France offers Nigeria Security Council membership support

 
French president, Nicholas Sarkozy has pledged his country’s commitment to rally for international support for Nigeria and spearhead the lobby for Africa’s membership of the United Nation’s Permanent Council as well as zonal representation in its Security Council.
Speaking during a brief meeting at the Yamoussoukro Presidential Villa, Cote d’Ivoire with President Goodluck Jonathan, before both leaders proceeded to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Centre for the inauguration ceremony of President Alassane Ouattara, Mr Sarkozy stated that Nigeria as a ‘giant of Africa’, had enormous economical and political potentials to become great as a country.

He congratulated Mr Jonathan on his victory at the just concluded presidential polls and expressed optimism in his ability to succeed.

“If you do not succeed, I can’t imagine who else can,” Mr Sarkozy said.

While noting that Africa was under-represented in world governance, he maintained that Europe needed the collaboration and alliance with Africa to enable the continent grow.

Mr Sarkozy further said the linkages between both continents were such that they needed one another to explore and achieve its derivable benefits.

Grateful Nigeria

Mr Jonathan thanked the French leader for his country’s immense contribution in helping to stabilize Nigeria and enjoined him to continue to support the country and Africa in surmounting its 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,” Mr Jonathan stated.

The Nigerian president also said his determination to oppose the deposed Laurent Gbagbo government was to send a signal to African leaders that they must always do the right thing. He also said he insisted on free and fair elections in Nigeria to affirm his desire for 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 on the continent,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction with Sarkozy’s leadership of the G-8 and G-20 and also his country’s aid to Africa.