OUR FAITH IN DEMOCRACY REMAINS UNSHAKEN – PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS THE WORLD

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the international community of
Nigeria’s firm and unshaken commitment to democracy in the country and the
African continent.
Delivering Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate of the
72nd Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72) in New York,
Tuesday, the President said this commitment to democratic ideals became
profound with Nigeria leading ECOWAS’ effort in the restoration of
democratic governance in The Gambia and Cote D’Ivoire.
“Our faith in democracy remains firm and unshaken. Our regional
organisation ECOWAS came together to uphold democratic principles in The
Gambia – as we had done previously in Cote D’Ivoire,” he said.
According to President Buhari, “The frontiers of good governance,
democracy including holding free and fair elections, and enthronement of
the rule of law are expanding everywhere, especially in Africa.”
He also noted that “Through our individual national efforts, state
institutions are being strengthened to promote accountability, and to
combat corruption and asset recovery,” stressing that “These can only be
achieved through the international community cooperating and providing
critical assistance and material support.”
The President commended the UN, Germany, Italy, Greece and Turkey for
assisting victims of conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the
international community for its exemplary show of solidarity in assisting
“the countries and communities in the Sahel and the Lake Chad regions to
contain the threats posed by Al Qaida and Boko Haram. We thank the
Security Council for visiting the countries of the Lake Chad Basin to
assess the security situation and humanitarian needs, and for pledging
assistance to rebuild lives and livelihoods.”
He said Nigeria is currently “providing relief and humanitarian assistance
to millions in internally displaced camps and those afflicted by
terrorism, drought, floods and other natural disasters.”
President Buhari called for the sustenance of international collaborative
efforts in fighting international terrorism.
“We must collectively devise strategies and mobilise the required
responses to stop fleeing ISIS fighters from mutating and infiltrating
into the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where there are insufficient
resources and response capacity is weak,” he said.
According to him, “This will require strong UN cooperation with regional
organisations, such as the African Union, in conflict prevention and
management. The UN should continue to take primary leadership of the
maintenance of international peace and security by providing, in a
predictable and sustainable manner, adequate funding and other enablers to
regional initiatives and peacekeeping operations authorized by the
Security Council.”
The Nigerian leader, who described the choice of theme for UNGA 72:
Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and Decent Life for All on a
Sustainable Planet” as timely and appropriate, drew global attention to
issues and crises which impact negatively on the people, the most
vulnerable being children and women, and urged concerted international
solutions.
“The international community cannot remain silent and not condemn the
horrendous suffering caused by what, from all indications is a
state-backed programme of brutal depopulation of the Rohingya inhabited
areas in Myanmar on the bases of ethnicity and religion. We fully endorse
the call by the Secretary-General on the Government of Myanmar to order a
halt to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and ensure the safe return of the
displaced Rohingya to their homes in safety and dignity,” he said.
President Buhari also stated Nigeria’s position on the current threat to
global peace and security posed by North Korea’s nuclear programme.
According to him, “The most pressing threat to international peace and
security today is the accelerated nuclear weapons development programme by
North Korea. Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so
close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now.
“All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on
North Korea to accept peaceful resolution of the crisis.  As Hiroshima and
Nagasaki painfully remind us, if we fail, the catastrophic and devastating
human loss and environmental degradation cannot be imagined.
“Nigeria proposes a strong UN delegation to urgently engage the North
Korean Leader. The delegation, led by the Security Council, should include
members from all the regions.”
The President adds that, “The crisis in the Korean peninsula underscores
the urgency for all member states, guided by the spirit of enthroning a
safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the Treaty
prohibiting nuclear weapons, which will be open for signature here
tomorrow.”
He also underscored Nigeria’s readiness to cooperate in addressing the
growing transnational crimes such as forced labour, modern day slavery,
human trafficking and cybercrime.
He cautioned that: “New conflicts should not make us lose focus on ongoing
unresolved old conflicts. For example, several UN Security Council
Resolutions from 1967 on the Middle East crisis remain unimplemented.
Meanwhile, the suffering of the Palestinian people and the blockade of
Gaza continue.”