Nigeria reaffirms support for Libyan Transitional Council

Nigeria reaffirms support for Libyan Transitional Council

Nigeria has reaffirmed its support for Libya’s National Transitional Council, in spite of being absent at a UN General Assembly that allowed the former rebels to represent the people of Libya at the world body.

An unintentional absence

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attention of the Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, had been drawn to the unintentional absence of Nigeria at the last Friday's UN voting session.

Vindicating earlier decision

“Government welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to accept the credentials of the Transitional National Council of Libya (NTC) to the UN as the legitimate authority now in Libya’’ , the ministry’s spokesman Mr Damian Agwu, said in the statement.

“The overwhelming support given to the NTC by members of the General Assembly, the highest legislative body, vindicates the wisdom of the decision taken by Nigeria earlier on this delicate matter’’, the statement added.

The statement confirmed that appropriate diplomatic steps had been taken to register Nigeria’s voting preference supporting the NTC to speak for Libya at the debate of the UN General Assembly taking place in New York.

“This will form part of the UN record on the subject”, the statement added.

Gaddafi’s exit

The NTC, on March 5 declared itself the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and, on March 23, mandated Mahmoud Jibril, its leader, to form an interim government.

Meanwhile, rebels recently forced Dictator Muammar Gaddafi to abandon his headquarters in Tripoli, following five months of violent conflict, which was sparked by Gaddafi's refusal to relinquish power after 42 years in office.