Continental Union Is Viable, But Only With Commitment And Practice

Interview with Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Executive Director of Nurses Across The Borders

Pastor Peters Omoragbon is a Nigerian working on disaster management and ICT. Saloman Kebede interviewed him on the upcoming “Grand Debate on the Union Government” to be held at the June 2007 summit of the African Union. The interview is part of a series of interviews, to be published in AU-Monitor, of African citizens and civil society leaders on the AU proposal for Continental Government. The interviews were conducted by the Pan Africa Programme of Oxfam in the corridors of a civil society meeting organized by UN-CONGO and FEMNET in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the week of the 13th March 2007. Emily Mghanga of Oxfam’s Pan Africa Programme edited this interview.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current proposal?
It is a workable proposal. A United States of Africa will mean Africa standing together with one voice, strength and unity. However, let us not have the United States of Africa in name only but in practice as well.

Should it be adopted in Accra in July 2007, what would you like to see the African Union Commission achieve within the first phase (2007-2009)?
I would like to see all the structures and regulations set up and all heads of states fully committed to this process.

And why would this form of continental union be important to African citizens, particularly the poor and marginalized?
It is an attempt to bring us together despite the existence of diverse backgrounds across the continent. There will be greater unity when we capitalize on what unites us other than our differences. It will allow us to eliminate the mind-set that other countries are better or lesser than others. All African countries will stand with one voice!

How could states and non-states ensure that continental union efforts are transparent, participatory and driven by an appreciation of political and economic rights?
That is the work of the civil society. We need to monitor and keep the governments accountable to this and other commitments.

What obstacles must the AU overcome for the continental union to be successful?
There is the need to put an end to internal conflicts within member-states. We also need to overcome bad policies that do not make decisions in the interests of marginalized people in every African country.

The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee. Pastor Peter Omoragbon can be reached at Email: nursesacrosstheborders at yahoo.com

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