Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently claimed that his administration is dedicated to bolstering democracy and upholding the rule of law during discussions with a United States Congressional delegation led by Senator Cory Booker at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
Tinubu emphasized the imperative nature of defending democracy, asserting that it must translate into tangible improvements such as quality healthcare, education, food security, shelter, and overall economic prosperity for Nigerian citizens.
Addressing the delegation, Tinubu underscored Nigeria’s significance as a vital partner for democracy in Africa and globally, citing its status as the continent’s largest democracy and leading economy.
He expressed determination to rectify past leadership challenges and underscored the supreme importance of citizen empowerment in sustaining democracy.
Furthermore, Tinubu advocated for a more prudent and pragmatic partnership between the United States and Africa, urging the delegation to consider expanding critical development initiatives to strengthen ties with the continent.
He proposed the idea of a modern-day Marshall Plan for Africa, akin to the post-World War II recovery effort in Europe, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to address contemporary challenges.
Tinubu stated, “It is important for our partners to help strengthen democracy in Africa. Our developmental programmes need serious capital. We are not asking for freebies. All we are asking for is understanding. After the Second World War, Europe was impacted. America developed and executed the Marshall Plan to pull them back up. Today, Europe is standing firm and tall as a result. What about a Marshall Plan for Africa?
“How can we be categorised and thrown into IMF’s basket of trickle-down slices? We are blessed in Africa, but these are the same resources causing conflicts because of exploitation and a lack of alignment. The presence of the resources does not reflect in the living conditions of the people. We must not use yesterday’s methods to address today’s challenges. Nobody wants to risk their life to run away from Africa.
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“America needs to look at the situation in Africa critically. What is happening in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger emanates from a helpless feeling people have that they are not being helped economically. They find that their former colonial masters are not letting go and are still seeking to exploit them. We have mineral resources. What technology can you bring to help turn that into economic prosperity? Can you put de-risking finance in place to incentivize John Deere to assist us in massively mechanising our food production processes? There is so much we can do in the advancement of education. See Africa as a necessary partner for the sustenance of democracy.”
