Date Published: 09/05/09

Security Council Seat: Bankole solicits French Parliament support

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Sabur Bankole yesterday solicited the support of the French Parliament for the Nigeria quest for a seat in the UN Security Council.

Speaker Bankole who spoke during a courtesy call on him by a delegation of French Senate also urged France to provide technical assistance especially as regards budget-tracking and investigation to the National Assembly by bringing to bear its age-long experience of democracy in the area of capacity building not only to members but also to the bureaucracy.

The Speaker in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr.. Idowu Bakare said Nigeria’s role in peace-keeping operations in Africa as well as intercontinental level positioned her as the best choice in the consideration for the UN seat.

“We believe that the world would be more secured with the larger United Nation Security Council, and therefore we seek the support of France to support our nation in taking that seat, Bankole said, adding that the country’s role in conflict resolution and peace-keeping at the regional, continental and global levels can indeed by enhanced through the prospect membership of the UN Security Council.

The Speaker noted further that the country has by far the largest contingent of peace-keeping military operatives all over the world and that such recognition must be made and be compensated in the appointment into the Council.

He said the idea of French-West African Parliament as canvassed by the delegation was good but that a Nigeria-French Partnership is more desirable as that would engender closeness that would support France investment in Nigeria and also bring about more Nigerian investment in France.

Similarly, Speaker Bankole called on the French parliament to provide technical support to the Nigerian parliament in the area of capacity building to members and staff alike.

He said there was need for institutional capacity for the legislature in Nigeria especially given the fact that less than 20 percent of parliamentarians returned to their seats in elections in the last 10 years of democracy. 

Earlier speaking, the Chairman of the French Senate Committee on Culture, Education and Communication and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Friendship between France and West Africa, Senator Jacques Legendre who was the leader of the delegation urged for cooperation between the two parliaments.

Senator Legendre said Nigeria occupies a very important position Africa adding that such partnership would help to provide solution to global challenges.