French President Nicholas Sarkozy has pledged to rally international support for Nigeria and spearhead the lobby for Africa’s permanent membership as well as zonal representation on the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
Sarkozy spoke in Cote d'Ivoire during a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Yamoussoukro Presidential Villa before they proceeded to the Felix Houphouet Foundation for Peace Centre for the inauguration of President Allasane Ouattara.
He described Nigeria as a “giant of Africa” with enormous economic and political potential to remain great as a country.
He congratulated Jonathan on his victory at the Presidential election last month and expressed optimism in his ability to succeed.
“If you do not succeed, I can’t imagine who else can,” Sarkozy told Jonathan.
While noting that Africa is under-represented in world governance, he maintained that Europe needs the collaboration and alliance with Africa to enable the continent grow.
Sarkozy said the linkages between both continents are such that they need each other to explore and get benefits.
Jonathan thanked him for the immense contribution France has made to stabilise Nigeria and enjoined him to continue to support the country and Africa in surmounting challenges, especially in the area of good governance.
“We need your support and encouragement to succeed, we will always appreciate your show of love and interest for Nigeria” he told Sarkozy.
Jonathan said he opposed the government led by former Ivoirien President Laurent Gbagbo to send a signal to African leaders that they must do the right thing, and that he insisted on free and fair elections in Nigeria to ensure the respect of the rule of law.
“I insisted on doing the right thing because I needed to have the moral right to challenge political wrong doing in the continent.”
He expressed satisfaction with Sarkozy’s leadership of the G8 and G20 and also his country’s several aids to Africa.
Meanwhile on Sunday, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, urged Nigeria to expedite action on improving access to healthcare across the country.
Ki-Moon, who is on his first official visit to Nigeria, made the call during an inspection of the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja.
He said he came to personally observe government intervention in infant and maternal survival health, noting that Nigeria has shown commitment to reduce death among vulnerable groups.
“I am here to observe for myself to see what you are doing for maternal and child health to show the world as a good example,” Ki-Moon enthused.
The UN recognises the need for healthcare systems the world over and wants Nigeria structured to work for women and children.
He said the death of 1,000 women and 22,000 children daily is a “totally and truly unacceptable situation, as most of these deaths are preventable.”
He urged governments to place top priority on health, as “healthy women, healthy mothers, healthy children mean healthy societies and healthy world.”
Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu expressed the appreciation of the government for Ki-Moon’s visit.
He disclosed that Nigeria has kept its pledge on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially with the reduction of infant-maternal mortality, polio, and HIV/AIDS prevalence rates.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Add A Comment