President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on world leaders to recommit themselves to multilateralism by deepening relations among member states of the United Nations (UN) in line with the principles of inclusivity, equality and cooperation.
Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), made the call Wednesday while addressing world leaders during the General Debate of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, United States.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said deepening relations among member states of the United Nations was the surest guarantee of global action against existential challenges faced by the international community.
…Calls truly United Nations
He said the steep descent to singularity and nationalism undermine the quest for peaceful and collective resolution of global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, poverty, food crises, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation and grinding debt burden, among others.
The Nigerian leader told the world leaders that the United Nations stands for multilateralism which represents inclusiveness, anchored on the tripod of peace, sustainable development and human rights.
He expressed concerns about the main objectives of the UN and how it could sustain the global body’s relevance and resilience.
Tinubu said the pillars of the United Nations were at risk of being broken against the principles of inclusivity, equality and cooperation which it stands for.
“Today, these pillars of our organisation are threatened. They risk being broken by the relentless pursuit of individual national priorities rather than the collective needs of the nations that are assembled here today.
“While commitment to multilateralism offers us the surest guarantee of global action to address the existential challenges we face, singularity and nationalism are undermining the aspirations towards the peaceful and collective resolution of such challenges.
“From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyper-inflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations.
“The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part. Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict,” he said.
…Restates Nigeria’s commitment
The president reaffirmed Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to the deepening of multilateralism just as it did 65 years ago when it joined the United Nations as the 99th member-state.
“We remain committed to that “desire to remain friendly with all nations and participate actively in the works of the United Nations” as expressed by our founding Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,” he said.
President Tinubu also expressed concern over the return of unconstitutional changes of government and forceful military coups in some African countries, saying the coups attest to how fragile democracy could become when it is not supported by economic development and sustained peace and security.
He said the military interventions in Africa should be of utmost concern in deliberations at the high-level segments of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly as the forceful changes of government have led to “the impatience in cities and villages at the sometimes slow and grinding turn of the wheel of democracy.”
…Reforms in financial architecture