The National Vice Chairman (South East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, MBBS, PhD, a distinguished medical doctor and public health specialist, has strongly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his powerful address to the global community at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The President’s message, delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the General Debate, has been widely described as a courageous and timely intervention that placed Africa’s legitimate demands at the centre of global discourse.

Reacting to the address, Dr. Arodiogbu described it as a masterclass in statesmanship and a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s rising stature on the world stage.

“President Tinubu has spoken with clarity, courage and moral authority on behalf of Nigeria and the African continent. His message that the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945 is both profound and urgent. Africa can no longer continue to fill the agenda of the United Nations Security Council while remaining permanently excluded from its membership,” Dr. Arodiogbu stated.

In the address, President Tinubu renewed Nigeria’s demand for a radical reform of the United Nations, beginning with the reconstitution of the Security Council. He insisted that Africa must be granted at least two permanent seats with full rights and responsibilities, including the veto power for as long as it exists, in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, as well as five non-permanent seats in total.

“The reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, for the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945. Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership,” the President declared through Vice President Shettima.

Dr. Arodiogbu, who is also Board Chairman of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Ebonyi State, praised the President for linking global institutional reform with practical demands for peace, economic justice and climate fairness.

He noted that the President’s call for an immediate end to global warfare, a total rejection of rising nationalism, and a return to the founding principles of the UN Charter reflected the authentic voice of a leader committed to multilateralism and collective security.

“President Tinubu correctly reminded the world that no nation is insulated from the consequences of distant conflicts. His insistence that diplomacy must prevail over coercion, cooperation over isolation, and international law over the arbitrary exercise of power is a message the entire international community needs to hear,” the APC South East leader said.

The President also demanded a radical shake-up of the global financial system to ensure equitable participation of developing countries in economic decision-making. He highlighted the heavy burden of debt servicing that prevents many African nations from investing adequately in education, healthcare and infrastructure, and called for wider access to concessional financing and debt sustainability frameworks that recognise developmental needs.

On climate change, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and a fair energy transition. He stressed that Africa, which contributes less than four per cent of global emissions, continues to bear a disproportionate climate burden and therefore deserves fairness in climate financing, technology transfer and support for low-carbon industrialisation.

Dr. Arodiogbu particularly welcomed the President’s position that developing countries must be allowed to industrialise, eradicate poverty and expand energy access through sustainable pathways rather than being forced into a false choice between development and climate action.

He also applauded the President’s affirmation that Nigeria will harness artificial intelligence and digital technologies for human advancement, while expanding digital public infrastructure, broadband deployment and tech entrepreneurship without allowing fear to dictate its technological future.

Recalling Nigeria’s long-standing contributions to peacekeeping in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Darfur, Mali and The Gambia, as well as its leadership within ECOWAS, the African Union and Gulf of Guinea partnerships, President Tinubu reiterated the country’s readiness to assume greater responsibility for peace and security on the continent.

Dr. Arodiogbu said the address had once again positioned Nigeria as a principled and constructive voice in global affairs.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is not only reforming its domestic economy through disciplined macroeconomic management and strategic public investment; it is also speaking with moral clarity on the global stage. This is the kind of leadership that inspires confidence both at home and abroad,” he stated.

The APC National Vice Chairman (South East) urged Ndi Enugu and Nigerians across the country to continue supporting the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the bold positions articulated at the United Nations General Assembly reflect a government that understands the interconnectedness of national development and global justice.

“President Tinubu has shown that Nigeria’s voice matters. He has demanded fairness for Africa, peace for the world, and equity in the global financial and climate systems. We must stand firmly behind this leadership so that the gains already recorded can be consolidated for the benefit of present and future generations,” Dr. Arodiogbu concluded.