Balarabe flays Nigeria’s loss of influence in ECOWAS
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI
ABUJA—Chairman of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, weekend, attacked President Goodluck Jonathan over his support and approval of decisions taken by ECOWAS leaders at their last summit in Abuja, including removal of Nigeria’s slot as Commissioner in charge of finance and administration.
Balarabe, former governor of old Kaduna State, wondered why Nigeria which contributes about N100 billion towards the funding and sustenance of the regional body could allow ECOWAS leaders take away the top position from it and hand it over to Sierra Leone.
He likened the removal of Nigeria from holding that position to losing its birthright and status in the regional body, at a time it was dreaming of becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Balarabe said: “Between July 2003 and 2009, Nigeria’s contribution to ECOWAS amounted to $629,768, 000 (about N100billion) or 85 per cent, whereas Sierra Leone’s contribution within the same period was $8, 100,789 or N1, 279, 460,000 (N1. 27billion) or one per cent.
“From the above, you can see that those who call themselves leaders have continued to show disdain and outright insensitivity to the suffering in the land and their failure to use available opportunities to promote the country’s interest internationally,” he added.
The former governor ridiculed the slot of Political Affairs, Peace and Security portfolio and its attendant cost offered Nigeria, saying the country was already very prominent in this area without holding the post because of her high profile in contribution towards peace-keeping and logistics whenever required.
He said: “We see this as a subterranean imperialistic attempt to distract Nigeria from her regional duties and destroy ECOWAS. If this is allowed to stand, Nigeria will be denied the natural responsibility that she shoulders in the region by virtue of the advantages she has in the region.”
“A collapse ECOWAS will make Nigeria weak and the region will no longer be able to stand united in the face of external aggression.
“We fear that officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not properly briefed President Jonathan as Chair of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state, and have allowed the entire 150 million citizens of Nigeria to be cheated by a legalistic argument that was pushed forward by Francophone countries that have been angling to control the finances of ECOWAS where they are not significant contributors.
“The officers in question fell short of a clause that said Nigeria cannot hold the position permanently, whereas the federal government had earlier made it clear during the Obasanjo administration, and sustained by Yar’Adua’s administration, that permanent occupation of this post is a prerequisite for the continued release of funds to ECOWAS.”
Insisting that Nigeria had a right to occupy the position on a permanent basis because of the huge financial commitment it makes to ECOWAS for which the President had to report back to the National Assembly, Musa said the US was dictating the direction of the UN system through key position in its finance and administration as well as presidency of the World Bank, being a major financier of the UN.
“The same goes for the Commonwealth where the UK traditionally retains the position of Deputy Secretary General, who manages finance because it contributes 35% of the organization’s funds.”
