From Albert Ograka

Nigeria’s Senate Committee Chairman on Reparation & Repatriation, Senator Ned Nwoko has thrown his weight behind the Gambian Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara for the position of the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Nwoko who is representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate said, in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday that Tangara has the valuable experience to head the secretariat of the Commonwealth, noting that he stands out as one of the most experienced and accomplished contenders for the top job.

“With an impressive tenure as one of the longest-serving African Foreign Ministers, his expertise in diplomacy, politics and developmental issues is unparalleled.

‘’His deep understanding of global challenges, coupled with his unwavering commitment to Africa’s progress, makes him an ideal leader to guide the Commonwealth in this pivotal era.

“During a recent bilateral meeting in Abuja, Tangara shared with me his vision for Africa and the Commonwealth.

Tangara emphasised the importance of addressing reparative justice for Africa, mitigating global issues of peace and security and promoting human rights, climate action, and digital inclusion across our comity of nations.

“These pressing matters”, the statement added, “align closely with my advocacy for reparative justice for Africa and I am convinced that under Tangara’s leadership, the Commonwealth can play a transformative role in addressing them”.

Nwoko noted that he was particularly moved by Tangara’s eloquent and captivating speech at Chatham House in London.

During the event, the Gambian passionately expressed support for reparative justice and called for the Commonwealth to use its influence to facilitate meaningful dialogue on the crucial issue.

‘’His commitment to such causes is clear and I believe his leadership would be instrumental in ensuring that the Commonwealth takes a more active role in advocating for these initiatives .

‘’Reparative justice for Africa should be a top priority for the Commonwealth in the coming years.

“I firmly believe that  Tangara’s candidacy presents an extraordinary opportunity for the Commonwealth to embrace this mission under the leadership of an African Secretary-General”, the statement added.

Senator Nwoko has, therefore called for the political backing of the Heads of Government to give Tangara the support and authority to make meaningful progress on these vital issues.

The next Secretary-General is expected to be elected at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held at Apia, Samoa between October  21 and 26, 2024