PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,SAYS AFRICA DOES NOT WISH TO REPLACE OLD SHACKLES WITH NEW ONES

President Bola Tinubu gave his inaugural address at the United Nations General Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday, in which he
championed the need for Africa to surmount foreign exploitation to attain prosperity through democratic ideals. He spoke to other heads of government, hours after similar addresses including those of United States President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

The President spoke on the theme ‘Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and Its Sustainable Development Goals Towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability for All’. Noting that failures in good governance have hindered Africa, Tinubu decried that broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad also exacted a heavy toll on Africans’ ability to progress.

Chronicling the establishment United Nations, Nigerian leader detailed the role played by the Second World War, saying the period was a highwater mark for trust in global institutions and the belief that humanity had learned the necessary lessons to move forward in global solidarity and harmony. According to him, global institutions, other nations and their private sector actors must see African development as a priority, not just for Africa but in their interests as well.