President Goodluck Jonathan was in New York on Tuesday to attend the 68th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, United States of America, where he put forward reasons why Nigeria ought to be given another chance to occupy a seat on the Security Council.
He mounted the podium and spoke to world leaders and their country delegates and recalled Nigeria’s commendable performance on previous occasions when it held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. This, he stated, strengthens belief that Nigeria should be supported to assume the seat and this recommended assurance to the global community that the country deserved to be elected to the Council again for the 2014-2015 session.
“Our support for the United Nations Security Council in its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been total and unwavering.
“We have, in previous membership of the Council, demonstrated both the political will and capacity to engage in key Council responsibilities.
“I am pleased to state that Nigeria has received the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. We therefore urge this august Assembly to endorse Nigeria’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council,” Jonathan said.
The President also called for quicker democratisation of the Security Council to address the concerns of Nigeria and other developing countries.
“I believe that I express the concern of many about the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council.
“We believe strongly that the call for democratisation worldwide should not be for States only, but also, for international organisations such as the United Nations.
“That is why we call for the democratisation of the Security Council. This is desirable for the enthronement of justice, equity, and fairness; and also for the promotion of a sense of inclusiveness and balance in our world.”
Noting that the world continues to be confronted with many serious challenges, Jonathan called for a renewed and concerted effort by the international community to effectively resolve all issues that currently impede global peace, stability and progress.
“Our world continues to be confronted by pressing problems and threats. No statement that will be made during this Session can exhaust the extent of these problems.
“The world looks to us, as leaders, to provide hope in the midst of crisis, to provide guidance through difficult socio-political divisions, and to ensure that we live in a better world.
“We have obligations to the present generation, but we have a greater obligation to generations yet unborn who should one day inherit a world of sufficiency irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they reside on the globe,” he said.
“We must work to make that world a reality in recognition of our common heritage.
“We must dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous world for all. It is our duty. We must not fail,” he declared.
The President also restated his call for the international community to confront the menace of global terrorism with greater resolve and determination.
“Terrorism constitutes a major threat to global peace and security, and undermines the capacity for sustained development.
“In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the North Eastern part of our country has proven to be a major challenge to national stability.
“We are therefore confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.
“The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity.”
Jonathan congratulated UN member-states on the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and expressed the hope that “upon its entry into force, the ATT would herald an era of accountable trade in conventional arms which is critical to the security of nations.”
