customs
codes. The achievement of the ECOWAS
Common External Tariff and Trade Liberalisation Scheme, are vital sign posts in
the Convergence Criteria required for our Common Currency regime. In our resolve to further enhance trade and
facilitate transportation, work is in progress on the construction of the
Lagos-Abidjan Highway which will be complemented by the implementation of the
Joint Border Posts Reconstruction Projects across our borders. In the last few months,for instance, President
Boni Yayi and I were able to lay the foundation stone of the Joint Border Post
between our two countries at Seme border.
5. My country, Nigeria,remains fully committed
to the goal of an integrated and single West African community of nations and
people. We have, therefore, spared no
efforts in ensuring the early detection of conflict and in taking necessary
measures for its elimination in our sub-region.
We do so on the strong conviction that without peace, there will be no
development; and that our peoples cannot be weaned out of poverty and
deprivation without development.
6. I have profound satisfaction and pride,
especially when I see the remarkable progress that we have achieved together
for our sub-region. Our exertions in the
quest for solutions to the political and security challenges that occasionally
threaten the peace and stability of our nations is the hallmark of our common
resolve to achieve our integration agenda.
Indeed, our outstanding record on this score remains a model for all of
Africa’s other sub-regional Organisations.
7. I recall that as Acting President, I became
the Chairman of ECOWAS in 2010. This was
a unique honour from my colleagues for which I remain grateful. The first challenge that we confronted was
the situation in Niger. Happily, through
dogged efforts on our part, we were able to resolve it and the country returned
to democratic rule. General Salou Djibo
who oversaw the return to constitutional rule in Niger is today a student at
Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria.
8. In Cote D’Ivore, ECOWAS followed through in
its commitment to enduring democracy by standing firm behind the winner of the
Presidential elections in 2010. We are
pleased that our brother, President Alassane Ouattara took his rightful place
and went on not only to provide leadership to his country, but also as Chairman
of ECOWAS.
9. Similarly, in both Guinea and Guinea Bissau,
we remained focused on the goal of ensuring that viable political solutions
were found for the political and security challenges that they were
experiencing. That peace and stability
and democratic governance have returned to these brotherly countries underscore
our commitment to finding viable solutions to the problems of our Sub-region.
10. As Co-mediator, I visited Mali and met with
all the stakeholders in early and difficult time of the crisis in the effort
towards return to democratic rule, maintenance of peace and articulation of a
viable political process. Nigeria
participated in all the negotiations and meetings coordinated by ECOWAS at
various venues that eventually produced a political timetable for the holding
of democratic elections in Mali.
Therefore, let me take this opportunity to felicitate with our brother,
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Government and people of Mali for the
historic Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed in Bamako on 15th
May, 2015, by all parties. It is our hope that this Accord will signal the end
of the Malian crisis.
11. With respect to the situation in Burkina Faso,
fully aware of the serious consequence for stability in the region, our
Chairman, President Mahama, President Sall and myself paid a consultative visit
to Burkina Faso to engage on a plan of action to return the country to
constitutionality. This initial
engagement was subsequently followed-up by necessary ECOWAS mechanisms which
assisted in calming the then tense political situation. I, therefore, urge that the stakeholders stay
firm on the political roadmap that has been agreed by all parties.
12. Your Excellencies, the consolidation of
democracy, the elevation of the rule of law and the deepening culture of good
governance across our sub-region today, is the product of our solidarity and
the growing effectiveness and integrity of the institutions and mechanisms that
we have put in place. The elections in Ghana and Senegal were largely peaceful
on their own without controversy and indicate a maturation of democracy in our
sub-region. Equally, in Benin, Sierra
Leone and now in Togo, we have made tremendous progress in consolidating
democracy in our sub-region.
13. Permit me therefore to congratulate my
brother, His Excellency, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, on his recent re-election
as President of the Republic of Togo.
The successful conduct of that election devoid of violence and held in a
free, fair and credible manner further confirms that democracy has indeed come
to stay in our sub-region. We look forward
to the same happy and tranquil outcome in all the member states where elections
will also take place later in the year and subsequently.
14. Your Excellencies, while we are making real
progress in many core areas, there are issues that require our attention. In the past few years, we have witnessed a
growing wave of young men and women from our sub-region undertaking very
perilous journeys across the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea to
Europe. The phenomenon, given its hazardous
nature, has claimed many lives and assumed humanitarian crisis. ECOWAS in the first instance, should
earnestly address this problem. I also
urge that this matter be tabled at the forthcoming 24thSummit of the
African Union in June in South Africa.
At the level of member states, we should take necessary action to
address the root causes of the crisis
15. Occasionally, our decision-making mechanisms
which should, naturally, inform our consensual positions on matters that touch
on our collective and sub-regional interests is not always upheld. Occasionally, our solidarity seems to face
severe tests in the face of individual discretions on critical issues. I recall here our disparate positions and
actions at crucial moments on the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire in 2011, and also,the
choice of a candidate for the post of President of the African Union in
2012.
16. Again, at our last Session in Abuja, it was
resolved, after due deliberations, that ECOWAS should adopt a single candidate
for the post of President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Today, we
have no less than four candidates from our sub-region alone vying for the post
as against four candidates representing the other four regions of the
continent. Our experience with the
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with the European Union (EU) is yet another
example.
17. This recurring disposition elicits negative
signals from our partners and other regions of the continent. It goes against the grain of the solidarity
we all too often, display in dealing with other challenges. Wemust rise above it
in the larger interest of our sub-region.
18. Your Excellencies, as you are no doubt aware,
this is the last Summit that I will be attending as the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 10 days
time, precisely on the 29th of this month, my successor,
President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, will assume the mantle of leadership of
my country. I feel deeply satisfied that the tree of democracy planted in my
country and in our sub-region, has taken roots and is blossoming. I have, no
doubt whatsoever, that under the watchful guidance and nurturing ofYour
Excellencies,that tree willcontinue to bear abundant fruits.
19. Let
me, therefore, seize the opportunity to express my profound appreciation for
the understanding and cooperation that you accorded me all these years,
especially during my tenure as the Chairman of our Organisation between
2010-2012. The personal rapport and chemistry that I have enjoyed with each one
of you, my brother and sister Presidents greatly facilitated the decisions that
we were able to take and the concrete measures we took on behalf of our
sub-region. As the new Administration
takes over, I am confident that the bonds of friendship between Nigeria and
each member state of our cherished Organisation and Nigeria’s role within
ECOWAS, will grow even stronger. I urge you all to extend the same friendship
and fraternal cooperation that I have received from you to my successor.
20. Once again, Your Excellencies, I thank you for
your friendship and the unalloyed support.
I wish you well as you steer the affairs of our sub-region. The future
of our Organisation and West Africa is in good, safe and capable hands. I
shall, even out of office, continue to give my modest support to our noble
cause of unity, peace, stability and development of our sub-region.
21. I thank you.
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