Reps Push For Africa’s Permanent Seat In UN Security Council

The House of Representatives said it has become imperative that Africa be fully represented as a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, considering its significant contributions to the body’s peacekeeping operations and status as the largest regional group of UN members.

The House’s position followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Ahmed Munir (APC, Kaduna) at plenary on yesterday.

In his debate, Munir said Africa remains unrepresented in the permanent category of the United Nation Security Council, hence the urgent need to reform the body to maintain its relevance in the twenty-first century to address the current global challenges.

He stated that: “Africa constitutes more than a quarter of the Organisation’s Member States, the largest group, with 28 percent of the UN membership. The Asia group comes next with 27 percent, while the Americas constitute 17 percent. The region of Western Europe which constitutes 15 percent.

“Over the years Africa has been the subject of at least 70 per cent of the Councils work and hence the more reason that Africa ought to be appropriately represented in the permanent membership of the Council to more effectively make its own case.”

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the committees on Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure  compliance.

Meanwhile, the member representing Batsari/Safan/Danmusa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Hon. Abubakar Iliyasau revealed that he had to pay N2 million ransom for the release of the kidnapped wife and child of his own brother killed by bandits.

Iliyasau disclosed this when he moved a motion of urgent public importance on: “Call to Stop Persistent Attacks, Shootings, Killings, Kidnappings and other Banditry Activities in his constituency.

The lawmaker told the House that while he was in his constituency last weekend he encountered multiple attacks, shootings, killings and kidnapping in some parts of the area.

“Bandits attacked these villages leaving many dead while others were wounded and kidnapped. Currently, there are people receiving treatment in the Federal Medical Centre now Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina while some are in the hands of these bandits.

“The bandits operate day and night meaning that there are bandits called solar bandits who operate in the day light while the other category operates in the night on daily basis. My people in these areas and other frowned security areas left their homes and farms. They can no longer farm or trade,” he lamented.

Iliyasau prayed the House to call on those that are responsible in maintaining law and order, lives and properties to do more by adopting new security tactics and strategies to quell the violent acts.