NIGERIA WOOING CARIBBEAN SUPPORT FOR THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT

President Obasanjo and Prime Minister Patrick Manning in a diplomatic embrace

Nigeria deserves to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Because of her pivotal role in the leadership of Africa in the UN and in her commitment to the regional security and stable economy of Sub -Saharan Africa in peace keeping operations, technical manpower development, energy and food security in West Africa. The fact is, Nigeria is a regional power in the geo-political map of the world. In fact, Nigeria will be of immense benefit to the UN Security Council in the strategic imperatives for the implementation of the UN resolutions for global peace. Therefore, Nigeria does not need to lobby for this position. Because, it is even long over due for Nigeria to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. It is not a contest. It is our right.

We believe that Nigeria and Egypt deserve the two new permanent seats earmarked for Africa on the United Nations Security Council.

Nigeria wooing Caribbean support

for UN Security Council seat

AP Sunday, July 31, 2005

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo appealed Saturday for Caribbean support for his country's bid to win a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.Obasanjo urged Trinidad to lobby other members of the 15-nation Caribbean Community to support Nigeria.


"We also hope that you will prevail on other members of the Caricom to see the advantage of having a country like Nigeria on the Security Council," Obasanjo said, during a speech in Trinidad's Parliament.

The Nigerian premier heads to Jamaica Monday to make a similar pitch. He last visited Kingston in 2002, just ahead of the general election that returned the PJ Patterson-led administration to office.The Security Council currently has 15 members, 10 elected for two-year terms and five permanent members.
Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have proposed a 25-member council, adding six permanent seats without a veto and four nonpermanent seats.

The so-called Group of Four is hoping to win four of the permanent seats with the other two earmarked for Africa.South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt are the leading African contenders.Caricom announced its support for the plan at a summit last month.