Nigeria deserves UN Security Council seat, Jonathan tells world leaders

• U.S. plans hearing on Boko Haram menace
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday in New York made a strong case for Nigeria’s election to the United Nations Security Council. He also restated his earlier position for the democratization of all aspects of the United Nations.
   Addressing the world leaders and other delegates at the opening of the 68th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, President Jonathan declared that Nigeria’s commendable performance on previous occasions when it held a non-permanent seat on the security council should assure the global community that the country deserves to be elected to the Council again for the 2014-2015 session.
   “Our support for the United Nations Security Council in its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been total and unwavering.
   “We have, in previous membership of the Council, demonstrated both the political will and capacity to engage in key Council responsibilities. I’m pleased to state that Nigeria has received the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). We, therefore, urge this august Assembly to endorse Nigeria’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council,” President Jonathan said in his address to the General Assembly.
   He also called for faster action towards the democratisation of the Security Council, saying Nigeria and other developing countries were concerned about the lack of progress in the reformation of the United Nations.
   “I believe that I express the concern of many about the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. We believe strongly that the call for democratization worldwide should not be for states only, but for international organisations, including the United Nations,” he added.
   On the need for the international community to confront the menace of global terrorism with greater resolve and determination, Jonathan said, “Terrorism constitutes a major threat to global peace and security, and undermines the capacity for sustained development. In Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the North Eastern part of our country has proven to be a major challenge to national stability. We are therefore confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.”
   “The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity. Three days ago, the stark reality of this menace was again brought to the fore by the dastardly terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya. We must stand together to win this war together,” Jonathan said.
   Meanwhile, the United States Congress would next week hold a hearing on the issue of Boko Haram and terrorism in order to build better responses, especially to the great humanitarian suffering being faced by the victims of the sect.
   U.S. Congressman, Christopher Smith, who disclosed this on Tuesday when he met with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in Abuja, urged the National Assembly to take a cue from the U.S. and pass a legislation to establish Victim Compensation Fund that would be designed to help and build significant bridge to deal with further deterioration of their economic situation.