Buhari to address world leaders at UN
President Muhammadu Buhari will address world leaders at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, the trip is at the instance of Ban Ki Moon, UN secretary-general, who “personally” invited Buhari during his recent visit to Nigeria.
“President Buhari will be accompanied by the governors of Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States, the national security adviser and the permanent secretaries in the federal ministries of foreign affairs, defence, finance, health, industry, trade and investment, will deliver Nigeria’s statement to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, September 28,” Adesina said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“Also on the president busy schedule in New York are a meeting of the African Union’s peace and security council, a high-level roundtable on south-south cooperation organised by President Xi Jinping of China and the United Nations, and participation in the launching of an updated global health strategy for women and children.
“On the agenda of President Buhari’s talks, deliberations and interactions with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, President Barack Obama of the United States, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Vladmir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India and others will be domestic developmental issues, bilateral relations, the war against terrorism, countering violent extremism, the enhancement of global security, peace-keeping operations, climate change and the adoption of a post 2015 global development agenda,”
“On President Buhari’s schedule too are meetings with former President Bill Clinton of the United States, Mr Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is assisting Nigeria in several areas including polio eradication, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education who is one of the main drivers of the Safe Schools Initiative.”
I think that the President needs support,assistance and protection by Nigerians and other countries in order to ensure successful fight against corruption and security. These tasks also require efficient and effective coordinated efforts by Nigerians and international community, so the call by President Buhari on the global community for support and assistance is commendable, for he cannot do it alone.
The fight against corruption is a dangerous course there is no doubt about that. The
main big looters and the subsidiaries require different strategies. This fight obstructs some peoples income and life style and they are not happy about it. The impact of the fight on other lower forms of crimes in Nigeria and internationally should not be ignored.
The government would have to provide alternatives for those engaged in these criminal activities, provide them with a new sense of direction, by creating institutions to engage people in form of academic and practical education.
There is the issue of producing children without providing adequate foundation for them; increased population of illiterates is also a contributory factor to some of these problems facing Nigeria. More people need to be exposed to quality education and wise management of social activities to help control birth.
Nigerians love the idea of having many children. If these children are engaged in education and given the right guidance, fine. The fact is, this is not the case with some people. This issue is often dismissed in African community, but it is a problem that needs to be addressed. The President has more huge tasks to be addressed besides corruption and national security.
President Buhari needs support, assistance and protection by all to attempt at improving on the problems Nigeria is facing at the moment.
We need to be united and selfless, at peace with each other, and free to contribute positively towards progress.