Nigeria intensifies bid for UN Security Council as election holds Thursday

• Restates call for UN reforms • The Gambia withdraws NIGERIA’S bid for the non-permanent seat of the United Nations (UN) Security Council brightened Wednesday as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and Nigerian Permanent Representative Mission received assurances of member-states. The election holds Thursday. But the Nigerian delegation to the UN intensified campaigns despite the withdrawal of The Gambia, another African contestant for the council, in support of Abuja’s bid. As at Wednesday evening, Onwuliri and Nigeria’s delegation to UN were still reaching out to foreign ministers and envoys of other countries despite past assurances from them. The minister disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan has also been supportive by reaching out to other head of states. On why Nigeria took the strategy, the minister said the country could not afford to be complacent because of its past and current contributions to international peace, security and democracy or owing to withdrawal of The Gambia. According to her, in international diplomacy, there is no permanent friend and no permanent enemy. Hence, all nations must continue to count on support of old friends while making new ones. Aside the minister’s campaigns, Nigerian Permanent Representative, Prof. Joy Ogwu also recently organised a reception during Nigeria’s independence anniversary for other permanent representatives to UN to drum support for the country’s bid. However, while saying that the election of Nigeria to the non-permanent seat today is the preoccupation of the Federal Government, she also renewed the President’s call for reforms in the UN in line with the global drive for democratisation. Nigeria and The Gambia formally presented their bids to the African Union (AU) Assembly of heads of state and government during the continental body’s 21st Ordinary Session. The occasion coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity and AU, which had a special theme: “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.” Even as the Nigeria ordinarily looks poised to sit at the Security Council chamber, there are hurdles which the country must surmount in order to have a successful outing. It must win the required votes of member-states even if there is no opposition from the continent. In accordance with UN’s internal administrative arrangement, five of the 15 members of the UNSC are elected each year. Africa has three members. The two-year term of Morocco and Togo ends in December this year. Rwanda was elected last year and its term will expire on December 31, 2014. The two vacant positions are those currently being occupied by Morocco and Togo. Nigeria wants one of the seats and therefore seeks the endorsement of the 54 members of AU.