“The Kanakians, the people I will call Melanesians, are not seriously involved in governance, and of course, they are disempowered. They are disempowered because they don't go to school as such, or they are not being given the opportunity to really educate themselves. Beyond that, their tribal leader, Jean-Marie [Tjibaou] we know today is fighting for them; they have not been so emancipated in their politics and economics,” Prof. Ariole notes.
"I think the founding fathers should be happy that the organization has been able to live up to 49 years; by next year, it will be 50 years. And a child of 49 old years is no longer a child but an adult. So ECOWAS is an adult. It has come to stay. And it has passed through many difficult times. But in spite of that, the sub-regional body has continued to exist," comments Dr. Ottoh.