THISDAYonline

Since he finished a 10 year term as secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has been receiving national and international honours. Only a couple of weeks back, University of London in recognition of his contribution to the development of communication and the world at large, in a very rare tribute decided to establish a professorial chair in commonwealth studies to be named 'Emeka Anyaoku Chair in Commonwealth Studies.' The chair according to Mr. Richard Bourne, Director, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London is the very first to be named after an African by a British university. According to Bourne, "Without Anyaoku's achievements, it would have been very difficult for Kofi Annan to be appointed United Nations chief scribe."

Also Professor J.O Irukwu, chairman organising committee for the committee of friends that organised the event stated that, "the honour that has been bestowed on Chief Anyaoku is seen by all of us, not only as an honour in recognition of his country Nigeria but indeed the entire African continent and the Commonwealth itself". The event was well attended by members of the diplomatic corp, captains of Industries, statesmen and distinguished friends of Chief Anyaoku.

Elated Anyaoku at the formal launch and fund raising of the chair was full of thanks to all involved in the organisation of the events. Anyaoku thanked members of the Committee of Friends particularly Chief S.L. Edu, "our highly respected senior citizen whose outstanding contribution to the development of our country has recently been widely acknowledged and celebrated on his 90th birthday; Ambassador Mathew Mbu who has served this country with great distinction in diplomacy and at cabinet ministerial level; Chief Sonny Odogwu and Chief E.C. lwuanyanwu, both great philanthropists and titans of Nigeria's private sector; Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Umar, a giant of the insurance industry; and the last but not the least Mr. Richard Bourne, an Oxford man who has found his calling at the University of London where he is one of the movers at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies.

"Guided by its fundamental principles," he said, "the Commonwealth has already shown itself as a potent force for helping its member nations pursue democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law, and sustainable development. Southern Africa region including South Africa itself and our country Nigeria have in their quest for liberation and democracy been the beneficiaries of the influence and work of the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, Mbu, former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, noted that the honour done Anyaoku by the university has placed him in league with few great men so honoured by great institutes of learning in Britain. Great men like the late orator and ex-statesman, Sir Winston Churchill and Nehru, India's late nationalist have endowment chairs in top British universities.

A man so celebrated by both young and old, it was a privilege getting the former Commonwealth scribe talk on issues that touched the nation. On a visit to his Lagos residence, Anyaoku bared his mind on a number of issues. Having started his career as a young man, THISDAY asked what message he had for young people. Responding, he stated that: "Every young person should learn the virtue of hard work and learn that nothing good really comes without hard work. It's an unfortunate aspect of the decadence, which our country is into. It's a view and a habit that have become widespread. People expect to gain something without working for it. People win contracts and never execute it. They just get rich by having access to contacts. Incidentally, all levels of the society are affected. For me it is very disappointing."

While young people need to imbibe the culture of hard work, what happens when elders who are meant to lead by example leave a lot to be desired? "It's a tragedy", Anyaoku responded; noting that that is one of the causes of lack of progress in the country. "When people lose their values for hard work and concensiouness, nothing else happens properly. But I think that there are now new grounds for hope because we have a democratically elected government whose leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo is working on anti-corruption campaign. I hope that success in that area will help to change societal attitude. We have had the misfortune of having a long military rule, which destroyed the values of the society. A society where a big man is above the law; a society devoid of honesty; an undisciplined society. You can see it on our roads. People drive against one way. That is a symbol of an undisciplined society and I hope that the new dispensation will gradually help us return to how things should be."

Since his return, there have been speculation that he might be running for presidency come 2003. Not a few newspapers have reported that some prominent individuals in the Igbo nation are making moves to make him run for the election. But Anyaoku is a diplomat to the core. His reply was very diplomatic. Stating that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country, he affirmed that is natural for each group in the country to aspire for political positions and leadership. However, he maintained that the government in place is less than two years old and should be given a chance to perform, adding that it is too early to begin to talk about 2003. Again, Chief Anyaoku stated that he would like to see the politics of the country conducted on the basis of actions and achievements, governments achieving what it promised it would. He averred that he would like to see the debate directed in that line. However, he stressed that that is not saying one should not look ahead.

He enjoined Nigerians to be patient with the present administration noting that with the damage done by the military, it is impossible to correct things over night. "The military reduced this country to a level that nothing is going to be corrected overnight. The damage done was such that it will take some time. Naturally expectations have been high but I think we should exercise patience because you can not turn a country of this size around overnight. Nigeria is like a huge tanker in the ocean. A huge tanker doesn't change direction in a flash. For some it takes hours. Some more than a day because of their size. I believe that with the way and manner anti-corruption is talked about, I'm not sure corruption has ceased, but it cannot possibly be the same with the way it was in the past. I believe some practical achievements have begun. Besides, for human beings that are used to corrupt means, it will take some time to change. I'd like to believe that the rate of corruption is becoming less. I'm not suggesting we have got to a stage where we can beat our chest, yet I think that slowly, things are happening."

The former CommonWealth scribe views the current crisis in the petroleum sector as scandalous given the country's position as the sixth oil producing nation in the world. A combination of bad habit and mismanagement he tagged it. Said Anyaoku, "My word for that is scandalous. I think the whole thing is a combination of bad habit and mismanagement. It is criminal."

His views on deregulation are that it should be properly studied. Though the Federal Government has since argued that deregulation is the only solution to the crisis in the petroleum sector, he maintains that if deregulation will mean higher fuel prices, if it will impact negatively on the economy and quality of life, it can not possibly be the panacea to the economic problems.

Speaking on the many problems of Africa, he disclosed that the problem borders on the fact that many African countries have not yet learned how to leave together. On that note, he affirmed the need for national conference in the country noting that it holds a lot of merits. Anyaoku pointed out that there is a need for the various components of this country to discuss and arrive at a consensus on how best the country should be structured. This he averred is because Nigeria does not have a constitution that is based on a national consensus. A situation which has resulted in incessant eruption of conflicts. However, Anyaoku stated that he is not supporting a sovereign national conference. Explaining the two, he said that the two could be the same depending on the interpretation. A sovereign national conference, he explained, would suggest a conference that would ignore that a government structure is in place. The idea of a sovereign national conference he said has been appropriate in situations where there is break down and people need to iron out issues..."yet we do need a national conference and I'd like to believe that the outcome of that national conference would not be ignored by the government." Formulating the present constitution he stated may have had representatives of the people but usually the military authorities have the final say. This, he noted, happened with the 1978, '79 and the current 1999 constitution. "The military", he said "made the changes and decided the constitution, so they are not popularly made. But a national conference should arrive at a consensus and the government should see to it that the consensus is applied." In other words, he counselled, the out come of the current constitutional review should be tabled before a national conference that should have the last say.

Now after 37 years abroad, many expected that the chicken has finally come home to roost but no! His retirement will be far from being spent quietly. Aside from his recent appointment as chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, he has also accepted an offer at the London School of Economics Centre for Global Governance as a distinguished visiting fellow, meaning that again he will be spending most of his time in England. Here his task will be essentially holding lectures and seminars relating to global governance in designated parts of the world. He said that by the coming year, he would be involved in organising high level seminars. In conjunction with leaders of governments and the private sector they would exchange views on various ideas relating to global governance. Presently he enlightened, there are a number of institutions that conduct affairs relating to global governance. He identified the World Bank and the CommonWealth of Nations as such adding that he hopes the Center for Global governance will make an impact in this sector. The focus at the center will be on examining the impact of modern technologies on humanity, issues relating to global Governance and the like. Having set an excellent record as Secretary General of the Common Wealth for 10 years, his expectation is that his contribution at the centre will impact the world as it did when he was the Commonwealth scribe.

But how did he do it? So much commendations. With only 49 countries on his assuring office, membership to the second largest global organisation rose to 54! Actually at the end of his tenure, there were three applications on his table asking to be admitted into the organisation. Anyaoku, ever modest explained that he did nothing extraordinary other than make the CommonWealth more attractive. His tenure, he stated, began with a complete re-assessment of the body. It was during his tenure that the Harare Declaration took place. The Harare Declaration, he pointed out, became a mission statement for the CommonWealth. They reviewed and renewed the objectives and aspirations of the body and this new mission statement became a guide for the CommonWealth. For instance, on assuring office, no less than nine members states of the organisation were either under military rule or one party state. But by his last year as scribe, almost all had adopted democracy. This he said is because democracy is the basis through which every country should be governed. Said Anyaoku, "I saw the common wealth develop into a strong potent force. Non democratic countries were not allowed to feel comfortable any more in the Commonwealth. If a country has a coup detat, it is suspended immediately. All that helped to make the organisation a very potent force in the promotion and sustenance of peace and economic growth among member nations.