Forum/Discussions

We salute and appreciate the decision of 29th Summit of the African Union Head of States, with regarding the endorsement of the motion presented by President of Ghana Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo to erect statues of King Haile Selassie in the African Union Compound. Nevertheless, for some of us who had been witnessing the lack of institutional framework in recognizing our founding fathers and the long delay was troubling. We believe that without a courageous move by President Nana will never happen soon. This reminds us we failed to appreciate our icons, leaders, heroes and heroines while we praise Kings and Presidents of others continent in our history books. Moreover, remained us that we could not to pays tribute to Sir Ketumile Masire of Botswana who died on June 23, 2017, at 29th Head of States Summit. President Sir Ketumile Masire who was a champion in promoting education and development enormously in the continent. With the same passion, we would like to remind our current leadership to include the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in a significant way to reflect their contribution at different level including: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria), Aden Abdulle Osman Daar of (Somalia), Ahmadou Ahidjo of (Cameroon), Apollo Milton Obote of (Uganda), Ben Bella (Algeria), Crown Prince Hassan Rida of (Libya), David Dacko of (Central Africa Republic), Emperor Haile Selasse (Ethiopia), Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Ivory Cost), François Tombalbaye (Chad), Fulbert Youlou (Congo B), Gamal Abdul Nasser (Egypt), Grégoire Kayibanda of (Rwanda), Habib Bourguiba of (Tunisia), Hamani Diori of (Niger), Hubert Maga, Emperor of Dahomey Present day (Benin), Ibrahim Abboud of (Sudan), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Joseph Kasa-Vubu (Congo DRC), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), King Hassen II of (Morocco), King Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge of (Burundi), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Leon M’ba of (Gabon), Maurice Yaméogo of Upper Volta present day (Burkina Faso), Modibo Keita (Mali), , Modibo Keita of (Mali), Moktar Ould Daddah of (Mauritania), Philibert Tsiranana of (Madagascar), Sekou Touré (Guinea), Sir Milton Margai of (Sierra Leone), Sylvanus Olympio of (Togo), William Tubman (Liberia),

No doubt that leaders such as Ahmed Sékou Touré, Jomo Kenyatta Julius Nyerere, King Haile Selassie and Kwame Nkrumah played a pivotal role shaping the union we all respect. Nonetheless, we have respect all these founding fathers gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to establish the OAU, that was inspired by a common vision to promote a supranational structure that potentially to lead prosperous and peaceful Africa. Without undermining the second generation of leadership contribution such as Abdoulaye Wade, Meles Zenawi, Muammar Gaddafi, Paul Kagame, and Yoweri Museveni.

In the diplomatic front, those who played a fundamental role to materialize the OAU such as Ketema Yifru of (Ethiopia), Salim Ahmed Salim of (Tanzania) and Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria) and others should get appropriate space beyond the picture hanging on the wall.

Equally, it is at most important to write in the golden book of African history of the contribution of the Pan-African Movement and advocates to the highest ladder such as Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, W. E. B. Du Bois, and others in the diaspora.

Last but not list we have to be thankful for those who are alive and have contributed immensely in their intellectual and leadership capacities. They will remain in the heart of Africans forever for their unique Pan African thoughts and enlightenment. Worth mentioning the following leaders deserve the highest respect those who introducing and enlighten the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and African Peer Review Mechanism (AMRM); that are Thabo Mbeki of (South Africa), Olusegun Obasanjo of (Nigeria) and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of (Algeria).

We would like to cherish and encourage AU and AUC engagement in appreciating heroes and heroines man and women who fought for Pan-African ideals. We also remind that AUC to discourage those who stand and promote chauvinistic ideals to contrary of Pan African ideals.

We call upon the Africa Union Commission, to establish a system that honours consists way of orders, decorations, and medals which are conferred on citizens, and others, to recognise a range of services and achievements. Moreover, erecting statues, naming a street and ballroom or categorizing awarding medals should be done under designated high-level permanent committee under the chairperson office. The process should be transparent, participatory and inclusive of African citizens of different walk of life. The recognitions of Africans in the continent and Africans in the Diaspora will give the next generation to embark and contribute for the good of the African society.

Yours In Pan Africanism

Seife Tadelle Kidane