President condemns killing of Rohingya Muslims in UN speech

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The president addressed the assembly as the eighth speaker during the morning session immediately after Slovakian President, Andrej Kiska, and long after the explosive speech made by US President, Donald Trump.

play Nigeria's delegation with President Muhammadu Buhari at the 72nd session of the United Nations' General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday, September 19, 2017
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While addressing world leaders, the president backed the UN's call to halt the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in the crisis-ridden country, warning that people are the primary victims.

He said, "The Myanmar crisis is very reminiscent of what happened in Bosnia in 1995 and in Rwanda in 1994. We fully endorse call by Sec-Gen on Myanmar to halt ongoing ethnic cleansing & ensure safe return of displaced Rohingya. In all these crises, the primary victims are the people, the most vulnerable being women and children."

The president also warned world leaders about the threat that North Korea's nuclear capabilities pose to international peace and security.

He said, "Most pressing threat to international peace and security today is the accelerated nuclear weapons development programme by North Korea. Since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we have never come so close to the threat of nuclear war as we have now.

"All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to accept peaceful resolution of the crisis. As Hiroshima and Nagasaki painfully remind us, if we fail, the catastrophic human loss and environmental degradation cannot be imagined.

"Nigeria proposes strong UN delegation to urgently engage North Korean Leader. Delegation should include members from all regions.

"Korean peninsula crisis underscores urgency for member states to ratify w/out delay Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons."

President Buhari concluded his speech by stating Nigeria's commitment to bringing global peace, security and development to the world in accordance with the principles and goals of the United Nations.

The annual debate of the UN General Assembly is an occasion for world leaders to gather to discuss global issues.

The theme of the general debate of the 72nd session is "Focusing on People - Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet."

Other African leaders speaking during Tuesday's morning session are Guinea's Alpha Condé, Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and Zambia's Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Others set to address the assembly of world leaders during the afternoon session are Gambia's Adama Barrow, Mali's Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Egypt's Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Uganda's Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Mauritania's Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and South Africa's Jacob Zuma.

President Buhari travelled to the general assembly with Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin, and the Minister of State on Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.