basanjo faults Buhari on Africa free trade agreement.

29 March 2018 .


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s decision not to sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Area ( ACFTA) agreement , describing the last minute withdrawal as a disappointment.




The treaty is one of the flagship projects of the African Union Agenda 2063, aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services , with free movement of business persons and investments and one currency.





The Federal Government had delayed the signing of the treaty to allow for more deliberations and input from stakeholders , The government has set up a committee to work on the agreement before the President would sign it .





Speaking at the 6th Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan , Cote d’ Ivoire , Obasanjo expressed the hope that President Buhari would sign before it is too late .
“ Egypt started the discussion about the formation of the Organisation of African Unity , but didn ’ t conclude it and Nigeria took over . Nigeria was central to the discussion of the free trade agreement , but I am surprised that the country withdrew from signing .





“ That President Buhari didn ’ t sign the free trade agreement in Kigali is disappointing, I hope he signs it before it is too late , ” he said .
Read More : Obasanjo , WIMPol task women on participation in politics
Obasanjo called on the continent leaders to increase youth and women participation in politics .





“ In our own part of the world , we have not done enough in this regard. Since independence , we have never had any woman as president or vice president ; no woman has contested governorship election and won .






“ In the coming dispensation, all organs of political parties should have 30 per cent slots for women, 30 per cent for the youth, and 40 per cent for the others . ”





The former president said it was disheartening that the number of women in the National Assembly in Nigeria was still very insignificant. ”