Jonathan urges Africa to unite against terrorism

President
Goodluck
Jonathan
on
Thursday
evening
called
for the
unity of
African
countries
against
some
imbalances
in the
prevailing
global order.
He said black people, with a common ancestry, must
unite to fight social ills such as terrorism, poverty,
diseases and illiteracy, among others.
Jonathan made the call in an address delivered at a
joint meeting of Jamaica's Houses of Parliament in
commemoration of the country's 50th independence
anniversary in Kingston, Jamaica.
He said although Africa was now free of colonialism,
the continent was still greatly dependent on others
for economic survival.
He asked Africans to be committed to liberating
themselves from economic woes by working with
other developing nations of the world to achieve
economically what they had achieved politically.
He said, "In a highly globalised and competitive
world, states are forming strong regional economic
blocs. To promote trade and investments, boundaries
are getting narrower every day.
"It is for the same reason that we must support one
another in tackling the scourge of imbalances in the
prevailing global order. As black people, with a
common ancestry, we must unite to fight poverty,
hunger, diseases, illiteracy, bad governance and
electoral malpractices.
"We must unite to fight ethnic conflicts, dictatorial
regimes in Africa and terrorism. We must unite to
secure a place of pride for the Black man in a modern
and technology-driven world."
Jonathan said a determined people would prevail and
overcome any challenge that may be thrown at them
irrespective of time and space.
He said the fact is that the black man is alive;
resilient, proud and moving on despite huge
challenges. Jonathan said there was much that
Jamaica and Nigeria could do together to promote
and sustain the democratic ethos and culture,
beyond each respective countries.
He said the two countries must work together to
secure and guarantee human, civil and other basic
rights that support nation building.
He expressed joy that most black people of the world
live in countries where democratic governments were
in control, saying the destiny of the Black person was
now in their own hands.
Despite this, however, the President regretted that
the Black race had not conquered poverty, diseases,
ethnic conflicts and under development. This, he
said, must be addressed.
"There is the need for Nigeria and Jamaica, and
indeed the rest of the world, to work together to
reduce the level of those artificial forces that have
kept the majority of our people from making
progress," he said.
Jonathan said he believed that democracy, good
governance and the rule of law will be the tonic that
will revolutionise black nations' economies and
technological development.
The President said leaders, including him, could not
afford to disappoint their people and future
generations.
"We are working very hard. But we have a duty and a
responsibility to create, nurture and sustain an
environment under which future generations have no
other option but to prosper and excel.
"We can only do this through the consolidation of
democracy and good governance," he added