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Fashola, Jesse Jackson, Lord Boateng Flag Off Colloquim On Law And Development
…Seek establishment of an equitable order for the exploitation of Africa resources

Nov 2, 2010 - At a very high profile opening session, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday flagged off the first Colloquium on Law and Development tagged The KURAMO Conference 2010 in Lagos with a call for the establishment of an equitable order for the exploitation of Africa's rich resources in such a way that will restore the dignity of the enormously blessed people and Continent.

Addressing the gathering which drew participation from American Civil rights leader and former U.S Special Envoy for Africa, Reverend Jesse Jackson, British Parliamentarian, Hon Leo Boateng, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and former Federal Minister of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN) among others, Governor Fashola said the gathering is a reaffirmation of his belief that a new legal order is imperative in order to make the world more inclusive and to secure it for the next generation.

The Governor expressed the hope that Kuramo 2010 will examine the existing legal order and see how it affords sufficient protection for the weaker nations of the world if poverty is to be ended.

He added that the World Trade Organisation as an agency that is ostensibly out to bridge trade and development gaps between countries, should as an instrument of globalization take into consideration the needs of developing countries.

Explaining that over $40Billion is sent to Africa annually by over 30 million Africans outside the continent: Governor Fashola asked: "What should be the best prescription for 'goods and services' in the inevitable re-work of the WTO to redress the perceived imbalance in the trade of finished goods to consumer markets that harm budding local industry and stifle opportunity?"

Continuing, the Governor declared, "I hope it will ask the World and offer new directions as to why the price of oil and gas is internationally regulated but the clean up of environmental disasters has no known international standards".

"I hope it will ask question and offer new direction about whether the non-interference clause in the UN treaty does not require a re-make because it did have a limiting role in preventing the slaughter of many Rwandan, Bosnians and Sudanese to mention a few".

The Lagos State helmsman added that he hopes the conference will provide the roadmap away from the set back of Copenhagen 2009 and help stem the environmental challenge to the planet on an equitable basis between the rich and the poor.

Governor Fashola also said it would form part of his expectation that the Kuramo Conference 2010 will establish a new legal order for dealing with trans border crime especially terror, in an efficient and expeditious manner.

The Governor also said he expects the gathering to set the agenda on how African banks and financial institutions can have a say in how global finance is regulated as Basel III comes under consideration in view of the limitations of Basel 1and 2 in stopping the global depression that the world is now in.

In his words: "I hope Kuramo will set the agenda for establishing a global financial order to defining the regimes such as consumption tax in a globalizing world with daily increasing trans boundary electronic exchange of goods and services.

"I hope that Kuramo 2010 will help us find a lasting solution to homelessness on this Continent and develop a framework for financing homes through mortgages for Nigerians and Africans", the Governor added.

The Governor also expressed the hope that the conference will help Africa get rid of those little things that divide its people while steering them towards utilizing their enormous diversities of colour, tribe, language, religions and so much more to secure the sustainability of the planet.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion who is also the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Justice Emmanuel Ayoola said the world is gradually inching towards becoming a global village and that the conference promises to be a platform for the rebirth, the emergence and the actualization of that new mission that would take Africa to a value- driven global community.

He said there is no gainsaying that cross fertilization of ideas brought by the plenary speakers and resource persons will bring a new vibrancy and direction to policy making and implementation.

Justice Ayoola explained that Lagos State is a shining example of the transformation that putting ideas and thought to work in governance can achieve, adding that it is not suprising that the conference is being held in Lagos.

Speaking on the topic, "Urban Citizenship Rights and Obligations," Civil Rights activist and former US Special Envoy for Africa, Reverend Jesse Jackson said great cities are built by the workers and fair wages and not by wealth and privileges of a few down.

Reverend Jackson who expressed his joy at returning to Nigeria said the economic engine of West Africa and Lagos which remains the city that helps drive all of Nigeria added that Africans must strive for an even playing field for all people.

He advocated that boundless poverty is too great a burden to bear just as sick bodies cost more than healthy bodies and uneducated children cost more than enlightened and excited children who are healthy and dreaming.

Reverend Jackson said for African developing countries to overcome disparities there is a need for fair trade and favourable trade status to overcome the ravages of war, occupation and colonization, saying the policy was good for European reconstruction but should also apply to Africa.

He also said to rebuild, Africans must focus on skill trade rebuilding for its youth and investment in infrastructure through the creation of jobs by building essentials like hospitals, housing, roads and schools.

Said he: "Let's agree to rebuild the foundation, let's agree to fight poverty, poverty is an impediment to growth, as poverty breeds sickness and resentment. War absorbs too many resources. Democracy is often slow and deliberate but it works".

Also speaking while delivering a paper titled: "Let the Eagle Soar, Some Reflections on Developing Economies: Rethinking the Present, Shaping and Future" a former British Minister, RT Hon Lord Boateng said scientific research and regional integration are sadly all too often lacking in Africa today and without which its future progress will surely be severely hampered.

He said for Africa to succeed in the global efforts to combat hunger, there is a need to mobilize yet more resources and donor governments and NGOs to work closely together to align and coordinate their actions to Africa's emerging national, regional and cross continent agendas, saying Lagos State has much to offer in this respect by establishing the link between youth, jobs and agriculture.

Hon Boateng also said there can be no solution to climate change issue without sufficient input from Africa adding that Copenhagen failed because the contributions of Africa was not given due recognition at the Summit. He advocated that Africa needs effective fairer and more efficient taxation systems that would strengthen the social contract between the States and citizens of the private sector.

He said the best safeguard against corruption and maladministration in the public realm is the creation of sustainable context for a thriving private sector and an active and engaged citizenry protected by the rule of law with effective law enforcement- transparency and accountability.

Also present at the event which is billed to end on Wednesday were Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Minster of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN), former Judge of the World Court, Justice Bola Ajibola, members of the State Executive Council and many lawyers and judges both serving and retired.