The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has admonished the European Union (EU) and different international pursuits towards interference in Nigeria’s democratic establishments, notably the electoral system, judiciary and the legislature.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, the manager director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, mentioned Nigeria ought to decide its personal democratic trajectory with out undue exterior affect.
He argued that current calls by the EU Mission for electoral and judicial reforms quantity to meddling within the nation’s inner affairs.
“Whereas worldwide companions are free to share experiences and supply help when invited, dictating reforms for Nigeria’s electoral, judicial or legislative techniques is unacceptable. Democracy with out sovereignty is a façade,” he mentioned.
Hamzat expressed concern that international pursuits are more and more overstepping their boundaries, utilizing coverage advocacy, legislative lobbying and judicial affect as instruments to teleguide Nigeria’s inner processes.
He insisted that the development isn’t solely worrisome but in addition undermines the nation’s dignity and independence.
“International nations are not happy with providing technical help; they now actively search to form our inner affairs to go well with their very own pursuits. This persistent interference is a risk to Nigeria’s sovereignty and nationwide safety,” he added.
Hamzat harassed that real reforms in Nigeria should be domestically pushed and rooted within the nation’s distinctive political, social and cultural realities, urging Nigerian leaders to withstand exterior manipulation and defend the independence of the nation’s establishments from being compromised.
He referred to as on civil society organisations and residents to stay vigilant, warning that the extreme obsession of international powers with Nigeria’s democratic and governance processes, if unchecked, might compromise the nation’s long run stability.
“As a nation, we should jealously guard our inner affairs. Sovereignty isn’t negotiable, and no nation can afford to outsource its democracy to international powers,” he mentioned.
