By: Fassy

Fassy — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 20:22:47 +0000

he news is all over the place now that the United Nations General Assembly elected Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms, beginning on January 1, 2014.
The five countries obtained the required two-thirds majority of
those member states present and voting in the 193-member
Assembly.
Elected in one round of secret balloting, they will replace
Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo, whose terms
would conclude at the end of the year.
The five permanent council members, which each wield the power
of veto, are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
Non-permanent members, Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the
Republic of Korea and Rwanda would remain on the council until
the end of 2014.
Under the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council has
primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
and security, and all member states are obligated to comply with
its decisions.
In addition, the council takes the lead in determining the existence
of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls on the parties
to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends
methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.
In some cases, it can resort to imposing sanctions or even
authorise the use of force to maintain or restore international
peace and security.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Joanthan has welcomed Nigeria’s
election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security
Council.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President, Dr
Reuben Abati, in Abuja, President Jonathan appreciated the
support of all member-countries of the United Nations, who vot
for Nigeria’s election to the council.
The president said the endorsement of Nigeria’s candidacy by the
vast majority of member-countries was a glowing expression of
support and encouragement for Nigeria’s active participation in
the promotion of peace, security and political stability in Africa
and other parts of the world.
The statement recalled that since Nigeria became independent in
1960, Thursday’s election would be the fourth time the country
had been so elected to the council.
It was also the second time (2010-2011 and 2014-2015) that
Nigeria would be elected to the council under the Jonathan
presidency.
Also, diplomats and members of the academia hailed Nigeria’s
election to the council for 2014 to 2015.
Professor Saleh Dauda, an international relations expert,
described the election as a reflection of Nigeria’s return to the
world stage as a regional power in Africa.
Dauda, a professor of political science and international relations
at the University of Abuja, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
that he expected the country to use the opportunity to contribute
more to international peace and security.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Mogaji
Mohammed, said the election would enhance Nigeria’s credibility.
Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Honourable
Nnenna Ukeje, said the election would spur Nigeria’s bid for a
permanent seat in the council.

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By: Fassy