The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice (CCSG-PSGEJ) has watched with concern the recent derogatory remarks by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu regarding the appointment of Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
In a statement signed Comrade James Okoronkwo, the National Coordinator of the group on Monday in Abuja.
According to the statement, We find it necessary to set the record straight and caution against the growing trend of “intellectual elitism” that seeks to diminish the proven capacity of homegrown leaders.
“Academic Pedigree ves.rsus Social Media Criticism Prof. Odinkalu’s description of this appointment as anything less than stellar is a blatant denial of academic reality.
“Sen. Ibrahim is not just a politician; he is a scholar of the highest order—a Doctor of Business from the University of Cambridge, an alumnus of the Oxford University and the London School of Economics (LSE).
“If a Cambridge Doctorate and Oxford training are not enough to represent Nigeria at the UN, we wonder what Prof. Odinkalu’s criteria are.
“Academic excellence is not a monopoly of the ‘professional critic’ class,” the statement read.
Legislative and Global Experience
The group also said before Ibrahim’s appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Worldwide.
“His role as Interim President of the UN Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva (2023) proves he is already a familiar face in the halls of global diplomacy.
“He is not going to the UN to learn; he is going there to lead.
“The Bias of the “Perpetual Critic
We note that Prof. Odinkalu has carved a niche for himself as a perpetual critic of the Nigerian state.
“While we respect the right to dissent, we reject the attempt to use “Human Rights” as a shield to launch personal vendettas against successful Nigerians.
“Nigeria needs ‘Doers’ at the UN, not just ‘Talkers.’ Sen. Ibrahim’s background in business, law, and international relations makes him the perfect bridge between Nigeria’s economic interests and global policy” the statement also read
The CCSG-PSGEJ called on Prof. Odinkalu to embrace the spirit of national progress.
“We congratulate Sen. Ibrahim and urge him to ignore the “noise from the sidelines” as he prepares to represent the most populous black nation on the world stage,” Okworonko said.