Posted by By Oma Djebah on
Fresh facts emerged yesterday at the United Nations (UN) that Nigeria, which prides itself the giant of Africa, may have lost out in the intense jostling for positions at the world body in the wake of the election of South Korean Foreign Minister, Ban Ki Moon, as the new Secretary-General.
Fresh facts emerged yesterday at the United Nations (UN) that Nigeria, which prides itself the giant of Africa, may have lost out in the intense jostling for positions at the world body in the wake of the election of South Korean Foreign Minister, Ban Ki Moon, as the new Secretary-General.
Thisday checks reveal that the super powers have demanded for certain key positions in the UN including the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), which at present is being headed by Nigeria's former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Britain is said to be strongly rooting for the office.
The DPA is technically the second most powerful seat in the cabinet of the secretary-general despite the recent creation (without a charter provision of the post of Deputy Sec-gen).
But sources said Gambari is not relenting in his own drive to win international support and secure his job.
This week, the former Foreign Affairs Minister is scheduled to embark on a diplomatic shuttle to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to mediate in the crisis and build peace in that country. He is also expected to speak on Darfur shortly.
Other plum offices that may also change hands following Ki Moon's election include Department of Peace keeping Operations (DPKO) and Office of Coordinator for Hum-anitarian Affairs (OCHA).
According to sources at the UN headquarters, France wants to retain the post of head of DPKO, while Japan wants OCHA currently headed by a Norwegian, Egland,
Russia is also said to be tired of heading the UN office in Geneva and wants to have a taste of real action at the New York Headquarters of UN.
On her part, US wants deeper reforms of the UN Secretariat and it is said to be canvassing for all the under-secretaries -generals to be relieved of their positions.
The big powers, that is, Britain, United States (US), Japan, France and Russia, are said to be insisting on providing candidates to fill key positions as part of the alleged deal they struck with Ki Moon in the build-up to his election.
It was gathered that the super powers had held various meetings with the new scribe on the issue.
But the African group is said to still be struggling to get a meeting date arising from alleged disunity and lack of organisation within the ranks of African representatives at the UN.
The emergence of Ki Moon is said to have left the once vibrant African Group in the lurch following the insistence of the big powers that they want those critical positions.
THISDAY checks reveal at the UN that Nigeria and South Africa which are expected to play leadership role in the on-going deals are said to be unorganized enough to do so.
The South African ambassador at the UN who heads the Group of 77 which included China and has the experience and technical know-how is said to be indifferent to the African Group as he at present leads the Group of 77.
THISDAY investigations show that the three African countries in the UN Security Council (Ghana, Tanzania and The Republic of the Congo) have not even met once to strategise.
"Nigeria and South Africa and perhaps Egpyt have disappointed Africa. They have not provided leadership at the UN. So we have lost out because all the critical positions have been shared out," said one African diplomat who pleaded not to be mentioned.
"Ki Moon is not to blame but our leaders who are busy quarreling at home and abroad and failed to meet with the new scribe to demand certain positions. The DPA is most likely to go to Britain. So are the other positions being asked for by the big powers," he said further.
Meanwhile, the Security Council's choice of Ki Moon, 62, as the eighth secretary-general of the world body to succeed out-going Secretary-general, Kofi Annan, was ratified yesterday by acclamation in the General Assembly, which consists of all 192 UN member governments.
He will thus become the first Asian to run the UN since U Thant of Burma, the country now called Myanmar. He held the position from 1961 to 1971.
"It has been a long journey from my youth in war-torn and destitute Korea to this rostrum and these awesome responsibilities," the Sec- Gen-designate said yesterday while accepting the post, in both English and French.
He will take office on January 1, next year for a five- year term that can be renewed once.
Ki Moon called for increased actions against North Korea's efforts to develop nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles.
According to him, the UN "was with my people in our darkest days" after being invaded by North Korea.
"It gave us hope and sustenance, security and dignity," He added: "It showed us a better way. So I feel at home today."
At the press conference after the assembly's vote, the new scribe asked the Security Council to pass a resolution of condemnation for a suspected nuclear-bomb test this week.
"It is absolutely necessary that the international community should again send out a very strong, unified and clear message so that North Korea will not have any temptation to engage in any further negative activities." he said.
Expectedly, the UN Security Council would meet tomorrow to vote on a draft measure backed by the U.S. that bars the sale of military equipment and missile- and nuclear-related goods to North Korea.
Thus with yesterday's event, Annan, 68, would end his tenure on January 1, 2007. Though, he is regarded as very forthright and dynamic, and proceeded to win the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize, his tenure was at one time trailed by criticisms of an alleged involvement of his son in Iraq oil for food money.