The former chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, South Africa, Mr Bola Babarinde has charged African leaders to focus on good governance rather than lobbying to join the BRICS nations for survival.
Babarinde in a statement on Wednesday said joining the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, may not be the solution to Africa’s advancement and survival.
He charged African leaders to provide good leadership rather than depending on BRICS to dictate to them on how to make the continent great.He said if African leaders could provide good leadership, with genuine mutual relationship, they do not need BRICS to dictate to them on how to make the African continent great.
Babarinde, who is the General-Secretary, APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen, said that Europeans and Americans were only exploiting the “gullibility of Africans” by pretending that they love the continent.
He noted that they were only attracted to the resources in Africa, which they were ready to exploit through some sit-tight and corrupt leaders in the continent.
Babarinde said that BRICS may not succeed, if some African countries did not change their attitude that does not encourage shared prosperity with fellow countries.
”The only African nation amongst the founding members which is South Africa had been in cold war and competition rather than cooperation with her sister nations.”
And this is in discriminatory immigration policies negating free movement and trade within Africa, but is pursuing policies which favoured countries outside Africa
“For a successful BRICS, Africa countries first need to be on the same page in areas of good governance and reduction in corruption to the minimum.”
“Provision of quality, affordable education, healthcare services and availability of basic things of life”, he said.
Babarinde, however, advised Nigerian government not to be a second fiddle in BRICS, but rather be a force to be reckoned with in the proposed organisation of Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey, MINT.
“There had been an initiative in the past on MINT (Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) to begin their meetings in earnest and checkmate BRICS in Africa to our advantage.”
“But firstly let solidify our ECOWAS region as one, promote good governance, advance our economy and infrastructure, promote mutually beneficial trade within our countries.”
“Less restrictions in human movement and of course better and cheaper telecommunications within us”, he said.
Babarinde also urged African leaders not to give the military any excuse to seize power, which is becoming notoriety among African countries.
“Military intervention can never be an alternative to the worse civil government”, the APC chieftain noted.
NAN/Confidence Okwuchi
