Read full text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Speech at the UN General Assembly
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 00:09

We are working hard to secure Chibok girls

The president of the United Nation’s General Assembly, Your Excellencies, Heads of States and governments, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the government and people of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to preside over the 72nd session of the United Nations’ General Assembly. I also wish to express my country’s appreciation to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his steady leadership and this body’s dedication to the search for a peaceful and equitable world through the charter of the United Nations.

Every year we gather here to deliberate on the affairs of the world. Sometimes we implement what we talked about and move humanity an inch closer to that ideal relationship as members of the world community. At other times, we have our talks and end up not implementing anything to the disappointment of millions and millions of people around the world who look up to this body to provide leadership in a world that is constantly oscillating between advancement and doom. In all of these, we often forget that what we have accomplished in the last 72 years is unprecedented in the annals of human history. The world may be badly governed, but the fact that there is a form of governance agreed upon by all is an accomplishment in and of itself. So, I congratulate us all.


Mr. President, as we say in Nigeria, he who does not look ahead remains behind. Our charge now is to aspire to make this world better for the next generation. We, the generation that knows how the world was before the United Nations was formed, must bequeath to those coming behind us a better United Nations that would be in a position to deal with the challenges of tomorrow. To accomplish that, we need to fast forward the reformation long proposed in this chamber.

To restructure or not to restructure is no longer the question – the United Nations must be restructured for it to remain relevant in years to come. How to restructure the United Nations should be our priority number one. Several ideas are out there. All that we need is to get them together and agree on what works for majority of the people of this world. As a leader of one of the leading African nations, I want to see a United Nation’s Security Council that is expanded to have one or two African permanent members with veto powers. It is a fair thing to do – one that will benefit the world by giving it a chance for a more balanced outlook to matters of importance to us all. As we have learned in Nigeria, sometimes you need to change in order to remain the same. It is the first principle of renewal.

In the continent of Africa, the post-colonial era is going into a new phase. In another generation, there would not be any African alive who could remember when European powers once governed Africa. That emerging generation is creating new challenges for the African order left behind by the colonial powers. My generation is managing that challenge with the hope of leaving behind nation states that are less prone to crisis. We cannot continue to pretend that conflicts that emerged as a result of our colonial heritage have been resolved. Across our continent, they are still there. In some cases, bad governance is exacerbating these conflict points.

Here are some of the things we are doing to make sure that we bequeath to the upcoming generations of Africans a continent that is healthy, wealthy and well grounded in law and order. We are close to enshrining in the African Union’s creed the fundamental principle of democracy, which says that a credible people’s mandate should determine who governs any nation across Africa. We are taking it a step further by pushing to make that mandate limited. We believe that Africa has numerous talents and no man or woman should be in the leadership saddle for an inordinate time. We are also working hard to expand the African market and open it up for our people to benefit from the free flow of goods, services and knowledge across the continent. It is the only path to prosperity for over one billion people in Africa yearning for opportunities to show the world the potentials they have.

As Africans, we will continue to build partnerships across the world. As we stretch our hands out for friendship, we do so with the expectation that our hands would be met not with pity and charity but with respect and dignity. Africans have a lot to offer the world, not just its minerals and human potentials. We are committed to resetting that old perception with a new one that proclaims Africa as a land ready for business. Those who have taken the steps to invest in Africa can attest to the mutual benefit that comes with it.

In areas of infrastructural developments, research and security, we urgently need a respectable and mutually beneficial partnership with the world. Integration of the continent and expansion of prosperity can only come when there are good roads, constant electricity, clean water and descent healthcare for our people. The United States government, The European Union, private investors and non-governmental organizations are getting involved in these ventures. Africa will continue to welcome the world in every enterprise that will uplift our people.

It is only when we add value and build capital that we will reduce the grim statistics of Africa’s child mortality rate from preventable deaths. It is only then that we can reduce deaths on the Mediterranean Sea of African youths running away from conflicts and poverty. The challenge is ours. We accept the responsibility. As in the past, we know that we do well when we share skills and expertise. That was how we were able to work together with partners around the world to reduce the AIDS epidemic. That was how, in the last two decades, we were able to defeat diseases like polio, tuberculosis and ringworm in several parts of Africa. Africans have always been appreciative of the assistance we receive. We have also paid back to the international community with our involvement in Peace Keeping missions across the world.

Mr. President, on matters of security, there is no gainsaying that when one part of the globe is insecure, all parts of the globe become potential victims of that insecurity. The activities of several extreme groups jeopardize not just the nation where they emanated but everyone far and in-between. The free movement of fighters and weapons has all but made the issue of security a global problem. As we have learned in Nigeria, you compromise the security of the whole when components of the sum are not fully valued, appreciated and integrated with the whole.

We in Africa have been partners in the quest for a secure world. We will continue to be committed to the mission until all threats to peace across the world are eliminated. In Nigeria, we have degraded the capability of the Boko Haram terrorist group. We are on the path to eliminating the last of their safe heavens. We have also secured the release of some of our abducted Chibok Girls. We are working hard to secure the release of the rest and to finish the job of closing the Boko Haram chapter and get the North East of Nigeria back to a peaceful region that it used to be.

Along this line, Mr. President, we at the United Nations need to do more to bring about a more equitable world where a large group of people does not feel suppressed, undervalued and alienated. Last year, I talked about the need for Palestinians to have their own state. Progress has not been made on that matter in the past one year. It is one of those problems that we must not punt to another generation. Any glaring unfairness, like the Palestinian case, diminishes our moral authority to preach and lecture the world on other cases. As we have learned in Nigeria, our stubborn self-righteousness blocks our ears from hearing the cry of those that we left on the fringe of society and blocks our eyes from seeing and reading the handwriting on the wall.

In the urgent matter of the nuclear stand off with North Korea, we hope that calm heads prevail. And as our ancestors say, that the disobedient fowl does not wait to be put into a pot of soup before it obeys. We in Africa hope that North Korea and, indeed, all the nations with nuclear weapons will hasten to eliminate them all. We don’t aspire to have nuclear weapons in the continent of Africa, the cradle of mankind. We will preserve Africa in case the nuclear-armed nations of the world decide to destroy themselves in their so-called mutual assured destruction. Should that happen, be assured that there will be a place in Africa for those of you who will be lucky enough to survive your self-inflicted annihilation. While we do not wish for that, we have this saying in Nigeria that, “na when soldier slap you, you go sabi say police na your friend.”

Mr. President, Nigeria is always willing to work with the United Nations and other international organizations to advance human progress. May the United Nations continue on its challenging task of being an instrument for peace, and may the goals that this General Assembly “for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet” be accomplished in our time.

Thank you all for listening.

Muhammadu Buhari,
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Carry on baba

We are solidly behind you

If everyone's speech is as Long as this, How many years was the meeting of the UN?

somebody with a good heart please summarise

Restructure UN, Nigerian restructuring turned down by Senate!

Move UN forward, Nigeria remains status quo.

Greatest irony!

The best speech at the United Nations since its existence.

God bless Sir.



May you live long.

All I am waiting to hear is IPOB's address to the UN general assembly.

Our great Ohamadike who has the power to evaporate the crude oil deposits in Nigeria, must be allowed to deliver his own speech from his hide-out rat-hole.

I trust Trump and Putin, Israel and our Turkish diplomat to make this great milestone happen for us.

Our 80 embassies worldwide without address, have also lobbied on our behalf.

Ohamadike! The courageous boy who flees upon sighting the zoo army. We await your return, great comedian, to entertain us at rallies with your hunchback pose and empty fury.

Even your dog did not run upon sighting the zoo army.

Infact your dog was misled by you, but showed the courage bereft in the master.

They are talking about the anals of human. I believe what Kanu said about Rochas. Buhari is gay

It is obvious we have sold our country to men with dead conscience.
A man that can't check Fulani herdsmen menace cos they are his kinsmen thinks he will foöl the world forever. Buhari is just the north's reply to Jonathan. The slight difference being that he is seeking to advance the agenda of the core north.

Up

nice

modik:
Restructure UN, Nigerian restructuring turned down by Senate!

Move UN forward, Nigeria remains status quo.

Greatest irony!

He even support referendum in other nations but can't support it at home cos he fought to keep Nigeria one.

Aufbauh:
The best speech at the United Nations since its existence.

It was an excellent speech

Ok

sarrki:
Carry on baba
We are solidly behind you

you are behind him, I'm not

stop using "we"

Daaah! This man dey talk ooo, small small like say him no sabi talk

I am quite certain Buhari doesn't understand a single phrase in this long speech he just babbled.

Even Trump will certainly not understand what he was saying.
Buhari, one big mistake and a huge disgrace.

saxwizard:
somebody with a good heart please summarise

Sometimes, you get the best from the main.

Does he understand what he just read?


Oh well, someone wrote it for him. His job is just to read it out loud to the 'class'

modik:
Restructure UN, Nigerian restructuring turned down by Senate!

Move UN forward, Nigeria remains status quo.

Greatest irony!

The story of our lives.

Meanwhile your country needs imminent restructuring, na UN own youbdey talk about while keeping silent avoutvwhats needed to be done in your country.

Buhari kontinu!

Standing5:
He even support referendum in other nations but can't support it at home cos he fought to keep Nigeria one.

Can u pick up the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and show the entire world where referendum is allowed for any secession? People are picking the wrong opponent, face ur senators and demand that a call for referendum be included in the constitution. Then ur call will hv a legal backing and the president, whether Buhari or not, who swore to uphold the constitution will have no choice but to grant it to u. But until such a time comes, no one will give referendum to u, not even an igbo president. And there is absolutely nothing anyone, USA, UN, Britain, Russia, or any other powerful country as some people call them can do about it.

We will preserve Africa in case the nuclear-armed nations of the world decide to destroy themselves in their so-called mutual assured destruction. Should that happen, be assured that there will be a place in Africa for those of you who will be lucky enough to survive your self-inflicted annihilation. While we do not wish for that, we have this saying in Nigeria that, “na when soldier slap you, you go sabi say police na your friend.”

Viula:
Read full text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Speech at the UN General Assembly
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 00:0


In the urgent matter of the nuclear stand off with North Korea, we hope that calm heads prevail. And as our ancestors say, that the disobedient fowl does not wait to be put into a pot of soup before it obeys. We in Africa hope that North Korea and, indeed, all the nations with nuclear weapons will hasten to eliminate them all. We don’t aspire to have nuclear weapons in the continent of Africa, the cradle of mankind. We will preserve Africa in case the nuclear-armed nations of the world decide to destroy themselves in their so-called mutual assured destruction. Should that happen, be assured that there will be a place in Africa for those of you who will be lucky enough to survive your self-inflicted annihilation. While we do not wish for that, we have this saying in Nigeria that, “na when soldier slap you, you go sabi say police na your friend.

This is the most interesting part of the speech

What do Nigerians really want?,I'm here to read the comments of some people from a segment of this country.

asfrank:


Can u pick up the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and show the entire world where referendum is allowed for any secession? People are picking the wrong opponent, face ur senators and demand that a call for referendum be included in the constitution. Then ur call will hv a legal backing and the president, whether Buhari or not, who swore to uphold the constitution will have no choice but to grant it to u. But until such a time comes, no one will give referendum to u, not even an igbo president. And there is absolutely nothing anyone, USA, UN, Britain, Russia, or any other powerful country as some people call them can do about it.

they know they just want to be mischievous.

asfrank:


Can u pick up the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and show the entire world where referendum is allowed for any secession? People are picking the wrong opponent, face ur senators and demand that a call for referendum be included in the constitution. Then ur call will hv a legal backing and the president, whether Buhari or not, who swore to uphold the constitution will have no choice but to grant it to u. But until such a time comes, no one will give referendum to u, not even an igbo president. And there is absolutely nothing anyone, USA, UN, Britain, Russia, or any other powerful country as some people call them can do about it.

How dare you attempt to be rational and logical with IPOB zombies?

Don't you know that the UN will invade Nigeria and free them regardless of our constitution and sovereignty?

Haven't you seen many of the near rational ones here admit that they cannot achieve Biafra in a constitutional way, so they hope Kanu will cause enough anarchy that will force the outside world to give them what they want just to contain the chaos they are promising?

Didn't you read the opinion of the Deputy Senate President who is the most senior Igbo politician recognised by our constitution and democracy? Did he promise anybody any Biafra or referendum? Did he not state the limitations of anyone canvassing for such and the futility therein when such separation is obtained illegally? Is it not the political leadership of Scotland that attempted to achieve a separation from UK? Is it not the political leadership of Catalonia that is also attempting an illegal separation from Spain? Has the Igbo political leadership even asked for anything?

But they are cowards while Ohamadike is braver than his dog who died for the cause.

My guy, don't attempt to be logical with a people who have exorcised themselves of logic. The Turkish diplomat and Trump whom they installed as POTUS will deliver on the promise to give them Biafra.

Besides, they already have 80 embassies globally, so how dare you stop a dream (agony) whose time has come?

The zoo Fulani army dare not enter Biafra to chase out our brave Ohamadike of the 100m escape fame.

Did i just see giving palentinians there owe land in his speech, when ipob is saying let me go in peace. I guess he got it wrong there, he should be preaching peace and not separation. And also on the north korea, does he think africa is safe, if peradventure there is misunderstanding between the world power. What make him think the nuclear weapon can not be stop by developed nations, why carry low nigerian mentality there

Baba