Okechukwu slams ADC over unpatriotic comments on Nigeria’s quest for UN Security Seat
The former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has slammed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over unpatriotic comments on Nigeria’s quest for United Nations (UN) Security Seat.
Okechukwu criticised the ADC while addressing journalists in Enugu on Tuesday on Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
It would be recalled that the ADC in its recent statement opposed President Bola Tinubu’s push for a permanent seat for Nigeria on the United Nations Security Council.
He described ADC’s stance as “unpatriotic, incongruous, and the height of ignorance”, adding that it was misguided to equate Nigeria’s noble quest for global leadership with the nation’s current security challenges.
Okechukwu, who is a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that he endorsed 100 per cent Vice President Kashim Shettima’s historic UN speech where he stated that:
‘Our case for a permanent seat at the Security Council is a demand for fairness, for African representation, and for reform that restores credibility to the very institution upon which the hope of multilateralism rests.’
According to Okechukwu, this is a bold and visionary call for Nigeria to assume its rightful place on the global stage, to represent Africa.
“For Nigerians fought World War 2 (WWII) on the side of the allied forces who after victory became permanent members of the UN Security Council,” he noted.
He lamented that ADC had turned itself into a serial pushback of national unity and progress, describing its pattern of political missteps as “one week, one unforced error”.
The APC Chieftain cited ‘serial unforced errors’ by ADC in recent weeks: which included: “Demolition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A party most of ADC leadership benefited immensely from.
“Total Breach of Zoning and Power Rotation Convention: In 2023 presidential election, they erroneously breached Zoning, an unforced error, hoping to harvest northern voters they quarantined in a dormitory. They paid dearly with voters’ punishment.
“Penultimate week again, ADC recklessly dismissed the time-tested convention of rotation of the presidency – a glue that binds our fragile fourth Republic democracy. Even when their mother party, PDP, recanted.
“False Claim of Tinubu’s Life Presidency Agenda: Last week, they hallucinated by alleging that the President was plotting for a life presidency, as if Nigeria operates in a banana republic without a constitution or institutions to check such excesses.
“Incongruous Dismissal of Nigeria’s UN Bid: They incongruously derided Nigeria’s push for a permanent UN Security Council seat, speaking as though the seat is President Tinubu’s personal property, instead of a lifetime strategic gain for Nigeria and Africa.”
Okechukwu stressed that asymmetrical security challenges should not be used to undermine Nigeria’s hard earned international seat, noting that every great nation balances political party’s ambition with patriotic goals.
“Methinks that this UN Security Council seat is not for Tinubu, but a strategic asset for Nigeria and Africa.
“Albeit step towards global recognition, where our voice is heard and we participate in shaping global peace and security.
“For ADC to ridicule such a quest is not only short-sighted unforced error, but purely unpatriotic to our collective national interest,” he said.
Okechukwu urged the ADC leadership that instead of divisive tendencies and ‘unforced errors’; to as a matter of urgent national importance apologise to our sister political party – PDP, they demolished.
“Sincerely, we in APC in the interest of viable democracy in our dear fatherland want ADC to unite with PDP and form a formidable opposition party, before they start hauling blame games,” he added.
On the 65th Independence, he noted that the nation and Nigerians had achieved significant international and national milestones that should be celebrated as well as kept the flame of unity and progress alive for 65 years.