Zik's Lecture Series: Colonial masters caused political instability in Africa - Former ECOWAS President

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By Madu Obi

The former President of the Economic Community Of West African States, ECOWAS, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas has blamed the colonial masters for the political instability in most African countries.

Speaking during the 13th Zik's Annual Lecture Series at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chambas noted that the political instability had made most African youths to lose faith in the democratic leaderships of the continent.

He called for a united Africa in the area of security and socioeconomic development, insisting that such moves would stem the avalanche of restiveness and social protests across the continent.

Chambas said: "The erosion of trust in the leadership of Africa has fuelled so much agitations in the continent and has led to civil unrests.

The great Ziks of Africa had, while alive, made it clear that without unity Africa would be vulnerable to political instability and external intervention.

He advocated for a collective security approach to guard against foreign influence across the continent and today political instability remains the greatest challenges for the African continent.

Had it been Ziks was to be alive today to face the challenges of poverty, unemployment, corruption and insecurity, he would have likely echoed the agitations by the youths of Africa as they happen today."

Chairman of the occasion and the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah observed that the joint efforts of African leaders in the area of bilateral relationship would surely jump start the process of facing the challenges across the African continent.

He urged African leaders to make concerted efforts to unite the member countries and stem the tide of over dependence on foreign influences .

Also speaking, the Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo noted that as a government the ideology of Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the area of governance are being replicated in the area.

The benefactor of the Zik's Annual Lecture Series, Senator Ben Obi recalled how he endowed the lecture series, expressing happiness that it has been meeting the expectations of the people.

He said: “13 years ago, I endowed this Zik's lecture series; 13 years after we are proud of the tremendous success achieved so far, doing what Ziks of Africa will be proud of , setting a platform for robust academic discussion to key national leaders that will be credible, informed accountable and capable of solving the myriads of societal problems facing our nation, the continent and the world at large”

Wife of late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prof Uche Azikiwe commended the organizers of the lecture series, adding that such intellectual exercise goes to show that her late husband is still alive.

She urged the university to produce a compendium of all past lectures about her husband.

Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Benard Odoh described the lecture series as a discussion that would continue to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the African continent.

He described the Owelle of Onitsha as a Pan-Africanist whose political insurgence envisaged the development of nationalism and Pan-Africanism that birthed the unification of Africa into the United States of Africa.