Nigeria must resume prominent role in Africa - UN envoy

Nigeria must resume prominent role in Africa - UN envoy

Nigeria needs to return to her prominent role of leadership in Africa, a top UN envoy for Central African Republic (CAR) has said.

Speaking against the backdrop of President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent pronouncement to review Nigeria’s foreign policy, the UN envoy, Nigeria’s Margaret Vogt told reporters in New York on Wednesday that the continent was almost reaching a leadership crisis in Africa where the former big voices of Africa have either retired or left the stage…

She stressed that there was need to have leaders who could take the centre stage and really speak authoritatively for Africa.

Big player

“Nigeria is a big player in Africa. We have to be back unto that stage and to play that role.’’
  
She observed that Nigeria, under late President Umaru Yar’Adua did not assume the central position in Africa, because of the former president’s ill-health, sudden death and the transition to a new government.

Leading the African Stage

She expressed optimism that with a mandate that was clear and equivocal, President Jonathan would step forward and assume a leadership position in Africa as was done on Cote d’ Ivoire.

She said: “they may be disagreement with ECOWAS on what they did and what they didn’t do, but at least, they took a position, they took a firm position and they followed up on that position”.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and new head of UN Peace-building office in Central African Republic noted that Nigeria had all that was required to play a leadership role on the African stage.

In her words: “very few countries can play it and very few countries have the credentials to do so; some have tried, but they do not have the credentials”.

Vogt acknowledged that there were sentiments among Nigerians and urged the present government to concentrate on “domestic affairs and put Nigeria in order.

“I agree that we really need to put our house in order but, even our ability to do so depends on the way we are able to mobilise and harness our interests on the African continent.

“We can’t live in isolation; our ability to really set Nigeria on path will depend on the way we are able lead on the African continent,’’ she said.

Vogt’s profile

Vogt was recently appointed the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and new head of UN Peace-building office in Central African Republic.

She was formerly Deputy Director of the Africa I Division in the Department of Political Affairs, and a former deputy special representative in Somalia.

The Nigerian diplomat once served as Director of Studies at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau, and lectured at the Nigerian War College, the Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, also in Plateau.

During her career she has also worked with the AU and ECOWAS.

NAN/Iheanacho