Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the UN security council- Osinbanjo
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday advocated for a permanent membership status for Nigeria in the Security Council of the United Nations, stating that the country deserves the position because of its contributions to international peace keeping and the size of its population and economy.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa launch of the Global Commission Report, Confronting the Crisis of Global Governance at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Osinbajo said Nigeria fully shares the views expressed in the Report, that the United Nation Security Council should be expanded including the call for restraint on the use of veto by the five permanent members of the Council.’
The Vice President, who expressed his view that since Africa is the only continent without a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Nigeria besides its counterpart has the strongest profile to represent Africa and therefore balance the membership composition of the Council.
‘’We take the position based on our peacekeeping role in the United Nations, the size of our economy, and the fact that we have the largest population in the continent to say that Nigeria deserves a permanent status in the Security Council’’ a statement by the Vice President’s Spokesman, Laolu Akande said.
Nigeria was elected a non permanent member of the security council on October 17, 2013 and has also taken its turn to serve on the one month rotational Presidency of the council.
Nigeria currently holds the chair of two Security Council Committees: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2048 (2012) concerning Guinea-Bissau and Iraq Sanctions Committee pursuant to resolution 1518 (2003).
Speaking on the issue of good governance, the Vice President affirmed that ‘’ it is clear that the crisis of global governance has deeply contributed to and continues to engender insecurity, corruption, injustice, insurgency, violent extremism, terrorism, piracy, cyber-crime, underdevelopment, climate change fears among many vices.’’
According to the Vice President, the way out of crisis in Africa is for the leaders to treat their people not as mere statistics but with the respect and human dignity they deserve, explaining that ‘’ this can only be reflected by government in the provision of social services and giving opportunities to their peoples.’’
“Injustices in one state leads to instability or insecurity in neighboring states even if only on account of economic consequences or movement of refugees. Ultimately, no nation is free of the consequences of injustice anywhere’’, he said.
He said this was why the Federal Government of Nigeria is meticulously re-assessing the entire governance question with the hope of putting in place structures and institutions that can sustain Nigeria in confronting multitudes of challenges identified in the report.’’
Presenting of the Report, Ibrahim Gambari underscored the significance of global alliance for security, justice and good governance especially for Africa as a continent. He also supported the Vice President’s call for a permanent security council membership status for Nigeria.
Elizabeth Archibong