For Nigeria, years of tireless campaigning finally paid off when the country was today voted a member of the United Nations Security Council. Information reaching News Express said Nigeria had won the votes but details of the voting pattern were not immediately available.

Nigeria’s bid for the non-permanent seat had brightened yesterday as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and Nigerian Permanent Representative Mission received assurances of member-states.

“But the Nigerian delegation to the UN intensified campaigns despite the withdrawal of The Gambia, another African contestant for the council, in support of Abuja’s bid.As at Wednesday evening, Onwuliri and Nigeria’s delegation to UN were still reaching out to foreign ministers and envoys of other countries despite past assurances from them,” according to a Guardian report.

The achievement is not only yet another plus for the Goodluck Jonathan administration but also yet another proof of the country’s continuing relevance in the world order.

President Jonathan had late last month in New York made a strong case for Nigeria’s election to the Council, just as South African President, Jacob Zuma backed the Nigerian president’s call for democratisation of the UN Security Council.

Addressing the world leaders and other delegates at the opening of the 68th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, President Jonathan declared that Nigeria’s commendable performance on previous occasions when it held a non-permanent seat on the security council, should assure the global community that the country deserved to be elected to the council again for the 2014-2015 session.

“Our support for the United Nations Security Council in its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been total and unwavering.

“We have, in previous membership of the Council, demonstrated both the political will and capacity to engage in key responsibilities.”

Nigeria’s chances had earlier been brightened by the endorsement of both the African Union (AU) and France.

•Photo shows President Jonathan.

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