Excellency the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammed Namadi Sambo,
Excellency Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the General Yar'Adua Foundation,
The Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Excellency Atiku Abubakar,
Honourable Ministers,
Honourable Governors,
Members of the Shehu Yar'adua Foundation,
Distinguished guests,
It is a great privilege for South Africa to have been invited to deliver a lecture in honour of General Shehu Yar'Adua, a defender of democracy and a courageous freedom fighter.
We thank my dear brother, His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the hospitality and the warmth with which my delegation and I have been received.
We had very fruitful discussions this morning with His Excellency President Jonathan. We are of one mind regarding the role that South Africa and Nigeria should play in the continent and will work closely together to build our two countries, and to build a better Africa.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are in particular honoured to celebrate the memory of a great African leader and man who dedicated his life to advancing peace, justice and democracy in his country and Africa in general.
Nigeria is a thriving democracy today thanks to sacrifices of heroes like General Yar'Adua who were ready to pay the supreme price for a better and prosperous Africa.
Indeed, two years before his untimely death in 1997 in prison, he wrote: "Don't' worry too much about me. It is the sacrifice that some of us must make for our country to be free”.
I therefore commend the Foundation and its Board of Trustees for promoting General Yar'Adua's work, vision and legacy.
We are also honoured to be in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the land of renewed hope and optimism, to celebrate the cordial relations between our two countries, in addition to celebrating the memory of the great son of Africa Gen Yar' Adua.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
This occasion also provides an opportunity to celebrate the strides that Africa is making in the world as we speak.
Eleven years ago, in May 2000, the renowned international magazine, The Economist, ran a lead article dismissing our continent as "Hopeless Africa”.
Among others, the article made the following observation: "Sierra Leone manifests all the continent's worst characteristics. It is an extreme, but not untypical, example of a state? It has poverty and disease in abundance, and riches too: its diamonds sustain the rebels who terrorise the place. It is unusual only in its brutality: rape, cannibalism and amputation have been common, with children often among the victims".
Of course, this observation was rejected as both Eurocentric and Afro-pessimistic. It was written at the time when democracy was taking root in many of our countries.
It was also at the time when we were transiting from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to establish the African Union. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was in the making.
We could not accept that our continent could be described in such negative terms when so much positive was happening.
Now, as we speak, the December issue of the same magazine is running a lead article entitled "Africa Rising”, which negates the hopeless picture that was painted in 2000. According to the article:
"Over the past decade six of the world's ten fastest-growing economies were African. In eight of the past ten years, Africa has grown faster than East Asia, including Japan."
"Even allowing for the knock-on effect of the northern hemisphere's slowdown, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Africa to grow by 6% this year and nearly 6% in 2012, about the same as Asia".
While we can never regard the assessment of this magazine to be a barometer for our progress, it is good to see that the magazine cannot help but acknowledge the reawakening of our continent. Africa is rising indeed!
Africa is being praised in this issue of the magazine for progress in infrastructure development; growing the manufacturing sector; technological advancement, the fast-growing middle class; attracting foreign direct investment; and for skills improvement which is impacting positively on productivity.
We have been able to make these advances as a continent because of the concerted effort particularly in the areas of democracy, development, as well as peace and security.
However, notwithstanding our progress, the road ahead is full of challenges that we are ready to surmount.
Yes, since those days when General Yar'Adua was in the streets of Nigeria demanding democracy, we can say today, and proudly so, that so much has been achieved.
That the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has just concluded a second (even though) difficult election is something we must celebrate. The days of Mobutu Sese Seko are gone and over!
However, more must still be done if democracy is to be consolidated on this continent. That we still fight over the results of the elections is one indication of the fragility of the progresses we have made.
Our democracies also require strong, effective, and capable state institutions which are complemented by independent constitutional bodies.
Some may even go further to argue that our governments must reduce their dependence on Overseas Development Assistance for fiscal support in order for them to be truly independent and have control over their policy choices.
In this regard, I must commend the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for its critical contribution to the consolidation of democracy on our continent.
Excellencies,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The best tribute we can pay to General Yar'Adua is to not look back in our effort to strengthen democracy and the capability of our states to discharge the mandate given to them by the people.
For many of us, General Yar'Adua is one of those leaders who represent the spirit and a deep-seated passion for democracy, justice and the rule of law in Africa. We have to promote true freedom and democracy in his memory.
We have to promote sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
The continent is already doing so. On the development front, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is one important innovation of this continent to tackle the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment.
We must thank Nigeria, particularly under the leadership of former President Obasanjo, for the stewardship of this continental initiative during its formative years.
Another critical point to note is that with three years remaining to the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Africa is still at risk of not meeting most of the set targets.
Accordingly, at its MDG Review Summit which was held last year, the United Nations recognised in its Outcome document, that more attention should be paid to Africa.
With three years remaining, we need to galvanise our efforts at all levels and on all fronts, including mobilising the necessary financial resources.
Our efforts to realise the MDGs must primarily be anchored on growing our economies to provide our people with a better life.
It is with this in mind that the African Union established the NEPAD Infrastructure Initiative with high impact projects which are championed by some of our Heads of States and Government, including those of South Africa and Nigeria.
South Africa is the champion for the North-South Corridor stretching from East to Southern Africa; and Nigeria is leading us on the Nigeria-Algeria Gas Pipeline.
Advances in our infrastructure and technology will unlock the full potential of our continent, including the promotion of intra-trade among us and the beneficiation of our natural resources.
Indeed, what we are doing is in full agreement with Chinua Achebe when he says that "Africa needs to process and manage its own natural resources for the beneficiation of its own people for total emancipation of Africa”.
Distinguished guests,
Brothers and sisters,
While working on all these, we cannot forget the serious threat of climate change, especially to Africa.
After the United Nations COP17/CMP7 conference that concluded yesterday in Durban, South Africa, and having in mind Rio plus 20 and the Biodiversity Summit to be hosted by India, our approach to development must be based on the balance between economic growth, equity and protecting our environment.
We are happy with the success of the conference in Durban and look forward to continuing the quest for meaningful sustainable development which links the environment to poverty eradication and economic development.
Ladies and gentlemen, for us to succeed in making Africa a continent of prosperity and success, the area of peace and security also requires our urgent attention.
Yes, we are better than where we were a few years ago. But we still have Somalia. Cote D' Ivoire is still emerging from a painful crisis. The manner in which Libya was treated by some countries in the developed world remains a scar that will take many years to heal for Africa. The African Union (AU) summit next month will have to deliberate very seriously on the Libyan question, to help this country return to normality.
We must deliberate as well on how to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what happened to Libya.
Developed countries with their own national agendas hijacked a genuine democratic protest by the people of Libya to further their regime change agendas. Some countries are forever looking for excuses to interfere in the continent. In the past they used to say it is because of the absence of democracy.
The AU was never confused about how to resolve the Libyan issue working with the Libyans. Going forward we need to work with all affected regional bodies and the United Nations to assist Libya.
The Libyan situation is a reminder of the need to entrench unity in Africa so that we can deal with these challenges together in a focused manner, to defend the place and authority of Africa and the AU on matters affecting the continent.
Having said this, we need to continue entrenching democracy and democratic systems in Africa.
We have seen instances of political instability, which in some cases, has resulted in the African Union suspending the membership of some of its member countries.
In most of these cases, the source of the crisis is the dispute over election results.
While the leaders fight, the people suffer untold damage in the affected countries including their neighbours.
General Yar'Adua's legacy shows us that we cannot have peace without development or development without peace; and that we cannot sustain democracy without economic prosperity in Africa. This is the change we must realise.
And Africa has been determined to find solutions. Nigeria and South Africa have been at the centre of this quest for solutions.
The cordial relations that exist between South Africa and Nigeria provide an excellent platform for our two countries, and indeed Africa at large, to overcome these challenges.
We have worked together in the establishment of NEPAD. We were together when the African Union was born.
Our cordial bilateral relations have grown from strength to strength since 1994. We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission in a worthy manner in our two countries.
We have invested heavily in the respective economies of our two countries. Our commitment to common and shared values - such as human rights, freedom, democracy, and continental renewal and development - provides the glue that binds us together.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We pledge our undying solidarity and friendship with Nigeria, on this special day of paying tribute to a great son of Africa.
We also recall the solidarity shown to us during our struggle for liberation against Apartheid.
Nigeria gave us solid support which served as tremendous inspiration and courage to all the liberation fighters not just in South Africa, but also in Southern Africa.
It is common knowledge that General Yar'Adua made the struggle against apartheid that of his own. We know that he visited our President Nelson Mandela and other fellow Robben Island prisoners a few times.
He was very consistent in his efforts to expose apartheid worldwide, especially within the Commonwealth countries.
He was known to have been part of the team that was responsible for channelling much needed material support to liberation movements based in the Frontline States.
He took the lead with other Nigerian luminaries in establishing the southern African Relief Fund, which at the time provided humanitarian aid to the region's refugees.
Indeed, General Yar'Adua will certainly be remembered for his tireless efforts in advancing the interests of Nigeria and Africa.
Therefore, in his name, we honour, remember and salute all liberation stalwarts and luminaries from all generations who have been part of our struggle for liberation.
As we honour him and other African heroes, we acknowledge that an occasion such as this should be a day of solemn reflection on how far we have come to honour his vision, and what else we must do to ensure the full emancipation of every African throughout the continent in all spheres of life.
His vision of total emancipation of Africa tells us that we have as a duty to consolidate this African renewal.
Just as the struggle against apartheid required the united effort and solidarity of the continent, the successful prosecution of the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment requires all of us.
The global balance of forces is undergoing a remarkable transformation. On the one hand the world faces an economic crisis in the developed North. On the other hand, there is the dramatic emergence of the likes of China, India and Brazil in the southern hemisphere as a new centre for global economic growth and development.
This is a context within which Africa must find its place and define its role in the 21st century.
The economic crisis facing countries of the West has put a question mark on paradigms and approaches which a few years ago were celebrated as dogma to be worshipped.
The painful years of the Structural Adjustment Programmes which were inspired by the Washington Consensus are still vivid in our minds.
However, today, those economic models that were imposed on us are proving to be the source of economic difficulties unfolding in the North.
While our economies are being affected by the economic decline in our traditional markets, this may also be an opportunity for countries of the South to expand and strengthen their cooperation, including in the areas of trade.
This is also a moment for innovation and creativity on economic models that can lead to development and prosperity in our countries.
In the challenges I have outlined and the solutions that Africa is putting forward, South Africa and Nigeria must be ready to provide leadership. This fact must always be clear to the leaders of both countries at all material times.
We have to work together to build an Africa that can stand its ground and take its rightful place in the world.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
President Mandela had this to say a few years ago: General Shehu Yar'Adua paid the supreme price for democracy, freedom and justice - he died so that we might be rid of the anguish of horror and despair that tyranny inflicts on our people - he died so that there might be glorious future for Africa.
Indeed, let us celebrate his life and celebrate his legacy for the betterment of Africa!
I thank you!
