Buhari's government looks set to step up quest for UN Security Council permanent seat

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari's government looks set to step up a campaign to secure a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council after vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo announced that Nigeria deserves it due to her size and international stature.

 

Nigeria is currently a temporary member of the 15-member Security Council but there are plans to increase the permanent members to sit alongside the US, UK, France, China and Russia. Countries regularly mentioned as candidates in this new expansion include Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Italy, Colombia, South Africa, Egypt, Spain and Nigeria.

 

Yesterday, Professor Osinbajo pointed out that Nigeria deserves the permanent seat because of her peacekeeping role in the UN, her economy's size and her large population. Speaking at the Africa launch of the Global Commission Report, Confronting the Crisis of Global Governance, Professor Osinbajo added that since Africa is the only continent without a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Nigeria has the strongest profile to represent the continent and balance the membership composition of the council.

Professor Osinbajo added: "Nigeria fully shares the views expressed in the report that the United Nations Security Council should be expanded including the call in the report for restraint on the use of the veto by the five permanent members of the council. In addition, we take the position based on our peacekeeping role in the United Nations, the size of our economy and the fact that we've the largest population in the continent to say that Nigeria deserves a permanent status in the Security Council."

In addition, Professor Osinbajo said the crisis of global governance had led to insecurity, corruption, injustice, violent extremism, terrorism, piracy, cyber-crime, under-development. He added that the way out was for African leaders to treat their citizens not as mere statistics but with the respect and human dignity they deserve, which can only be reflected by government in the provision of social services and giving people opportunities.