President Bola Tinubu has called on world leaders to affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people, saying military coups are wrong.
Tinubu said this in his inaugural statement at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, United States, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
The president said: “Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice. The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups.
“It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems. Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders.
“As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region.
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“I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.”
Tinubu, however, told the leaders of Nigeria’s accord with the objectives and guiding principles of the world body – peace, security, human rights, and development.
He stated: “In fundamental ways, nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources, and creative and industrious people.
“Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.
“To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end.
“The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must end. The will of the people must be respected. This beautiful, generous, and forgiving planet must be protected.
“As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron and we do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones.
“We hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances. We desire a prosperous, vibrant democratic living space for our people.
“To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”
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