….as Caribbean people seek reparation

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- AS freedom remains paramount right in every society, the international relations experts under the auspices of Society for International Relations Awareness, SIRA, former Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Ambassador Joe Keshi, Ambassador Oubi Buchraya Bachir, and others, Monday, pressed on the United Nations, UN, to expedite Western Sahara’s independence.

The call was made at the ongoing two-day International Conference to End Colonialism in the World with the theme ‘The Forgotten Peoples: International Conference to Decolonize the World’, which has in attendance representatives from the Caribbean Islands, Africa, and diplomatic community.

The President, SIRA, Owei Lakemfa, on the side-lines of the conference, explained the essence of the two-day International Conference, which is basically to ensure the UN fast-track the process to grant independence to territories that are suffering colonial rule in order for them to have a sense of belonging and enjoy freedom and development.

Lakemfa also pointed out that the Western Sahara has been really under pressure under Morocco despite efforts made to reach out to Morocco let them go and stop the long-standing occupation of Western Sahara, which has escalated tension in the North African region.

According to him, freeing territories under persistent colonial rule in any form remains a huge problem, because of the enslavement experience they people go through and that could lead to serious conflicts that would devastate the region.

He said, “As Morocco continues to push for regional influence, having been rebuffed in its bids to join ECOWAS and the European Union, calls are growing louder for the nation to reconsider its stance.”

The SIRA boss also said, “Morocco is already blessed and richly endowed, and it is time to leave its neighbour alone and let them survive.

“We are urging Morocco, a nation already blessed with abundant resources, to allow its neighbour to thrive independently.”

Meanwhile, he pointed out Nigeria’s role in the struggle to ensure Western Sahara is freed from colonialism, “Notably, Nigeria has played a significant role in this effort, having officially recognized Western Sahara’s sovereignty back in 1984, during General Buhari’s tenure as head of state.

On other territories in similar situations in the Caribbean Islands, he said, “As momentum builds, the hope is that within the next four to six years, a significant number of these territories will finally achieve self-governance, marking a pivotal step forward in the global push for freedom and equality.”

Also speaking, former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, and Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, maintained that there is need for all territories under colonialism to be free from their masters, and tasked everybody to work towards that and ensure the people and their resources are set free.

“As long as many people remain not free under colonialism, none of us can consider ourselves free.

“The freedom of all oppressed people, colonized people is paramount, without it, international peace and security is truly endangered.

“United resolutions are plenty in terms of supporting the end of colonialism, but they don’t self-implement; therefore, we really have to organize to make sure those territories under colonial rule or not self-governing must be independent as soon as possible”, Gambari said.

The Keynote Speaker, Amb Oubi Buchraya Bachir, said, “Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa, the UN has made effort to decolonise the territory but the lack of cooperation by the Moroccan authority to peacefully settle the conflict, and allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable right.”

“The message is, it is high time the international community decolonize those 17 territories, it is a process that has started since the 60s but it is still not finished, and it is really high time the international community finish the job in Africa in relation to Western Sahara. We think it is very important that the territory is decolonized in conformity to international laws.”

In a goodwill message, Ambassador Joe Keshi, expressed concern over the silence of the African Union on the way Morocco is allegedly treating Western Sahara, therefore, called on Africans to make their voices heard to ensure Western Sahara issue draws the attention of the global community in order for the territory to gain independence.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Alba Movements Continental Assembly of the Caribbean People,, Kandi Sebro pointed out there are tough issues affecting them, and they are not being treated well, therefore, demanded the UN grant them reparation, especially in Haiti, and other countries in the Caribbean Islands.