GEOPOLITICS: Nigeria President Tinubu breezes
…new African air at UNGA earns plaudits
By Amb. Anthony Mukwita-23.09.23
“Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
In August 2023, H.E Tinubu assumed office as the new President of the federation of Nigeria, Africa´s most populous nation and largest economy on the continent.
For those interested in geopolitics and continental economy, H.E Tinubu was not a stranger, as a heavy hitter valued at billions of dollars in personal wealth from long years of hard work but then that was just about because there are many billionaires in Nigeria.
Last week, however, the world came to get a sneak peak about the new Nigerian leader as he made his debut entry at the UNGA and attracted good positive vibes at the global club in New York.
As an international relations pundit, I keenly follow what African leaders say at international fora, especially if they are as big as H.E Tinubu because when Nigeria coughs, Africa is likely to catch a cold.
I was impressed to note that even as ´a first timer at the UNGA,´ (not in public life and wealth) President Tinubu came out with guns blazing in international diplomacy when he said below to the UNGA:
FOCUS ON BROKEN PROMISES BY THE CONTINENT/GLOBE
“Many proclamations have been made, yet our troubles (as a people) remain close at hand. Failures in good governance have hindered Africa. But broken promises, unfair treatment, and outright exploitation from abroad have also exacted a heavy toll on our ability to progress,” President Tinubu said.
APPRECIATING THE PAST; LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
President Tinubu, a keen follower of history made the following observations he shared with UNGA colleagues:
“In the aftermath of the Second World War, nations gathered to rebuild their war- torn societies. A new global system was brought in…”
But feels that more needs to be done to establish a greater and better geopolitical world and a ´strong Africa. ´
“What we seek is an equally firm commitment to partnership. We seek enhanced international cooperation with African nations to achieve the 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
PRESIDENT TINUBU´S MAJOR TAKES AT UNGA
The newly elected President of Nigeria said, first, “if this year’s theme is to have any impact at all, global institutions, other nations and their private sector actors must see African development as a priority, not just for Africa but in their interests as well.”
“To foster economic growth and investor confidence in Nigeria, I removed the costly and corrupt fuel subsidy while also discarding a noxious exchange rate system in my first days in office. Other growth and job-oriented reforms are in the wings.
“We welcome partnerships with those who do not mind seeing Nigeria and Africa assume larger roles in the global community.
“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner.”
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE VITAL
“We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice,” said the President.
REGIONAL CONFLICTS TINUBU SPEAKS AS ECOWAS CHIEF
“Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region.”
He laments, “our entire region is locked in protracted battle against violent extremists. In the turmoil, a dark channel of inhumane commerce has formed. Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women, and children are seen as chattel.
President Tinubu sincerely hopes, “African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations.”
SECURING AFRICA´S MINERAL WEALTH VITAL TINUBU
President Tinubu resents Africa´s mineral exploitation and wants, “to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict.”
Concerned that the Congo “have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.”
H.E Tinubu says, “the mayhem visited on resource rich areas in Africa does not respect national boundaries. Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, CAR, the list grows.
The problems also knocks Nigeria’s door.”
The President told UNGA he seeks an end to, “this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.”
President Tinubu laments, “deaths at home due to climate change, I also lament the grave loss of life in Morocco and Libya. The Nigerian people are with you.”
On a positive note, he observed that in fundamental ways, “nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources, and creative and industrious people. Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.”
“As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron. We do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones,” the President decreed.
Instead, we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances.
Profoundly he said, “Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”
President Tinubu´s full speech is available on the UN WEB Tv site and link.
You can access more geopolitical material similar to this from my new book ´China in Africa the Zambia story´ available on Amazon and all local bookstores.
This is my personal reflection of the UN presentation and not by any means an official version