"At this juncture, however, it would be appropriate to recall what has evidently become a truism for us now in Africa: that we cannot hope to find any measure of success emanating from our efforts aimed at economic integration, reconstruction and development for which the PTA and the proposed COMESA were conceived, unless also tackle with vigor and commitment, the task of ensuring the maintenance and more importantly the sustenance of peace and stability on the Continent. It could hardly be over-emphasized that it is impractical to expect our countries, both individually and collectively, to make the economic leap forward so ardently desired and to sustain, thereby, any momentum created when essential constituents in terms of human and material resources are destroyed, consumed and dissipated, and, indeed sacrificed, at the alter of war."
