President Goodluck Jonathan may enter the race for
chairman of the African Union, after Gambia pulled out of the running this
week, a source close to Jonathan said Saturday.
Leaders will choose a new chairman for the 54-member
pan-African body in a secret ballot at the African Union summit opening Sunday.
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) are campaigning for Jonathan to run for the position, which has
been occupied by the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,
since 2008.
“Quite a number of African leaders have been approaching
him and encouraging him to be the candidate for the next chairman of the
African Union,” said the source, who spoke of the condition of anonymity.
“If it is the consensus of (ECOWAS) that he should run
for the chairmanship of the African Union, I doubt if he will be able to tell
his colleagues that he will not listen to them,” he added.
Diplomatic sources had earlier said Gambian President
Yahya Jammeh or Benin’s leader Boni Yayi were likely rivals for the post, which
changes every four years and is offered to different regions in Africa on a
rotational basis.
However, the source confirmed that Gambia was no longer
vying for the spot, which is largely ceremonial, adding that Benin may not run
either, leaving Nigeria as the sole candidate for chairman of the union.
ECOWAS leaders are meeting on the margins of the AU
summit in Addis Ababa Saturday to decide whether they will formally recommend
Jonathan for the spot.
The next chairman will come from the west African region
to replace Obiang, whose election was condemned by rights group over his poor
rights record at home.
And now, the problem is, can Jonathan manage the whole of
Nigeria, when he cannot manage Nigeria. Your views and comments are needed.
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