World Leaders Failed To Address Terrorism, Hunger, Other Challenges In Last One Year, VP Shettima Says At UN General Assembly
Shettima, while speaking at the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said from the 2023 summit, world leaders have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, hunger and a host of other vexations.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has decried world leaders’ failure to address the numerous challenges of terrorism, hunger, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses and a host of other vexations in the last one year.
Shettima, while speaking at the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said from the 2023 summit, world leaders have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, hunger and a host of other vexations.
He said the continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to the failings of world leaders rather than to any lofty achievements on their part.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the summit, said, “From last year’s summit, and indeed from previous years, we have carried over the numerous challenges of terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racial discrimination, human rights abuses, food crises, hunger, irregular migration, piracy, global pandemics, hyperinflation, nuclear proliferation, grinding debt burden, climate change, and a host of other vexations.
“The continued manifestation of these challenges testifies to our failings rather than to any lofty achievements on our part.
“Billions of dollars are being committed to the prosecution of wars and the fanning of the embers of conflict.”
Shettima lamented, “Our people need employment. They need decent livelihoods. They desire good and affordable education and healthcare for their children and families.
“They need to live in healthy, safe and secure environments. They need hope and they need opportunity. They desire to live in peace and tranquility, to pursue whatever gives them happiness and contentment.”
He said, “The global debt burden undermines the capacity of countries and governments to meet the needs of their citizens.
“Creeping trade barriers and protectionist policies are destroying the hopes for prosperity of peoples and nations.
“Unbridled competition rather than cooperation is discouraging incentives and driving away investments.
“Above all, general insecurity is driving people into unprecedented hardship and misery that in turn, affect the people’s confidence in democracy.”
Shettima said it is the duty of the international community to bring back confidence in democratic rule and constitutional order, by paying more attention to the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than paying lip service to human rights, sustainable development and peace.
He said, “We need the substance of democracy, not just the form. We cannot build durable societies with the threat of terrorism, banditry and insurgency growing in our countries and regions.
“Indeed, violent extremism remains an existential threat to both national and international peace, security and development.
“We are making concerted efforts to contain and roll back this threat. The High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting hosted by Nigeria in April 2024 and its outcome – “The Abuja Declaration” – promises to provide solutions to the challenges presented by terrorists and insurgents.”
