Introductory Remarks by President Olusegun Obasanjo

At the Heads of State and Government Round Table 15 October, 2004

Mr. Chairman,
Your Royal Majesty,
President of the World Bank, Honourable Ministers, Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have the honour and privilege to express on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the African Union, H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sincere apologies for his inability to attend the on-going African Development Forum due to pressing state and continental engagements. His Excellency has therefore asked me to stand in for him, and to present this short message.

I would therefore like to seek your Excellencies' kind permission to read the address.

"Your excellencies,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen",

Let me first of all, express how highly honoured I am to be invited to this session of the forum. I am particularly delighted at the choice of the theme for this year's forum: 'governance for a progressing Africa', a theme that encompasses some important elements of good governance. As you will recall, these are areas that have lately engaged our attention in the African union as manifested in the African peer review mechanism (APRM) under the governance initiative of NEPAD, a programme of the African Union.

2. As we all know, this forum is the fourth in the series of an initiative led by the ECA for engaging in dialogue, building consensus and for mobilising partnerships on emerging issues of relevance to Africa's development. At this juncture, I would like to pay tribute to the executive' secretary of ECA, Mr. K. Y. Amoako, and his entire staff, for this well-thought out annual programme which provides opportunities for African decision-makers and stake holders to exchange views on topical issues of relevance to the political and socio-economic development of our continent. The themes of the three previous forums were equally illuminating and they remain equally relevant to our continent's development agenda. It is my hope therefore that the plans of action that have emerged from the previous forums and those expected from the current one will continue to engage our attention at national, regional and global levels, long after the end of the forum.

Your excellencies,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

3. As we continue to learn from our own efforts and past experiences, good governance is at the heart of sustainable development and alleviation of poverty. In this regard, I fully share the views of the UN secretary general Kofi Anan in the extract of his statement that "good governance and sustainable development are indivisible. That is the lesson of all the experiences from Africa, Asia or Latin America." the concept should therefore remain high in our continent's development agenda. I need not bore you with what good governance entails but suffice it to mention some of its key elements which include popular participation and democracy; civil liberties and the rule of law; transparency and public accountability as well as sound economic management. There is also the need to engender an all-inclusive political process in order to enhance public confidence and to confer legitimacy on government. In this way the incidence of conflicts and strife in our societies will be greatly reduced. Similarly, by creating stable political environment and enthronement of clear rules of economic and social engagement, a conducive environment for private direct investment in our economies would have been assured.

Your Excellencies,

4. As African leaders, we need to re-state again and again that peace, security and stability are necessary pre- conditions for any meaningful achievement in these endeavours. This was why we decided, at the inception of the African Union, to create a new organ, the peace and I Security Council, to better reflect our collective vision and aspirations regarding a more effective management of conflicts in our continent. The dynamism by which the protocol was accomplished signalled our commitment and understanding of the seriousness and the urgency of the need to eliminate conflicts from our continent. It is in this light that we should resolve to continue in our collective effort to promote democracy and good governance in the continent for the benefit of our countries and peoples.

5. Against this background, the African union under its programme NEPAD, underscores the centrality of good governance to socio-economic development in Africa. In addition, an essential part of NEPAD's blueprint is democracy and good governance initiative, which emphasises that development, is impossible without true democracy, respect for human rights, peace, and security. For these reasons, we must use the opportunity of this forum to recommit ourselves to uphold the global standards of good political and economic governance.

Your excellencies,
ladies and gentlemen,

6. As we engage in the discussions of the various topics before us at this session with the active participation of our development partners, i urge that we do so in a frank and honest manner and in true spirit of partnership so that the event will continue to remain widely recognised as a forum for productive discussions on African priority issues, among policy makers, experts and peers.

I thank you all.