Daily Champion (Lagos)
29 October 2009
editorial
THE recent election of Nigeria into the United Nations (UN) Security Council on a non permanent basis represents a diplomatic triumph which must be built upon for the country to achieve its ultimate goal of permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Nigeria was elected alongside Gabon, Brazil, Bosnia and Lebanon for a two year term that starts on January 1 next year. The countries are representing regional blocs and Nigeria is featuring for the third time in the elite body, her last membership being 15 years ago (in 1994-95) during the tenure of Gen. Sani Abacha.
Her membership this time around was endorsed by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and comes with the added advantage of the country leading the august body.
The elevation is acknowledgement that the country has come of age, especially in terms of its influence in the West African sub-region and the African continent as well as in her roles in global peace keeping assignments.
Nigeria has been playing a stabilising role in the West African sub-region where she has been in the forefront of efforts to thwart the plans of Niger Republic's President Mamadou Tandja to perpetuate himself in office as well as in Guinea where ECOWAS, which Nigeria's President, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua heads, is working to stop the military ruler, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, transmuting to a civilian president.
On the economic front, Nigeria has also been central to the survival and stability of some countries in the continent and sub-region.
These can explain why the country was positively considered for membership and headship of the Security Council.
President Yar'Adua's quiet but effective brand of diplomacy, advanced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and the country's Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, has clearly, impressed the world body enough for Nigeria to be found fit for the Security Council membership.
The challenges of the country, especially in the political, economic and social spheres have not been allowed to count against Nigeria as the exploits of her military and police personnel in peace keeping operations must have pushed up her rating in the global arena.
However, these factors that have positioned her for the present recognition may not be enough to take the country to the coveted UN Security Council's permanent seat that is also being hotly pursued by some other frontline African countries.
The United States of America (US), Russia, China, Britain and France are presently the permanent members of the UN Security Council, one of the principal organs of the UN which is charged with maintaining international peace and security through the establishment of peace keeping operations, international sanctions and authorization of military action. The five permanent members wield veto powers.
In its present position, Nigeria will be expected to represent the African continent creditably, especially in the area of resolution of the conflicts in different parts of the continent.
She should also be expected to use the UN Security Council platform to advance her advocacy for sanity in Niger and Guinea where democracy is under serious threat.
The welfare of peace keepers, especially Nigerian and African troops would also be expected to attract the attention of the country's representative at this august body.
Nigerians would look forward to a situation where, after her tenure, the world would take notice of her contributions to the extent that there would be a consensus for Nigeria's elevation to a permanent position on the Security Council.
But as she is working on her diplomatic profile, the country's leadership must also look inwards to address issues which could work against her image on the world stage.
For instance, questions have been asked about the human rights record of the country, especially as it concerns extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment as well as access to justice for citizens. The leadership should look again at these issues especially in the light of the rule of law posture of the present administration.
The economy of the country also deserves closer attention, especially so that the level of unemployment and poverty can be drastically reduced. A country that has the vision of becoming one of the biggest 20 economies in the world by the year 2020 should be seen to be moving in the direction of actualizing the vision, by addressing the serious challenges of insecurity and absent or decayed infrastructure, especially power, roads and railways.
As the country takes her place in the UN Security Council in her 50th year of existence as a country, therefore, it should be an occasion for her to prove to the world that, indeed, she has truly come of age, not only on the international stage but also on the domestic front.
That way, the country's 50th anniversary celebration would, indeed, be golden.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
It affords me a great pleasure to contribute my views on the post of UN security council membership given to Nigeria.I'm very happy that the country that has contributed greatly in peace keeping in west Africa and Africa in general can be recognised for what she has done in terms of peace keeping.If properly looked,Nigeria has lost a lot of her Arm forces in term of of peace in Africa.Nigeria tried her best in Liberia,somalia and sierra leone to mention a few.We are talking of United State of Africa but we are not talking of United security for Africa.We are talking of one voice for Africa but Africa is deporting fellow Africans.Where and how do we start unity in Africa?I'm a common man in Africa but I always cry for Africa.We reject and kill ourselfs at home while other continent of the world welcome us to show sence of belonging.Some Africa countries has killed somany fellow Africans in name of illegal immegrant.Libya for example has kill a lot of other african citizens at the desert border side in the name of illegal immegrant.Time without number, we heard that libyan police opened fire on people on land cruiser coming to their country, who had been in the desert for days without good feeding.Please what shows a sence of belonging here? while the Africans migrating from Libya Mid. sea to Italy are being rescued by Italian police,clothed and even given recharged cards to call thier relatives so that they will know that they are still alive.What kind of Africa Unity do we have?who will Unite Africa if the learders of today fails to their expections?Those who had been so long in power in Africa are the problems of Africa.Their objectives is just a selfish interest.Nigeria with the obligation of security on behave of Africa should use this opportunity to fight for violation of human right in Africa and protect the image of Africans in general.God bless Africa.Chuks From UK.