25th September, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan declared in New York on Wednesday that pressing challenges to global peace and security have made it imperative that urgent action be taken on the reformation of United Nations Security Council.
Jonathan made the statement at the special session of the 193-member UN General Assembly and called for an urgent review of United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world.
Jonathan told the annual gathering of global leaders that the 1965 reform needs to be revisited quickly. “Mr President, the failure of unanimity of action by the Security Council over pressing challenges to global peace and security in Syria, Iraq, the conflict in Ukraine and the renewed aggression between Israel and Palestine, have strengthened the case for the reform of the Security Council.
“Today’s challenges can only be resolved by a Security Council whose working methods engender transparency, inclusivity and common ownership through equitable representation of all regions in the decision making process of the council.
“It is imperative that we take advantage of 2015, which also marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 reform, to make concrete progress on the reform of the council.
“We call for a fast-tracked process, in line with the initiative of His Excellency John Ashe, President of the 68th General Assembly, for establishing a working Group on reform.
“Indeed, the Security Council requires the collective resolve of all member states to ensure that 2015 brings decisive progress,” he said.
He noted that although the UN was established about 70 years ago to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, the world had sadly continued to experience conflict and human suffering.
“Today’s terrorism is vicious and aimless. Its consequences are extremely agonising, marked by a tendency to annihilate victims, and completely destroy infrastructure and properties.
“The involvement of foreign fighters has remained a common feature of terrorist groups – whether Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Al Shaabab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the newly emerging Islamic State (IS).
“The new dimension introduced by IS to conquer territory and establish its destructive ideology, is a major challenge that must be collectively halted before it becomes the norm.
“This refocuses attention on the need to review present tools for UN peacekeeping operations,” Jonathan said.
He assured the gathering that the Federal Government would continue to do everything possible to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and curb the violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the countries and organizations that expressed solidarity with us, and have continued to support our determined efforts to free our daughters.
“Although it has been over three months since they were abducted, we have never relented in our efforts to set them safely free. Together with our partners, we are working assiduously to free our daughters and reunite them with their families.
“Let me underline today, that we shall not waiver until we end this mindless war on the innocent and bring all the perpetrators to justice. We will triumph over terrorism,” Jonathan stated.
On the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa, the president assured the UN that Nigeria was free of Ebola but added that the world must act in unison to stop the disease from becoming a global disaster.
“While Nigeria was able to respond effectively to control the spread of the disease, the situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone requires sustainable, collective global action to contain.
“Through the concerted efforts of our healthcare professionals, the World Health Organisation and our international partners, we have been able to contain the EVD and we can confidently say that Nigeria is today, Ebola-free.
“We have, however, continued to support efforts at containing the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
“It is pertinent to stress the need for the international community to properly appreciate the enormity of the EVD challenge.
“Indulging in isolationist and discriminatory tendencies will only worsen an already critical situation. To prevent the disease from becoming a global catastrophe, the UN must accord it the concerted effort it deserves,” Jonathan said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s belief in the indispensable role of the UN in the global bid to overcome the challenges of conflict, terrorism, climate change and economic development.
“We have been, and will remain a reliable and active partner, especially as we collectively work to resolve the new and emerging threats to global peace and security,” Jonathan said.