UNGA80: Tinubu Joins World Leaders, Backs Calls For Palestinian State
President Bola Tinubu has joined the voices of global leaders calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state, describing the two-state solution as the “most dignified path” to lasting peace in the Middle East.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him, Tinubu aligned Nigeria with countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and Portugal in urging for Palestinian statehood.
“The people of Palestine are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order. They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted,” Tinubu declared.
His position comes amid divisions among world powers, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump rejecting calls for recognition of Palestine.
Just a day earlier, President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron clashed over the issue during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Assembly.
In his address, Tinubu criticised the United Nations for its failure to effectively tackle humanitarian crises from Gaza to Ukraine, describing the inaction as “stains on our collective humanity.”
He warned that the UN’s credibility was being undermined by the widening gulf between its declarations and its actions.
The Nigerian leader also used the platform to call for sweeping reforms of global institutions, beginning with permanent membership for Nigeria and Africa on the UN Security Council.
“The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was,” he said.
Beyond geopolitics, Tinubu pressed for reforms in the global financial system, proposing the creation of a binding mechanism to address sovereign debt, which he likened to “an International Court of Justice for money.”
He argued that debt relief must not be viewed as charity but as a pathway to global peace and prosperity.
On Africa’s role in the future economy, Tinubu emphasised the continent’s vast natural resources, especially strategic minerals, stressing that resource-producing nations must benefit fairly through investment, local processing, and job creation.
He further highlighted the need to bridge the digital divide, echoing the UN Secretary-General’s call that “AI must mean Africa Included.”
According to him, equal access to digital opportunities is crucial for narrowing the wealth and knowledge gap.
Concluding his speech, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism, peace, and human rights, urging urgent action on global crises.
“None of us is safe until all of us are safe. We must make real change, change that works, and change that is seen to work,” he warned.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
