President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Addis Ababa that the African Union’s (AU) vision to reduce preventable conflict-related deaths by 2020 must be achieved “now”.
Speaking at the 26th AU summit, Buhari decried the use of scarce resources in Africa on armed conflicts rather than economic and social development of the continent.
The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, challenged fellow African leaders to engage South Sudan and Burundi to bring the conflicts to an end.
He said African leaders must forge a united front against terrorism and face the noble goals of Agenda 2063.
“We have shed blood for Africa to be free. But the irony is that, today, we are now killing one another.
“Rather than face the challenges confronting us, we are killing our children and inflicting horrors and hardship on our brothers and sisters.
“That is truly a tragedy and it must stop. Enough is Enough!
“Within the framework of the African Union, we have to reach a consensus on how to silence the guns. Not by 2020, but now. We must say ‘No’ to wars and conflicts,’’ the President said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s determination to defeat terrorism and bring the war against Boko Haram to an end, Buhari said Nigeria would continue to partner the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Republic of Benin, through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He said Nigeria would redeem its pledge of $100 million to enhance its operations, having released $21 million to the task force last June.
The President reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the unity, peace and prosperity of the continent.
“We have always been attached to the idea of African unity.
“During the struggle to win freedom for our brothers and sisters in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Nigeria was considered a frontline state, although we were not geographically on the frontline.
“This was because we took to heart the words of President Ben Bella of Algeria that we had to die for our brothers and sisters,’’ he said.