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- President Bola Tinubu has joined global powers in urging the recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it the “most dignified path” to peace
- Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Tinubu criticised the body’s slow response to global crises and demanded sweeping institutional reforms
- Nigeria also renewed its call for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, positioning itself as a voice for the Global South
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday aligned Nigeria with a growing coalition of nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, calling for the formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
His remarks, delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, underscored Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution as “the most dignified path” to resolving the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Source: Twitter
Tinubu’s position placed Nigeria alongside key Western powers advocating for Palestinian statehood, despite opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
The PUNCH reported that both leaders have rejected calls for recognition, with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron expressing divergent views during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Assembly.
Tinubu criticises UN over Middle East crisis
In his address, Tinubu condemned the United Nations’ handling of humanitarian crises in the Middle East and beyond, describing the global body’s inaction as “stains on our collective humanity.” He stated: “We say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”
He continued: “The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.”
His comments echoed growing frustration among member states over the UN’s slow, veto-bound response to global emergencies, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Many countries in the Global South have voiced concerns that the UN is increasingly unable to protect civilians or hold aggressors accountable.
Nigeria demands permanent UN Security Council seat
President Tinubu used the platform to call for sweeping institutional reforms, beginning with Nigeria’s demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He argued that the UN must evolve to reflect contemporary global realities, stating: “The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s transformation from “a colony of 20 million people, absent from the tables where decisions about our fate were taken” to “a sovereign nation of over 236 million, projected to be the third most populous country in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic populations on earth.”
Tinubu also criticised the stagnation of reform debates, referencing Africa’s Ezulwini Consensus, which calls for two permanent seats for the continent, and the broader push by India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany to expand membership and limit veto power.
UN credibility questioned amid global crises
The Nigerian leader warned that the UN’s credibility is at risk due to the widening gap between its rhetoric and its actions.
“For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress on these hardy perennials of the UN General Assembly debate has led some to look away from the multilateral model,” he said.
Tinubu lamented the shift in global attention away from the Assembly, noting:
“Some years ago, I noticed a shift at this gathering: key events were beginning to take place outside this hall, and the most sought-after voices were no longer heads of state.”
He concluded by expressing deep frustration with the lack of progress on critical global issues, including nuclear disarmament, arms proliferation, and equitable access to trade and finance. “These are stains on our collective humanity,” he stated.
Source: Twitter
Britain recognises Palestinian state
Legit.ng earlier reported that Britain formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday, citing Israel’s failure to meet conditions including a ceasefire in the nearly two-year-old Gaza war.
The announcement, made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signalled a significant shift in UK foreign policy and carried symbolic weight given Britain’s historic role in the creation of modern Israel following World War Two.
Source: Legit.ng
