Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General |
Regarding the outcome of
the last general elections, he was full of praise for the exemplary
statesmanship demonstrated by both President Muhammadu Buhari and former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
In his words: “For the first time in Nigerian history, a sitting president
peacefully ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election. The
elections sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of
law.”
Indeed, Ban left no one in
doubt that Nigeria has also earned the respect of the global community. On the
raging counter-terrorism fight, he pledged UN’s support and expressed the hope
that the multinational task force would help defeat Boko Haram insurgency in the
country. However, he noted that addressing the underlying causes of insurgency
was of utmost importance and stressed the need to expand educational and
employment opportunities for young people.
The plight of the Chibok
girls also caught his attention. He bemoaned the unimaginable travails of the
abducted girls, the consequent truncation of their lives as well as the assault
on the psyche of parents and all Nigerians. He then called on their abductors
to free them unconditionally even as he urged the government to intensify
efforts to ensure their rescue.The UN scribe further
expressed his support for the ongoing policies of the Muhammadu Buhari
administration and correctly hinged on Nigeria’s shoulder the African
continent’s destiny. According to him, “when you change
Nigeria, you will also change Africa.”
The immense contribution of
Nigeria to UN peacekeeping operations globally was also a focus of his praise
as he acknowledged the stabilising role of Nigeria in the West African
sub-region and its current role as president of the UN Security Council.
Nigeria’s quest for change,
according to Ban, would benefit from the recent agreement by UN member-states
on the Sustainable Development Agenda (SDA) and the financing vehicle embedded
in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, a platform for financing development central
to implementing the SDA, the successor programme to the Millennium Development
Goal (MDG).
That visit has an obvious
lesson for Nigeria, namely, when a nation does right, the world takes note. And
there are benefits, tangible and intangible. The fairly good conduct of the
last general elections with a consequent transfer of power from a ruling party
to an opposition party without violence often associated with elections in many
parts of the continent, has truly won Nigeria global commendation. The country
must, therefore, harness the social capital of the moment coming from the
global community in the task of national development. Exemplary behaviour has
reward in the international system and Nigeria must not squander this
prevailing goodwill.
The country has a life-time
opportunity to build on the gains of the last election and stand as a beacon of
hope to the rest of the continent. Nigeria’s manifest destiny
is to lead the way for Africa. And it can only lead by example. It is important
to note that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in its interface with Mr. Ki-moon
sought the support of the UN and its agencies in its peer review processes.
This is good. But the governors, as leaders, should lead by example and ensure
active participation of the people in the governance process. A culture of good
governance must be enthroned to enhance the country’s present positive profile.
President Buhari should
also make the best of the UN scribe’s invitation to the General Assembly
meeting holding this month to sell the country to the world and tap from the
current reservoir of goodwill to attract development to the country. (Guardian)
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