Avoid Another Slavery, Obasanjo warns Africans
By Raymond Osho
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Africans must not forget the dark history of slavery and slave trade, stating that forgetting the painful past would have severe consequences, and will lead Africa back into slavery.
The former President lamented that Africa has yet to recover from the effect of slave trade that it suffered over two centuries after.
Obasanjo disclosed this during his 88th birthday celebration, held at the Premise of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun state on Wednesday.
He said there is the need for Africans to acknowledge their history, learn from it, and use it as a foundation for building a better future, in order to avoid a return into slavery.
According to Obasanjo, forgetting the devastating impact of slavery on Africa will not affect the present but will equally
jeopardize the future of the continent.
Obasanjo said “We must not forget slavery, whether transatlantic or trans sahara slave trade, they have the same effect on us. If we forget, not only will we continue to suffer from the effect, but we will be re enslaved again.
“We haven’t come out from the one we have suffered for more than two centuries. It is for us to see where we have gone wrong without any exception as a group and seek the way out.
“For me, I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria. Yes, the situation is bad no doubt, but I believe that in my lifetime, we will have a Nigerian that we will be proud of.
The Director-General, Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, who was the Guest lecturer at the event, Professor Eghosa Osaghae disclosed that Over 12.5 million people are trapped in modern slavery in Africa.
According to him, the number represents about 60% of the global total of 20.9 million enslaved people.
He spoke on the topic, “Echoes of the past, Visions of the Future: Reflections on Slavery and Colonisation and Nigeria’s Journey Towards a Promising Future
Osaghae argued that for Africa to really experience true liberation, there is need for another independence of meaningful decolonisation whereby Africans will firmly confront the devils of colonisation.
The Director-General, however, stated that the process of decolonisation cannot happen if African nations continue to relate as enemies.
He said “We need a second independence, it is the independence of meaningful decolonisation where we will finally confront the devils of colonisation and insist that Africa is our own. We need to have a decolonisation process of second independence.
“Don’t be deceived, the African condition today is original. This process of decolonisation cannot happen state by state, it can only happen by coming together with Africans and that is why the message of obasanjo must go out.
“Today we have to return to the Africa movement. We must bring together Africans in diaspora to form a new power block that will make a new Africa possible. We must re-emerge and the best way to re-emerge is to have a strong force and unite.
In his goodwill message, the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his deputy, Engineer Noimot Salako-Oyedele poured encomium on Obasanjo, describing him as a leader of thought and a true African leader.
Abiodun said “He continues to be a leader of thought. He has not only imparted Nigeria but also Africa and the world. He is strong, active, and purposeful in guiding the next generation.”
Among the dignitaries at the week long birthday celebration celebration were governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, former presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Osun state governor Olagunsi Oyinlola, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido
