By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
President Goodluck Jonathan's intervention was the saving grace for the African Union Commission (AUC) whose last week's summit was almost plunged into a crisis following the struggle between South Africa and Gabon for post of chairperson of the commission.
It would be recalled that a rivalry had ensued between the incumbent, Mr. Jean Ping of Gabon, and his main challenger, South Africa's Home Minister, Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the position of AU commission chairman at the last 18th Ordinary Session of the AU. Both contestants were unable to secure enough votes to win the AU top post after rounds of election.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who spoke with State House correspondents yesterday, President Jonathan stepped in to resolve the impasse by proposing an extension of the tenure of Ping till June when the next AU summit is scheduled to hold.
Ashiru disclosed that even though the idea was initially resisted by other African leaders, they, however, unanimously adopted it after it was clearly explained.
The Foreign Minister recalled after the fourth round of vote, Mr. Ping was expected to have two third majority, which is 35 votes but he could only get 31.
Ashiru also explained that the too many urgent issues to attend to at home were responsible for the refusal of President Jonathan to vie for the position of AU chairman.
"If we had taken that position, people would have blamed us that we are not serious and it means we are not going to face our work at home," he argued.
