Some Lagos State legislators on Monday urged the African Union (AU) to redefine democracy and bring sustainable peace and development on the continent as it celebrates 50 years of existence.
The legislators said on Monday that the union should ensure that democracy was practiced in a way acceptable to all Africans, as well as ensure accelerated socio-economic development on the continent.
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed on 25, May 1963 with the cardinal objective of promoting unity, solidarity and cooperation among African countries.
It was based in Addis Ababa and became the African Union in 2002.
The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Budget, Mudashiru Obasa, urged AU member-states to put in place mechanisms that would sustain peace and bring rapid development.
The 50th anniversary of the OAU should be a new beginning for Africa.
“We should practice our democracy in a way that would be acceptable to everybody in Africa.
?This will reduce terrorism and tribal conflicts on the continent,” Obasa, who represents Agege I Constituency.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Olusegun Olulade, urged the union to tackle the security challenges in some African countries.
Olulade (Epe II) advised the African heads of government to shun sit-tight syndrome and give room for others to contribute their quotas to the continent?s development.
“We can see that there are crises here and there in Africa; the union should be more proactive in settling disputes,” he said.
Olulade also said that the AU should do more to promote economic prosperity and ensure infrastructure development.
Mr Ipoola Omisoore, who represents the Ifako-Ijaiye II in the assembly, urged the AU to emulate the European Union in the introduction of a single currency to facilitate economic development among its member-countries.
