The KNII adds its voice to the numerous calls for the extension of the nomination deadline for the Chairmanship Position of the African Union Commission( AUC).

To uphold the inalienable rights of the 1.27 billion Africans- any qualified person be allowed to be part of the required processes.

Currently, H .E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has been pencilled down as the only candidate contesting the topmost AUC position, which is undemocratic.

The history of selecting a Chairperson for the AUC, indicates that, that position has always been contested and never gone unopposed, so why this time around with many who are qualified?.

The contest for the AUC top position should be democratic, transparent and opened for more people to apply.

The nomination deadline should be extended, if not, it frowns on the AU reforms recommendation that all positions should be filed with gender parity.

Gender equality on the Chairmanship position should be actualize per the PRINCIPLE of Article 4(l) of the Constitutive Act of the AU on the “promotion of gender. ”

Your Excellency, our attention has been drawn to the fact that, many African leaders support the candidature of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Your Excellency, the sovereign interest of these leaders must be adhered to and not disregarded because on several occasions, the SADC Regional vote to nominate the preferred candidate has been blocked for unknown reasons.

The vote was to be held on the 2nd September 2020, was cancelled two days to the deadline of 4th September 2020, why?

Another intriguing question is why did Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas go to consult with Chad and later withdrew from the contest after being nominated by the President of Ghana to represent a West African slot?.

Your Excellency, kindly encourage competition, fairness and equity, especially when it has been realized that the top position of the AUC is skewed towards only one candidate-H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat.

The blood, toil and sacrifice of our forebearers, who fought for our political freedom must not be in vain for sacrificing their lives for the OAU/AU.

The basic question is why protect H.E. Faki Mahamat at the AUC ?.

The Africans home and in the diaspora are not happy and will not accept the AUC Chairmanship position to go without a contest.

We will defend the right to ensure a healthy democratic process to the bitter end.

Furthermore , we have high convictions that, many African Heads of State are against an *UNOPPOSED* Moussa Faki Mahamat run for AUC Chairmanship.

Your Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, with all due respect, if you cannot fix the confusion at the AU as a matter of urgency, then you must honourably *RESIGN* as AU Chairman.

Resign due to the furtherance of H.E. Moaussa Fati Mahamat to cruise on to leadership without competition amounts to a betrayal of our founding fathers.

Sir, if it happens, the current leadership of Africa will be deemed to have sold the AUC top position to the highest bidder.

Your Excellency, we are aware that the struggle is all about who controls the AfCFTA and whether it should be controlled by Africans themselves or not.

The AfFCTA is part of the vision of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah since 1963 and it has been difficult to establish until 2018.

H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat cannot take the credit for what the Heads of State have fought over years to establish.

Your Excellency, Africa, indeed is *NOT* *FOR* *SALE*

We stand with African Heads of State that Africa is not for *SALE* .

Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is admonishing that *AFRICA* *IS* *NOT* *FOR* *SALE* and that the AfFCTA projects cannot be monetized for personal gains.

For the first time, Africans are speaking with one voice- about who controls the AfCFTA, which represents the only hope for a true African economic liberation.

Your Excellency, for the next four years- we must not allow the continent’s projects to be commercialized in the hands of non Africans.

The African inter and intra commerce and trade must be controlled by African businessmen and women.

This is the time for the true economic emancipation of Africa by Africans and not to facilitate the use of the AfFCTA through greed to favour those who have exploited us for centuries.

Your Excellency, we must all wake up to protect the AfFCTA, if not Africa is gone. Hence, the needful to get the right person to protect the bonafide interest of Africa at the AUC and its AfFCTA.

Your Excellency, we have taken this position because it’s all about defending the defenceless who are the millions of women and children dying unnecessary from diseases and starvation.

It’s all about the millions of unemployed youth across the continent committing suicide due to hopelessness, despair and sadly dying in the deserts and Mediterranean sea on their sojourn to find the so- called greener pastures in Europe

Africans are yearning for a distinguished African personality imbued with a sense of purpose who will use the AfFCTA to create job opportunities, give hope to the teeming youth and eliminate diseases, poverty and pestilence.

Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah stated that ” Africa needs a new type of citizen, a dedicated, modest, honest, informed man.
A man who submerges self in SERVICE TO THE NATION AND MANKIND.
A man who abhors greed and detest vanity.
A new type of man whose humility is his strength and whose integrity is his greatness.”

Your Excellency, the AU- must be driven by the people and owned by the people.

The AU must be represented by the People and for the People ; as captured in Article 4 ( c ) of the Constitutive Act of the AU, on- “The participation of the African peoples in the activities of the Union”.

We do recognize and wish to remind you that all hands must be on deck with conscious resolve and motivation of achieving the AFRICA THAT WE WANT.

Your Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, once again, recall the heroic struggle waged by the Fathers of the OAU/AU for inclusiveness, fairness, human dignity and social justice and allow genuine processes at the AU.

Your Excellency, Africans will not accept H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat as Chairman of the AUC- if the nomination deadline is not extended to accommodate more candidates in the greater spirit of transparency and competitiveness.

Remember- posterity awaits with this statement:
“Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”-Abraham Lincoln.

We hope to see a new paradigm within the corridors of the AU.

Your Excellency, please our request for the extension of the nomination deadline emanates from the heart of the African continent and black people across the Globe in a UNITED VOICE.

Your Excellency, we looking forward to a favourable response and kindly have the assurances of our highest consideration.
Thank you.

………………………………………

BENJAMIN ANYAGRE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute- KNII

https://nkrumaists .com