UN Law Commission seat, victory for Nigeria
The election of Nigeria's justice minister Bayo Ojo into the UN Law Commission, has been described as a ``major victory'' for Nigeria.
``The battle was not easy with many people bent on keeping us as a pariah nation.
“Honestly, we are not celebrating it enough,'' Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmad, permanent secretary in the foreign affairs ministry said at the weekend.
Baba-Ahmad who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, decried a situation where government's efforts to improve the nation's image was being bruised by few individuals.
``They will write to all sorts of organisations and say we are not a democracy and that we are guilty of human rights abuses. All kinds of things.
“It is just sad,'' he said. Baba-Ahmad had special commendations for Nigeria's permanent representative in the UN, Alhaji Aminu Wali.
``I must specially comment Wali for his untiring efforts that secured the seat for Nigeria. He demonstrated a good patriotic zeal worthy of emulation,'' he said.
The permanent secretary, said the vigour that secured the UN seat was a testimony to Nigeria's resolve to secure whatever belongs to her in the international arena.
``That is the way we have decided to do it. No matter how small an office is, once Nigeria is involved, all hands must be on deck.
``It is also useful to see Ojo's victory as victory for all, just as his failure would have been a collective failure,'' he stated.
He said that Nigeria with her size and population should have no failure or boundary for success in any bid for any international position.
``All we require is the will to do it. We can always achieve,'' he declared.
He also spoke on Nigeria's bid for the UN Security Council seat, and declared that the country was most qualified for the African slot.
``Whatever index you may want to use, Nigeria should pick the seat. With all due respect to whatever countries that might be interested, I can say that it is inconceivable for Nigeria to miss it.''
Other countries interested in the UN Security Council seat include Egypt, South Africa, Senegal and Ghana.