Obasanjo seeks robust economic ties among African countries

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged African countries to pool their resources together toward forming stronger pan-African economic ties.

Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at the commemoration of Angola’s National Founder and Hero’s Day 2024, marked annually on September 17.

The event was held to celebrate the legacy of Angola’s first President, Agostinho Neto who proclaimed the country’s independence on November 11, 1975.

The event, with the theme, “Pan-Africanism in the Political Course by Agostinho Neto”, was organised by the Embassy of Angola in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, in his address, highlighted various pan-African struggles.

Obasanjo, a former chairman of the African Union, AU, emphasized the importance of stronger economic ties for the growth of Africa.

“One of the things we have been doing is struggling for the economic emancipation of Africa but we have not done this too well.

“We should ask ourselves, why did we have a slave trade? It is because some nations want energy to develop their new world and make money.

“The slave trade was substituted with colonialism and then exploitation to develop other continents. We got others, but they are still withholding economic power.

“Economic pan-africanisim is what I believe we should now pay attention to which will lead to the economic liberation of Africa,” he emphasised.

The former Military Head of State and civilian president also praised the efforts of former Cuban President, Fidel Castro in the liberation of Angola, describing his work as significant.

According to him, the Nigerian government supported the Angolan government with financial aid worth 20 million dollars in the fight for liberation.