UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has reiterated the call for the unconditional release of Chibok girls and so many other abducted girls and boys, whose names and fate remain unknown.
This was just as he assured of the world body’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda for change, as well as his administration’s effort to deal with insurgency in the North-East.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the president after their meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, he also praised former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for conducting a peaceful election and ceding power, which he said should be emulated by other countries in Africa.
The UN scribe, who was visiting the country for the second time, said he was in Nigeria to recognise such great achievements, greater stability and peace in this country under the leadership of President Buhari.
He said he congratulated him on his election, but more importantly, on the peaceful and credible elections carried out in the country, saying “I hope this example will be emulated by many countries around the world and that this message of hope could be spread far and wide.”
While noting that the country was at a moment of complex challenges, but also a time of promise and hope, he added: “I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful, free and fair elections.
“I salute the statesmanship and example of both President Buhari and Dr Jonathan. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, a sitting president peacefully ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election. The election sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law.
“President Buhari has embarked on an agenda for change and I commend him highly for prioritising insecurity, anti-corruption and unemployment issues.
“My message is simple: The UN supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way. I am convinced that when you change Nigeria, you also change Africa.”
Ban Ki-moon asserted that Nigeria had been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent being a key contributor to UN peace-keeping operations, including the successful missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
On the discussion held with Buhari, he said it covered a full range of issues, including development, human rights and peace and security, as well as the troubling levels of violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and beyond.
Expressing solidarity with Nigeria over the effect of terrorism and the UN’s preparedness to work with the country, he stated: “This week, will witness the 500th day of the kidnapping of the Chibok school girls.
“ It is intolerable that their lives and schooling has been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate.
“I once again call in the strongest possible terms on those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and the many other abducted children.”
He further observed: “Terrorism knows no bounds or boundaries. Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims.
“Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing this menace and in addressing these crimes. The president has led regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the Multinational Joint Task Force.
“In his inaugural speech, President Buhari eloquently recognised that human rights are an important part of the counter-insurgency response and that operations would be conducted with full respect for human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
“At the same time, we know that a military approach alone will not be sufficient.”
He revealed that he discussed with Buhari the efforts to address root causes by tackling socio-economic grievances in the North-East, in particular, the need to expand educational and employment opportunities for young people.
According to him, “the recent agreements by UN member states on a new sustainable development agenda and on the Addis Ababa action agenda will provide further financing vehicles to help Nigeria achieve its agenda for change.
“The humanitarian situation in the North-East is particularly worrying. We are working with partners on the ground to scale up humanitarian operations. I congratulate President Buhari on the efforts to protect and uphold the rights of displaced persons.”
In his remarks, President Buhari thanked his guest for his depth of appreciation of Nigeria’s problems, which he observed showed genuine interest of the international community to help the country.
He said: “We have discussed with him the difficulty time Nigeria finds itself; the destruction of infrastructure, especially in the North-East, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the over 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) that have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated and the efforts we think the UN Secretary-General can convey to the UN, so Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems that we have.”
Also, Ban Ki-moon has invited President Buhari to a meeting of world leaders in New York, which is expected to formulate a fresh plan of action against extremism.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Monday, Buhari had accepted the invitation to the meeting expected to be attended by other world leaders.
The statement said President Barack Obama and President Francois Hollande of France were expected to participate in the September 28 meeting, which would, among other things, deliberate on a new United Nations draft resolution on combating extremism worldwide.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the president after their meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, he also praised former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for conducting a peaceful election and ceding power, which he said should be emulated by other countries in Africa.
The UN scribe, who was visiting the country for the second time, said he was in Nigeria to recognise such great achievements, greater stability and peace in this country under the leadership of President Buhari.
He said he congratulated him on his election, but more importantly, on the peaceful and credible elections carried out in the country, saying “I hope this example will be emulated by many countries around the world and that this message of hope could be spread far and wide.”
While noting that the country was at a moment of complex challenges, but also a time of promise and hope, he added: “I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful, free and fair elections.
“I salute the statesmanship and example of both President Buhari and Dr Jonathan. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, a sitting president peacefully ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election. The election sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law.
“President Buhari has embarked on an agenda for change and I commend him highly for prioritising insecurity, anti-corruption and unemployment issues.
“My message is simple: The UN supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way. I am convinced that when you change Nigeria, you also change Africa.”
Ban Ki-moon asserted that Nigeria had been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent being a key contributor to UN peace-keeping operations, including the successful missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
On the discussion held with Buhari, he said it covered a full range of issues, including development, human rights and peace and security, as well as the troubling levels of violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria and beyond.
Expressing solidarity with Nigeria over the effect of terrorism and the UN’s preparedness to work with the country, he stated: “This week, will witness the 500th day of the kidnapping of the Chibok school girls.
“ It is intolerable that their lives and schooling has been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate.
“I once again call in the strongest possible terms on those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and the many other abducted children.”
He further observed: “Terrorism knows no bounds or boundaries. Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims.
“Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing this menace and in addressing these crimes. The president has led regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the Multinational Joint Task Force.
“In his inaugural speech, President Buhari eloquently recognised that human rights are an important part of the counter-insurgency response and that operations would be conducted with full respect for human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
“At the same time, we know that a military approach alone will not be sufficient.”
He revealed that he discussed with Buhari the efforts to address root causes by tackling socio-economic grievances in the North-East, in particular, the need to expand educational and employment opportunities for young people.
According to him, “the recent agreements by UN member states on a new sustainable development agenda and on the Addis Ababa action agenda will provide further financing vehicles to help Nigeria achieve its agenda for change.
“The humanitarian situation in the North-East is particularly worrying. We are working with partners on the ground to scale up humanitarian operations. I congratulate President Buhari on the efforts to protect and uphold the rights of displaced persons.”
In his remarks, President Buhari thanked his guest for his depth of appreciation of Nigeria’s problems, which he observed showed genuine interest of the international community to help the country.
He said: “We have discussed with him the difficulty time Nigeria finds itself; the destruction of infrastructure, especially in the North-East, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the over 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) that have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated and the efforts we think the UN Secretary-General can convey to the UN, so Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems that we have.”
Also, Ban Ki-moon has invited President Buhari to a meeting of world leaders in New York, which is expected to formulate a fresh plan of action against extremism.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Monday, Buhari had accepted the invitation to the meeting expected to be attended by other world leaders.
The statement said President Barack Obama and President Francois Hollande of France were expected to participate in the September 28 meeting, which would, among other things, deliberate on a new United Nations draft resolution on combating extremism worldwide.
It said: “Mr Ban Ki-moon also invited President Buhari to a meeting of a select group of 25 world leaders in New York, on September 27, to deliberate on a global climate change agreement.
“In offering the invitations on Monday, in Abuja, the Secretary-General said they were in recognition of the political will demonstrated by President Buhari in combating terror in Nigeria and dealing with environmental issues.”
He said the UN would welcome Buhari’s “input and experience” in finalising plans to introduce a new resolution against extremism at the General Assembly.
The statement noted that Ban Ki-moon applauded moves by the Buhari-led administration to clean up Ogoniland and promised the full support of the UN for the exercise.
It quoted the UN scribe as saying: “We will find ways to complement your leadership on environmental reform. We are happy with your plans for the restoration of Ogoniland and we will see how we can help.”
“In offering the invitations on Monday, in Abuja, the Secretary-General said they were in recognition of the political will demonstrated by President Buhari in combating terror in Nigeria and dealing with environmental issues.”
He said the UN would welcome Buhari’s “input and experience” in finalising plans to introduce a new resolution against extremism at the General Assembly.
The statement noted that Ban Ki-moon applauded moves by the Buhari-led administration to clean up Ogoniland and promised the full support of the UN for the exercise.
It quoted the UN scribe as saying: “We will find ways to complement your leadership on environmental reform. We are happy with your plans for the restoration of Ogoniland and we will see how we can help.”
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