President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the early hours of today made his inaugural address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with a call on world leaders to serve African countries a better deal of international politics.
Mounting the rostrum on the opening day of the 78th UN General Assembly, President Tinubu highlighted five key points for global attention. First was the importance of a developed Africa to the world; democratic governance to end military coups on the continent; protracted battle against violent extremists in the region; global trust and solidarity to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict, and lastly, the devastating effects of climate change on Nigeria and other African countries.
In reference to the wave of military incursions into governance in Africa, President Tinubu affirmed democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people.
He said military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice, but the enabling factors of political and economic instability must be addressed by all.
He said: “The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems. Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region. I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.
“This brings me to my next crucial point. Our entire region is locked in a protracted battle against violent extremists. In the turmoil, a dark channel of inhumane commerce has formed. Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women and children are seen as chattel. Yet, thousands risk the Sahara’s hot sand and the Mediterranean’s cold depths in search of a better life.
“At the same time, mercenaries and extremists with their lethal weapons and vile ideologies invade our region from the north. This harmful traffic undermines the peace and stability of an entire region. African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations. We also shall devote ourselves to disbanding extremist groups on our turf. To fully corral this threat, the international community must strengthen its commitment to arrest the flow of arms and violent people into West Africa.”
Source: The Guardian (NIG) Newspaper
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