Akinwande Soji-Ojo
United States President, Joe Biden, has said his country is committed to seeing Africa have two permanent seats in the United Nations (UN) security council.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusut Tuggar, said Biden stated this while speaking on Nigeria’s quest for a permanent UN security council seat during a phone call to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday evening.
Tuggar, in a statement, said the 30-minute phone call between the two leaders was against the backdrop of the release of Binance’s head of finance crime compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, on October 23.
The minister quoted the US president as saying that he did not see why Nigeria should not have a permanent seat at the UN security council.
“The two leaders also discussed the issue of permanent seats, and the United Nations security council and President Biden once again assured that the United States is committed to seeing Africa having two permanent seats,” he added.
Africa has been clamouring for equal representation in what is believed to be the most powerful UN body.
Each year, the UN General Assembly elects five new members from different geographical zones for a two-year term on the council.
Africa has three rotational seats on the 15-member council.
Biden thanks Tinubu on Gambaryan’s release
Speaking on the Binance executive, Tuggar said Biden was grateful for Gambaryan’s release.
“The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and President Biden proceeded to thank President Tinubu for his partnership and for Nigeria’s partnership in particular the collaboration between the two countries with regards to our law enforcement and law enforcement agencies as well as release of one of the suspects of the cryptocurrency exchange company (Binance),” the minister said.
According to the minister, Tinubu made it clear that Nigeria followed due process and was guided by the law during the call.
“President Tinubu during the discussion even mentioned the similarities of the fact that our system of government is very similar to the United States system of government.
“We adopted our own system of government having gone back to civilian constitution and democracy in 1999 by adopting a US-styled system of government.
“So the rule of law is very important which is why we these processes which the two leaders both assured that they will continue to collaborate in that regard,” he added.
Tuggar said both countries committed to sharing intelligence, applying technology, supplying equipment, and kinetic and non-kinetic training.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in April arraigned Binance, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, on allegations of money laundering.
Gambaryan was in detention for eight months.
At a court hearing on October 23, the EFCC announced the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw the charges against Gambaryan.