TDF Backs Tinubu’s Demand for Two Permanent UN Seats for Africa
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TDF Backs Tinubu’s Demand for Two Permanent UN Seats for Africa
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Democratic Front, TDF has backed President Bola Tinubu’s demand for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, describing the advocacy as a necessary step towards addressing the continent’s underrepresentation in global decision-making.
The group made its position known in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo.
Tinubu had, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council, with veto powers for as long as the privilege exists. Nigeria also called for five non-permanent seats for the continent.
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TDF said the President demonstrated a “deep sense of knowledge” and wisdom in identifying the reasons Africa’s developmental challenges had continued to attract inadequate global support despite the continent’s contributions to international affairs and its abundant natural resources.
The group also supported Tinubu’s opposition to what it described as the continued subjugation of Africa under a global power structure created in 1945.
It said the existing arrangement was outdated and incapable of adequately responding to the contemporary challenges confronting Africa.
According to TDF, Africa remains politically, economically and socially disadvantaged because of its underrepresentation in the current global governance architecture, with adverse consequences for the continent’s socio-economic development.
“This is why we believe that President Bola Tinubu’s advocacy for two permanent seats for Africa in the United Nations Security Council is a valid obligation which the current generation of African leaders owes the continent,” the group said.
TDF further said Tinubu had consistently used international platforms to advocate greater access to concessional financing, fairer economic decision-making and comprehensive debt relief for African countries.
The group recalled Tinubu’s participation in the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, where it said the Nigerian President committed to making Nigeria’s deep-blue project maritime intelligence infrastructure available as a shared data hub for willing Gulf of Guinea countries.
TDF described the move as evidence of what it called Tinubu’s leadership role in advancing collective African interests.
“President Tinubu deserves our commendation for his advocacy on Africa’s quest for two permanent seats in the UN Security Council through subtle and strategic diplomacy, without prejudice to Nigeria’s bilateral obligations towards other countries,” the statement added.
The group argued that the imbalance in the Security Council should concern nations and citizens across the world, stressing that Africa’s socio-economic and political challenges would receive greater attention if the continent secured permanent representation on the council.
The five permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France, while Africa currently has no permanent seat. Nigeria’s latest demand aligns with the African Union’s longstanding common position for at least two permanent seats for the continent, including veto rights for as long as the veto remains available.
TDF also rejected criticism surrounding Tinubu’s absence from the 81st UN General Assembly, arguing that his representation by the Vice President did not diminish Nigeria’s ability to present its position on the international stage.
“Contrary to insinuations by the opposition on the absence of the President at UNGA, he has shown that the presence or absence of a leader does not diminish or jeopardise a nation’s chance to present its case to the world,” the group said.
