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Leaders of the East Africa Community have unanimously endorsed ODM leader Raila Odinga for the position of chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), marking a significant moment in his political journey.

The endorsement was solidified at a ceremony held in Nairobi and attended by notable leaders including presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Salva Kiir (South Sudan).

Museveni and Hassan hailed Raila as a patriot and a Pan-Africanist who is better placed to lead the charge for Africa’s pursuit of greater development.

The Ugandan leader, who told the audience that he had been actively involved in the struggles of Africa for 64 years, reckoned that Raila has what it takes to be Africa’s point man at the global negotiating table.

“I am here to support the candidature of Raila Odinga on behalf of Uganda because he is a complete and convinced Pan-Africanist. He is not a jobseeker or seeking to progress his career,” Museveni said. “Beyond the usual protocol, we need a leader who is fit for this job … because it is a job of vision, it is a job of conviction, it is a job of knowledge. Therefore, on top of patriotism, you love Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Why? Because you need them individually.”

In a light-hearted moment, Museveni recounted how he declined to support a candidate from Djibouti in favour of Raila, highlighting his belief in the veteran opposition leader’s capabilities.

“Before coming here, there was a young man from Djibouti who came and told me he was vying for the AUC. Of course I greeted him well, we took photographs, we took tea, but after that I told him I was coming here to support Raila because we need a candidate who is fit for this job,” he said.

Proper remedy

Museveni, who was introduced by the host, President William Ruto, as “our elder and leader”, made a passionate speech on the need for Africa to deploy its own socio-economic doctors to diagnose and prescribe a proper remedy for the region’s challenges for better management.

He challenged the continent to look beyond tribal cards for prosperity, noting that the person who speaks one’s language is not necessarily the one who buys what you produce.

“If you want to be a manager of human society, you must be careful about social-economic diagnosis. Because all these prices you see, they are caused by misdiagnosis,” Museveni said.

“For the case of Africa, the main deficiency in this society is prosperity … If you produce goods and services in plenty, ask yourself who buys those goods and services.

“I am a Nyankole but the Nyankole people don’t buy my milk, because they also have milk, beef and bananas just like me. So the people who buy my milk are the people of Kampala and other places. So ideological principle number one is patriotism.”

Referring to countries that have explored the moon – Russia, the US, China and India – Museveni blamed ideological bankruptcy as the reason Africa is lagging behind despite defeating colonial powers by war many years ago.

“After defeating them, we have not consolidated. We suffered from arrivism. We assumed we had arrived and relaxed.”

’Great statesman’

For her part, President Hassan assured Kenya of Tanzania’s full support for Raila’s candidacy for AUC chairperson.

Describing Raila as a “great statesman of Kenya”, Suluhu said Tanzania knows him as a Pan-Africanist leader who believes in the promise of African integration and its practicality.

“He has maintained close relations with successive generations of Tanzanian leaders, as well as African leaders and partners who hold him in high esteem. He is well versed with the development concerns of our continent,” Suluhu noted.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was confident that Raila will transform Africa if he gets the position.
Obasanjo said Raila will make Africa proud, peaceful and prosperous.

“We need it all and you can count on us for support and you have seen,” he said, noting that the seat means extra responsibility for Raila and leaders who backed his candidacy.

“If we support you and you get there, we have the responsibility to make sure you succeed. We will do our part. We pray to God that you do your part.”

Obasanjo added that Africa needs Raila’s leadership at this critical stage of its development when the world faces wars and conflict.