“Nigeria Has No Legal or Moral Justification for Military Intervention in Niger,” Says Ozekhome SAN
Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has argued that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were justified in imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions against Niger over the refusal of the coupists to restore a democratic order.
Ozekhome however contended that Nigeria lacked both legal and moral justifications to encourage the planned invasion of the Niger Republic by ECOWAS.
He argued that Niger, being a sovereign state, Nigeria cannot dictate to the country and its citizens the way to run their affairs, particularly the type of government they should operate.
The SAN added that Nigeria equally lacked the moral foundation to stand and dictate to Niger because the international community never dictated to Nigeria in many instances when it experienced military interventions in the past.
Ozekhome spoke on along with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and others at a symposium on “international humanitarian law and armed conflicts: An African perspective” held in Abuja by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
The event also featured among others, the public presentation of a book, titled: “International Human Law and Armed Conflicts: An African perspective,” authored by the IHRC’s Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Dr. Hezekiah Duru.
Ozekhome, who was the keynote speaker, said: “The international community never came to dictate to us on how to govern ourselves during instances of military interventions. We have no moral authority to go and intervene in another sovereign state’s internal affair.”
Ozekhome noted that the most Nigeria, ECOWAS and others, opposed to the current political situation in Niger could lawfully do, is to impose economic, diplomatic and related sanctions, but not to engage in military intervention.
He blamed the resurgence of military intervention in the continent on the failure of African leaders to provide effective leadership and refrain from equating themselves to the country they govern by insisting on being in power perpetually.
Citing examples of some African countries led by a single family for many years, Ozekhome argued that it was unfair to other citizens of such countries to be subjected to the leadership of one family for decades.
The Sultan of Sokoto, who was represented by Prof. Ahmed Mora, noted that human rights issues are very much consistent with the tenets of the Islamic religion, which must be continually protected in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
He recalled that as a retired Brigadier General, who served the Nigerian Army for 34 years, he was involved in peace-keeping and peace enforcement exercises across the continent.
The Sultan who regretted the impact of conflicts on Nigerians, including the high number of the internally displaced, urged all to work on ways to discourage war and other forms of conflicts which affect the people’s ability to exercise their human rights
The Interior Minister, who was represented by Mrs. Omotese Eva, noted that because many countries in the continent are currently experiencing different forms of conflict, like civil war, coup, insurgence, banditry terrorism, militancy, among others, made it imperative for all to promote human rights of everyone by supporting the work of the IHRC.
The Secretary General of the IHRC, Prof. Rafal Marcin Wasik, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, assured of his organisation’s commitment to the promotion of human rights and humanitarian services globally.
Duru explained that his book identified legal challenges and critically discussed them with a view to proffering possible solutions, adding that “the significance of the book also borders on the understanding of new developments in armed conflict which it brings even as it extends the knowledge-base that currently exists in the field.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Yakubu Pam regretted was the devastating effect of the current security challenge in the country on the people and assured of his support for the activities of those behind the symposium.
