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Nigeria’s Un Permanent Seat Bid And The Tsunami Gyration Gang By Sokore Collins E. The United Nations was formed as a result of the failure of the League of Nations to peaceably bring all nations of the world together. It was imperative that the super “eco-military” powers of the world ensure that a cruel and monstrous carnage like the Second World War never happens in future. The UN was thus formed to foster development and peace in a turbulent world. With its headquarters in New York- the icon of world freedom, the UN has evolved from a mere conference in 1945 to the world ombudsman in the 21st century. Though it is erroneously believed that it reflects the American world policy, the UN has successfully played vital roles in the economic and socio-political development of all nations through its organs such as the UNHCR, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP and WHO etc. It was thus a welcomed development to restructure the organization which originally has five permanent members- US, France, China, Russia and UK with veto powers in the security council. With this formation, the UN is quite ineffective in the representation of the divergent worldviews. That is why the two permanent seats though with no veto powers, that have being proposed to the Africa continent are quite expected. Accordingly, Nigeria, which is the most populous Black Country in the world, has signified its desire to claim one of the two seats. That itself is a legitimate and moral right. However, the manner in which Nigeria is going about the clamour is questionable. It is on record that since the inception of this government, Nigeria had launched a number of bids: world cup 2010; CHOGM; Commonwealth games 2012, All Africa games; ADB presidency, site of Africa Nuclear energy etc. Though some untimely and insensitive, Nigeria won and successfully hosted few of the programmes at a huge price. However, the UN bid is an agenda that even “unpatriotic Nigerians” would agree is the most progressive and justified bid we have made as a Nation. The concern of most Nigerians, is that this self imposed government and the ruling peoples democratic party should not bungle this one in a century opportunity. Quite candidly, the entourage to Ghana for a supposedly promotion of Nigeria’s bid was a misplaced publicity and a grand display of our impetuosity. The bid is not Obasanjo’s and as such a team of Peter Odili, Adamu Abdullahi, Austin Opara and some thingumabobs was a sore on the dressing. After all, that face had contested at that level in similar circumstance and lost woefully. It is obviously not a PDP affair where “Ghana must go” changes hand, APGA is manoeuvered and ANPP decimated to determine outcome of elections. Furthermore, faces such as Chinua Achebe, our noble laurette – Wole Soyinka, Sulu Gambari, Abdusalim Abubakar, and Martin Luther Agwai must be given prominent roles. We should proudly call people like Phillip Emeagwali, Prof Nnaji Nigerian Americans as the Jews and Irish does in diplomatic circles and tap into their numerous contact. Quota system and federal character must be discountenanced and our best diplomats deployed into the field to promote the bid with alacrity. If not properly managed, we shall soon hear our bid promoters boasting in diplomatic circles that Nigeria’s credential and strength include: tenacity of Obasanjo in clinching debt relief from the Paris club; Nigerians as the happiest people on earth; most religious nation; country with the highest population of military ex-generals; medallist in the race for most corrupt country; and possibly fastest growing telecommunication country. What an interesting list. Future generations of Nigerians will not forgive us if they read that in a contest in which other contenders were Angola, Senegal, Gambia, Libya, South Africa and Egypt, we could not shine. It is alleged that Brazil and India that belong to the league of populous emerging third world nations, have being assured their permanent seat in the UN security council. Owing to myopic ideology prevalent in Nigeria: that population is always an over riding factor, not minding the quality of the population, Nigerians were rudely shocked to hear that little Gambia whose population and size is not up to the Delta state South senatorial district has signified her intention to vie for one of the UN permanent seat zoned to Africa-truly a Nigeria’s crown. It is ironic that the military that we have severally vilified and castigated is the foundation of our best credential- peace keeping missions in ECOWAS, Darfur, and Yugoslavia. Howbeit, the most precious benefit that the ordinary Nigerian would derive if Nigeria gets the seat is that the military will never overthrow a democratically elected government and take control of power in Nigeria. More than NEEDS, which a ministerial nominee and former ambassador in this government could not define, socio-economic reforms tailored to benefit wives and families; make friends and accomplice overnight billionaires; electoral reforms initiated to disenfranchise electorates, the UN permanent seat in the Security Council would greatly transform all facets of our national development. The pride and prestige that would come from Nigeria being a permanent member of the Security Council would make our elections highly about brains and not bucks. People with questionable antecedents would no longer aspire to leadership positions because of the backlash that will come from such an action. The implication is that Nigeria would constantly be on spotlight. And with this, comes the onerous responsibility of performance driven society where citizens must not be the wife and son of the chairman of the ruling party to be appointed the chairman and member respectively of boards of public agencies and parastatals.
Sokore Collins E Warri, Nigeria.
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