Human rights advocate Mike Ozekhome, SAN, expressed his concerns on Friday, asserting that the Federal Government lacks both legal and moral grounds to support the intervention of Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He argued that as a sovereign nation, Nigeria does not possess the legal authority to dictate the governance of Niger and its citizens, particularly regarding the type of government they choose to operate.
Leaders from ECOWAS nations recently decided to deploy forces to remove the military government in Niger Republic following a coup. However, Ozekhome disagreed with this decision, emphasizing that Nigeria lacks the moral standing to instruct Niger, as the international community did not dictate to Nigeria during its own military interventions in the past.
These remarks were made during his keynote address at the public presentation of a book titled “International Humanitarian Law and Armed Conflicts: An African Perspective,” organized by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Abuja. The book’s author, Dr. Hezekiah Duru, serves as the IHRC’s Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria.
The event was attended by notable figures including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, among others.
Ozekhome emphasized, “The international community never came to dictate to us how to govern ourselves during instances of military interventions. We have no moral authority to go and intervene in another sovereign state’s internal affairs.” He suggested that lawful actions that Nigeria and ECOWAS could take include imposing economic, diplomatic, and related sanctions but not military intervention.
He attributed the resurgence of military intervention in Africa to the failure of African leaders to provide effective leadership and their insistence on clinging to power indefinitely. Ozekhome cited examples of some African countries where a single family has held power for decades, stating that this was unfair to other citizens.
“The African leaders should give good governance to the people. Where they are not ready for the gain, they should be ready for the pain,” Ozekhome remarked.
The Sultan of Sokoto, represented by Professor Ahmed Mora, stressed the importance of protecting human rights in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, emphasizing that these principles align with the tenets of the Islamic religion.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, represented by Eva Omotese, highlighted the prevalence of various forms of conflict in many African countries, such as civil wars, coups, insurgencies, banditry, terrorism, and militancy. He emphasized the need to promote human rights and support the IHRC’s work in this regard.
Professor Rafal Marcin Wasik, the Secretary-General of the IHRC, expressed the organization’s commitment to promoting human rights and humanitarian services globally.
Regarding his book, Duru explained that it addresses legal challenges and proposes potential solutions, with a focus on understanding new developments in armed conflicts. The book aims to contribute to the promotion of humanitarian intervention and peace-building in Africa, particularly in countries experiencing armed conflicts.
Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, expressed his concern about the security challenges in Nigeria and pledged support for the activities related to the symposium.