A Nigerian activist, Bishir Dauda, who embarked on a 50-day celebration road trip across West Africa to mark ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary on Tuesday, arrived in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

ECOWAS, founded on May 28, 1975, to foster subregional economic integration and political unity, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on May 28.

Mr Dauda earlier announced that the journey, which he intended to begin on April 1, was his unique way of celebrating ECOWAS’ golden jubilee.

The pan-Africanist said in a statement from the country’s capital that his first port of call was the ECOWAS resident representative’s office, where he was received by officials on arrival.

He said that, thereafter, he had a robust interactive discussion with representatives of activists, youth groups, and ordinary citizens of the country, bordering on ECOWAS’ 50 years of achievements and challenges.

“Generally, the people commended ECOWAS for recording tangible achievements, especially in the areas of free movement of persons and goods, harmonisation of trade tariffs, boosting tourism, sporting events, humanitarian support, peacekeeping missions, and strengthening democracy and good governance.

“They also appreciate ECOWAS’ efforts in crises management within its member states, especially how it has been coping with the Sahel states, which recently withdrew their membership from the bloc,” he said.

Mr Dauda stated that the Beninese citizens, however, identified some key challenges they perceived as threats to ECOWAS.

He said that these included unconstitutional change of government, illegal tenure elongation by some West African heads of government and state, electoral fraud and irregularities, breaching ECOWAS treaties and protocols, lack of democracy, and weak governance in member-states.

Others are external manipulation, inadequate funding, and failure to achieve the ECOWAS Common Currency (ECO), among others.

“The people recommended that ECOWAS should continue to pursue policies and programmes that will strengthen unity and cooperation amongst its member states. They demanded that the launch of the ECO should be achieved by 2027, as promised by ECOWAS.

“The citizens also called on ECOWAS to continue pursuing dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, urging the Sahel states to re-consider their decision and return to ECOWAS in the interest of African unity, cooperation, and integration,” Mr Dauda said.

Mr Dauda further said that the citizens also recommended that ECOWAS should continue to uphold and enforce its Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and all other treaties.

He said they also called on ECOWAS to develop more programmes and initiatives targeting youths, women, and people with disabilities.

The activist said the citizens also wanted the ECOWAS Standby Force to become fully operational to address the major security threats facing West Africa, such as terrorism, insurgency, and several armed conflicts.

He said that many citizens supported ECOWAS’ gigantic projects, such as the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the West African Power Pool.

“The community citizens have underscored the imperative of maintaining peace and enjoined stakeholders in West Africa to be ambassadors of peace. Many of the citizens have expressed their preference for a democratic system of government in which citizens have the power to choose or remove their leaders,” he said.

Mr Dauda, who is also the Executive Director, Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiatives, stated that  ECOWAS’ monumental achievements under 50 years amid formidable challenges motivated him to embark on the celebration solidarity journey. 

(NAN)