THE President of Benin Republic, Mr. Bonni Yayi, yesterday paid a one-day visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo with a call on African leaders to take serious steps towards African unity by removing all the "artificial boundaries" which he said had fragmented the continent.
Yayi stressed: "The colonial borders dividing us must be dismantled to give boost to African unity."
To Yayi who came to power in April 2006, the various borders which have divided the "same family" into different countries must purely be administrative.
According to him, out of the nine million Republic of Benin population there are two million Nigerians.
The President who called for good governance also admonished African leaders to learn how to serve their people instead of expecting the people to serve them, stressing that, that was the only way to avoid crises on the continent
The President and his entourage were received by Obasanjo and the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium at 12.05 p.m. after which they drove to Obasanjo's Abeokuta Hilltop residence where they held a closed door meeting.
Yayi who later addressed journalists described Obasanjo as a great African statesman from whom African leaders could learn. He said Obasanjo's advice had always helped him in running the affairs of his French-speaking country.
He said he came to Obasanjo to express his appreciation for the guidance he had been giving him, noting that Obasanjo was an experienced statesman whose ideas would benefit Africa immensely.
"It is very important that African leaders work towards one continent with one currency", he said.
Yayi who spoke the Yoruba language fluently, however, did not state whether he was one of the two million Nigerians he referred to earlier.
He suggested that for African brotherhood to be meaningful, there should be frequent dialogue between African leaders.
"It is dangerous for neighbours not to have exchanges of ideas," he explained.
Answering a reporters' question, the Beninois President stated that "What is happening in the Arab world is very dangerous."
He disclosed: "I was one of the four French-speaking countries presidents that visited President Barack Obama at the White House in America last week and he told us that the Arab leaders are having problems because instead of them (leaders) serving their people, it is the people that is serving them."
According to him, Obama praised all African leaders that are practising the democratic system of government in their countries.
He disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan was scheduled to be given an honorary doctorate by the University of Abomey Calavi in Republic of Benin.
In his brief remarks, Obasanjo described "The visiting President as friend, brother, confidant and colleague."
The Guardian