By Abdullahi Mohammed
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre,CISLAC and other civil society organizations have launched what was described as ” My African Union My Future” Campaign in Nigeria.The event was launched in Abuja at Nanet Suites on Thursday.
Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) of CISLAC said on the occasion” CISLAC in its commitment towards building a Nigeria where citizens are at the heart of governance and ensuring participation and increased inclusivity in the development, implementation and monitoring of law policies in the same year the African Union turned fifty commenced the implementation of the state of the Union (SOTU ) project. SOTU is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations ( CSOs) working across various government thematic areas of the African Union conventions and legal instruments”.
” We wish to note today ‘s national launch is a landmark event as it marks a most novel and genuine attempt from the civil society perspective at improving Nigeria ‘s performance amongst its peers on the African continent with respect to upholding and implementation of AU standards.
” It is our genuine hope and desire that the launch of this National Campaign will not just signify an awakening call to all relevant government institutions to live up to their various responsibility and mandate as it pertains to either ratification as in the case if the Revised African Convention of Nature and Natural Resources or making the right budgetary allocation on Health and Agriculture” .
” While it is also a major believe that this will also serves as a rebirth of African Union and the bond we as Africans share in Nigeria and all over the world, it also my honour and privilege to welcome you all, my distinguished guests to thus event. “.
Christiana Shehu Adamu a deputy director NOA National Orientation Agency who represented Mr Mike Omeri said on the occasion” We want to appreciate you for inviting us, our doors are open for collaboration, as an agency we have the youth at heart .That is why we have youth programs for the youths. Change starts (with) each and every one of us,we are all symbols of change” .
Isa Ozi Sallam represented the ICPC chairman Mr Epo Ita gave a word of advice thus : “ It is an important institution. ICPC has zero tolerance for corruption. We discovered that 35 out of 55 AU ratified the convention on corruption, not all of them have done what was required”
“I want to commend the organizers and participants of this occasion.” He advised the youth to discourage the so called African time. He said “youth, please abolish the attitude of delay, late arrival, African time should be discouraged . Delay is a corruption not only stealing , because this is the way we can move forward .”
The Nollywood personalities were not left out as Ejike Asiegbu ,Francis Duru and Mr Alex Eneho who
” Leadership is not about positions,but a process because of the followership. When you have docile followers ,the process fails. So we should all get involved, we all need to collaborate with CISLAC to achieve our objectives” Mr Eneho said said.
According to Duru , “We have lazy followership, it is not proper, in Nigeria when laws are made the ordinary people has no say,we need to be a voice of Nigeria before Africa, we should be stake holders, I -don’t -care attitudes led to impunity.Our interests are not protected and we the masses are the electorate that bring them to power.”
Mr Augustine Momoh who represented the house committee on NEPAD also delivered a good will message. ” I am not new to CISLAC…if every Nigeria would work the way CISLAC has been doing, we will have a better leadership.. It is our wish that CISLAC continues on this mission so that we can have better Nigeria” .
Speaking on the occasion,Mr Okeke Aya, coordinator of AU instruments said ,” We should know why we are here,every Africa wants to emulate our past leaders but in recent times Africa has fallen behind. Majority of African don’t even know of AU . Our leaders just travel all around Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa but their mission is not well doctored to change the face of Africa” .
