Isaac Fayose has rejected calls by African leaders for the continent to be given two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNGA).
Fayose, in a viral video, said African countries were not currently qualified to occupy permanent seats because of what he described as persistent political, electoral, human rights and economic challenges across the continent.
He began by acknowledging the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly, saying it was a good one and that he had monitored and followed submissions made by various African leaders.
According to him, leaders from countries including Kenya and Ghana had argued that African countries deserved two permanent seats at the United Nations.
However, Fayose said he disagreed with the position, questioning which African countries would be qualified to nominate representatives if the continent were given the proposed seats.
“I don’t agree with them. I believe they don’t deserve no seats because look at their country, look at how they are running each country,” he said.
Fayose questioned whether South Africa, which he accused of encouraging xenophobia, would be considered, or Kenya, where he said citizens were protesting for a better life.
Fayose questions African leaders’ qualifications
He also questioned whether Uganda, whose leader he said had been in power for over three decades, Cameroon or Tanzania would be suitable to represent Africa in permanent positions at the UN.
“So yeah, go and sit on the seat when Africa is burning,” Fayose said.
Turning his attention to Nigeria, Fayose referred to what he described as claims concerning the country’s president and the FBI, saying there were old records that the president was allegedly asking not to be released.
He further criticised African countries over their electoral systems, arguing that many of them had been unable to conduct elections to the standard he believes is required.
“Who among them, look at Africa, even their elections, they cannot conduct election,” he said.
Fayose also cited Nigeria’s inability to conduct a population census for years, saying the country had waited for decades without successfully counting its population.
He questioned what Africa had achieved that would make it deserving of a permanent seat while millions of people on the continent continued to live in poverty.
‘Africa must work for the position’
Fayose also criticised African countries for frequently seeking financial assistance, questioning how a continent that continually asks for money could occupy a permanent position at the UN.
“Is it the Africans that have gone there to even many to even go and beg for more money? Is it how do you want someone that is begging for money all the time to come and sit in that position?” he asked.
He argued that Africa should not simply be handed permanent seats but should work towards earning them by addressing its internal challenges.
“I believe they have to hand that position. I believe that position what they must work for it. I don’t think Africa is right right now for United Nations seats, permanent seats,” Fayose said.
He maintained that African countries were not currently ready for permanent seats, adding that governments across the continent needed to address several fundamental issues.
Call for improved human rights and elections
Fayose called on African leaders to do more to protect human rights and develop the continent for the benefit of its people rather than a selected few.
“I think they are not right. They should work on their human rights more. They should work on building Africa for Africans, not for some selected few,” he said.
He also urged African countries to improve the transparency and credibility of their elections.
“They should work more on making our elections more transparent and more credible,” Fayose concluded.
Watch the video here…
“African countries don’t deserve any permanent seat at the UNGA. Which of them even deserves to be nominated? Is it South Africa? Is it Tanzania? Or is it Nigeria that FBI is chasing our President with his old records”
— Isaac Fayose pic.twitter.com/BSppwOiLyG
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) September 28, 2026