President Bola Tinubu has called for inclusivity,
multilateralism and permanent seats for Nigeria and Africa on the United
Nations security council.
Africa has long clamoured for equal representation on the
council.
Each year, the UNGA elects five new members from different
geographical zones for two-year terms on the council. The continent has three
rotational seats on the 15-member UN body.
Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President
Kashim Shettima, said a reform of the council has become imperative.
“Some permanent
members of the United Nations security council have offered encouraging, if
tentative indications of support on the issue of reform of the council. We
welcome the change in tone and urge an acceleration in momentum to the
process,” he said.
“The security council should be expanded, in the permanent
and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of
the world. We fully support the efforts of secretary-general Guterres in this
regard.
“Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the
security council. Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members
category of the security council, with the same rights and responsibilities as
other permanent members.”
Tinubu also sought for debt forgiveness for Nigeria and a
reform of the global financial architecture.
“We reiterate the call by countries, especially of the
global South, for reform of the international financial architecture and
promotion of a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive,
equitable and transparent multilateral trading system,” the president said.
“Similarly, we must ensure that any reform of the
international financial system includes comprehensive debt relief measures, to
enable sustainable financing for development.
“Countries of the global South cannot make meaningful
economic progress without special concessions and a review of their current
debt burden.”
ILLICIT FINANCIAL
FLOWS
Tinubu also harped on the dangers of climate change,
proliferation of weapons, coups on the African continent and human rights
abuses.
“From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we
have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict,
inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises,
hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear
proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other
vexations,” he added.
“The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies
to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of
dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the
embers of conflict.
“Our people need
employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable
education and healthcare for their children and families. They need to live in
healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need
opportunity.”
The president also spoke about recovery of the proceeds of
corruption and illicit financial flows, maintaining that the return of such
funds to countries of origin “is a fundamental principle of the United Nations
Convention against Corruption”.
“Therefore, the
international community must promote practical measures to strengthen
international cooperation to recover and return stolen assets and to eradicate
safe havens that facilitate illicit flows of funds from developing countries to
the developed economies,” he added.
On the sidelines of the UNGA, Shettima also solicited the
support of Finland in Nigeria’s pursuit of a permanent seat on the UN security
council.
During a meeting with President of the Republic of Finland,
Alexander Stubb, Shettima said: “Nigeria has 25 years of uninterrupted
democracy. And in Bola Tinubu a president with huge democratic credentials and
commitment. With him in the saddle, Africa and the larger world would be safe,
futuristic, acceptable and more peaceful.”
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