Ex-Malawian President, Banda, flays looting of Africa’s wealth by leaders

.Calls for reinvention of Zik’s leadership philosophy

Former President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda, has condemned rising political, economic-cum-social malpractices by African leaders and called on African Union (AU) to take drastic steps at tackling such developments in the continent.

Speaking as guest lecturer at the 12th edition of the yearly Zik Lecture at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, Banda lamented that African leaders engaged in high level of looting of nations’ economic wealth, among other social ills, which have plunged many African countries into social problems.

The theme for the lecture is: Reclaiming Zik’s World: Climate Justice and Africa’s Sustainable Development.” It was organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences of UNIZIK.

She faulted the situation, where African leaders connive with nations in Europe and America to loot and siphon minerals, including crude oil, gold, iron ore, uranium, among others, from Africa for export and later return as finished products with high costs.

While regretting that Africans have remained unconcerned, she said: “Unfortunately, we’re all onlookers. Why are Africans not raising eyes on these malpractices. That’s why Africa is today in economic stagnation, natural disasters.

She praised the leadership qualities of the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and, urged African leaders to embrace his philosophy for a united Africa and development.

She commended African founding fathers, including Zik, Nkrumah, Banda for laying the foundation for Africa nations, especially Nigeria’s birth.

While urging women to be united and fight for African liberation and economic advancement, she them to be involved in discussing the uplift of women.

She said: “Nigeria is a country of great women achievers in politics, economy, the world is expecting that one day, there will be a prime minister from Nigeria as a woman.”

Other speakers at the event include the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde; former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, benefactor of the Zik’s Annual Lecture Series, Senator Ben Obi, and, Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone. They eulogised Zik’s vision for Africa leadership, unity and development.

Obi, particularly, called for cutting down of cost of governance and giving of priority to funding critical development sectors like education.

He stated that the situation in Nigeria, where monthly overhead of a vice chancellor of a Nigerian university is about N10 million and N120 million a year, while, an official vehicle of a federal lawmaker could cost above N140 million was a misplacement of priority.

Makinde, in his remarks, praised Zik’s philosophy for a united Nigeria and oneness of Nigerians, and advised that the country should be restructured into a federation.

Esimone pledged that UNIZIK would continue to promote the virtues of Zik.