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 Daily Independent Online.
* Friday, July 23, 2004.
We acted correctly on Taylor, says Obasanjo
By Habib Aruna
Assistant Political Editor, Lagos
President
Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday justified the asylum Nigeria granted former
Liberian President, Charles Taylor in the heat of that country’s civil
strife, saying Nigeria has a responsibility to champion the cause of the
African continent.
He insisted that
he acted correctly to have brought Taylor in, a step “which saved Liberia
from further bloodshed. The country would not have known peace if we did
not do that”.
The President
made the remarks in Lagos at the public presentation of a book in honour
of Foreign Affairs Minister, Oluyemi Adeniji who was celebrating his 70th
birthday.
Said he: “Nigeria
has a role to play in shaping the future of Africa and the country must
rise to that challenge. We acknowledged the role Nigeria is playing in
Liberia. The African Union (AU) is thanking Nigeria for accepting to play
host to Charles Taylor. All the countries have thanked Nigeria for the
offer and nothing should stop us from doing that.
“We must tell
the world that we have a responsibility and that we have a country of
honour. If we say to you come to Nigeria and live, we will guarantee your
safety and security, we have to give it. Nigeria must be a home for all
Africans and Africans in the Diaspora. They must be able to look at a
country in the world they can call home”.
Since the
country is heading many influential international organisations, he added,
it has to play a more prominent role in world affairs to protect the
interest of Africa both at home and abroad. “What Nigeria has been
fighting for over the years is the emancipation of Africa and why it
should be given its due recognition in the scheme of things”.
Obasanjo,
current AU Chairman, stressed the need for the organisation to be seen in
a different light from the defunct Organisation of African Unity (OAU),
adding: “It is a new organisation and not a change of name from the OAU.
The AU should be able to tell the rest of the world that Africa can get
things right on their own”.
The Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, venue
of the event, was packed full family members and well wishers of Adeniji.
Most of them
poured encomiums on the works and achievements of the scholar and
diplomat. It also provided an opportunity to x-ray the country’s foreign
policy thrust and the need to chart a new direction.
In his remarks,
Adeniji said Nigeria’s foreign thrust needs a redefinition to reflect the
current realities in a changing globalised world. He expressed the need
for Nigerians to be more involved and to support the country’s role in
Africa and the world, “since foreign affairs cannot be divorced from what
is happening at home”.
Other dignitaries at the
occasion included Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, Goodie Ibru who was
the chairman the event, members of the diplomatic corps and those of the
Federal Executive Council (FEC).
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