In the early hours of Thursday, President Bola Tinubu gave his opening speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), urging world leaders to better serve African nations in global affairs.
President Tinubu ascended the podium on the first day of the 78th UN General Assembly and emphasised five crucial themes for attention worldwide. The first was the significance of a developed Africa to the world, followed by the need for democratic governance to put an end to military coups on the continent, the protracted conflict with violent extremists in the area, the need for international cooperation and trust to protect the continent’s mineral-rich regions from looting and conflict, and finally the catastrophic effects of climate change on Nigeria and other African nations.
President Tinubu affirmed democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people in response to the wave of military incursions into African governance.
Military coups, he argued, are bad, as is any skewed civilian democratic system that upholds injustice, but everyone needs to confront the causes of political and economic instability.
“The wave that is sweeping through parts of Africa does not show favour for coups,” he remarked. It is a call for answers to age-old issues. We are negotiating with the military authorities over Niger. As ECOWAS Chairman, I want to assist in re-establishing democratic administration in a way that addresses the political and economic difficulties the country is currently facing, especially the violent extremists who want to sow unrest in our area. I extend a friendly hand to everyone who sincerely supports this mission.
“This takes me to my following important point. Violent extremists are engaged in a drawn-out conflict throughout our entire region. An evil trade route for inhumane goods has emerged in the chaos. Everything along the way is for sale. Children, women, and men are viewed as chattel. Yet thousands of people peril their lives by crossing the Mediterranean and the Sahara in search of a better life.
“At the same time, mercenaries and extremists from the north are invading our territory with their deadly weapons and evil ideals. The peace and stability of the entire region are threatened by this destructive traffic. African nations will strengthen their economy so that their citizens won’t have to put their lives in danger to clean the streets and floors of other countries. We will work hard to dissolve extremist organisations that operate on our territory. The international community must increase its commitment to stop the influx of weapons and violent people into West Africa in order to fully contain this menace.
Speaking about the economy of Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, and its delicate balance, President Tinubu drew attention to the long-standing internal and external factors that have distorted the continent’s economic structures and prevented growth, industrial expansion, the creation of jobs, and the equitable distribution of wealth.
“We must create jobs and instill hope in a better future for our people if Nigeria is to fulfil its obligation to its citizens and the rest of Africa. We also need to set an example, he continued.
Citing bold actions done since taking office in May of this year, he said: “In my first days in office, I abolished a poisonous exchange rate system and withdrew the expensive and corrupt fuel subsidy as part of measures to boost economic growth and investor confidence in Nigeria. There are more growth- and employment-focused policies in the works.
“I am aware of the temporary suffering that reform can bring. To construct the economy that our people deserve, it is vital to go through this period in order to lay the groundwork for long-lasting growth and investment.
“We welcome collaborations with anyone that support Nigeria and Africa playing bigger parts in the international world. Nigeria is not open for business, that is not the question. How much of the world is actually willing to conduct business with Nigeria and Africa in a way that is fair and profitable to both parties? Important elements of the cooperation we seek include direct investment in crucial industries, opening their ports to a wider variety and greater quantity of African exports, and real debt reduction.
The president lamented the continuous exploitation of the continent’s mineral wealth, which he said stoked violence in the area. President Tinubu urged Member States to band together to reverse the trend, noting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had been exploited for years despite a significant UN presence there.
“The global economy owes the DRC a lot but only gives her a little.” There is little respect for national boundaries in the mayhem committed in resource-rich areas. The list includes Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and CAR. The issues also ring in Nigeria. Thousands of individuals have been conscripted into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources, with the assistance of foreign entities and local criminals with ambitions to become petty warlords. Billions of cash intended to improve the country are now used to finance violent activities. They pose a serious threat to national security and the peace if left uncontrolled.
Members must respond by cooperating with us to stop their companies and citizens from plundering the continent’s wealth in the twenty-first century.As I draw to a close, allow me to reiterate that Nigeria’s goals are consistent with the founding ideals of this international organisation: peace, security, human rights, and development. The poverty of nations must end in order to uphold the principles of this global organisation and the theme of this year’s Assembly. It must stop when businesses and individuals from stronger countries overstep their bounds and plunder a nation’s riches. It is important to respect the will of the people. We must safeguard this lovely, loving, and forgiving world.
Regarding Africa, we aim to be neither an adjunct nor a patron. We don’t want to put new chains on top of the old ones. Instead, we desire to be free from the wrongs of the past and their accompanying burdens, walking the fertile African soil and living beneath the gorgeous African sky. For our people, we want a prosperous, thriving, and democratic society.
“Walk with us as sincere friends and partners, I say to the rest of the world. Africa is neither an issue to be avoided nor a cause for sympathy. Africa is unquestionably the key to the future of the planet.
Although the opening address is referred to as a “debate,” it is essentially a series of 15-minute remarks by world leaders on subjects of their choosing. Because speakers can address any subject they choose, the General Debate is one of the most eagerly awaited and watched events on the UN calendar.
The event is outlined by a broad subject each year. “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity” is the topic for this year. The subject calls on international leaders to take into account the UN’s 2030 agenda, which includes the completion date for its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encourages “accelerating action” in order to advance “peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres began the discussion by painting a rather bleak image of the situation of the globe. In Derna, Libya, where terrible flooding last month claimed more than 10,000 lives, he referred to the locals as “victims of conflict, victims of climate chaos, and victims of world leaders who are not doing enough.”
“The world is in a mess when it comes to conflict, poverty, and inequality, but the world isn’t coming together,” he declared. The assembly of world leaders has split into many groups. A depressing glimpse of the state of the globe is the scenario in Libya. The tragedy in Libya is a deluge of injustice, unfairness, and our incapacity to address the problems we face.
President of the United States Joe Biden expressed support for the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in his speech as they work to thwart recent coups in Niger and Gabon.
“We won’t renounce the principles that give us our strength. Our best weapon against the challenges we confront globally is democracy, which we will protect.
He emphasised once more that only Russia has the power to put an end to the fighting in Ukraine. Additionally, the American president reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to helping Ukraine resist Russian incursion.
“Russia firmly believes that the world will tyre of its antics and permit it to brutally oppress Ukraine without repercussion. Is the independence of any country guaranteed if we let the division of Ukraine?
“Can any member state in this organisation feel confidence that they are protected if we sacrifice the fundamental tenets of the United Nations to placate an aggressor? Is the independence of any country guaranteed if you allow Ukraine to be divided? Biden enquired. “I humbly submit that the response is “no.”
