President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised United Nations (UN) member states to integrate the Preamble to the UN Charter into their national constitutions as a bold move towards better global peace, justice, human dignity and international cooperation.
The proposal came during an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York just before President Tinubu is to attend the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly from September.
The Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim of Nigeria, tabled the proposal with the UN General Assembly Informal Meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the presidency of which President Tinubu will attend in September.
Ibrahim noted President Tinubu’s perception that the signing of the Charter with its Preamble in every national constitution would be a “permanent reminder” of the responsibilities of all nations to build a stronger and more united coalition to uphold the values underpinning the United Nations’ founding.
Those values encompass establishing international peace and security, respecting fundamental human rights, fostering justice and encouraging peaceful relations between states.
ALSO READ: Troops Crush ISWAP Assault on Borno Military Base, Recover Weapons After Fierce Gun Battle
The Nigerian head of state contended that it is good that the international community is struggling with many security challenges and humanitarian and economic needs which make it imperative that the governments should be strengthened by actual confirmation of the fundamentals and values of the Charter.
He said that this would ensure that the spirit of the UN would remain at the heart of national governance because the principles in the UN would be kept at the national governance system.
The UN proposal got applause from delegates at the meeting, underscoring level of interest in strengthening global solidarity and bolstering the UN Charter, Ibrahim, who also heads the General Assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee (Fifth Committee), said in the meeting.
He also added that the proposal demonstrated Nigeria’s long-standing philosophy to engage in multilateral diplomacy and her support for a more effective and broad-based United Nations which could contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, international cooperation and shared prosperity globally.
ALSO READ: Lagos Orders Demolition of Satellite Town Shopping Complex in Fresh Safety Crackdown
The Preamble to the UN Charter, the charter that was drafted in 1945, starts with the historic words of “We the peoples of the United Nations” and explains that the organisation’s charter is meant to save future generations from war, “restore justice and promote social progress.”
It is not a legal obligation, but rather a “statement of purpose” and one of the most illustrate statements of the ideals of the United Nations.
