By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly condemned a recent ruling by a Canadian Federal Court that labeled certain Nigerian political parties as “terrorist organizations,” calling the judgment “reckless” and an “unacceptable interference” in the country’s democratic processes.
In a statement issued on Friday, by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, he described the court’s decision as stemming from a case involving a Nigerian citizen, Mr. Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in 2017 and applied for refugee status under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria express deep concerns over the recent ruling by a Canadian Federal court that erroneously designates certain political parties in Nigeria as ‘terrorist organizations.’ This baseless classification is not only reckless but also constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes,” the statement read.
He further criticised the broad scope of the court’s findings, and warned of its implications for millions of law-abiding Nigerian citizens.
Ebienfa stressed Nigeria’s status as a sovereign nation with a stable democratic system.
“The Court made a sweeping accusation against the entire membership of a political party that has produced three democratically elected presidents, instead of focusing on individuals found wanting. The larger ramification of the decision is that every member of the mentioned political parties is a potential terrorist, and that is completely false and unacceptable.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with a robust legal and constitutional framework governing political activities. Our political parties operate within the ambit of the law and are integral to the country’s vibrant democracy. To associate legitimate political entities with terrorism without credible evidence is a grave misrepresentation that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and could incite unnecessary tension”, he added.
The ministry therefore called for immediate action, and urged the Canadian authorities to withdraw the designation and avoid further damage to diplomatic relations.
The statement reiterates Nigeria’s commitment in the ongoing global fight against extremism:
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on the Canadian authorities to immediately retract this erroneous designation and refrain from actions that could be misconstrued as endorsing politically motivated narratives against Nigeria. Diplomatic channels remain open for constructive dialogue, and we urge the Government of Canada to engage with the relevant Nigerian institutions to rectify this error.
“Nigeria remains committed to the global fight against terrorism and has made significant strides in countering extremist groups within it borders; therefore, called on the international community to disregard this misguided ruling and reaffirm its confidence in Nigeria’s democratic governance and rule of law”, the statement further read.
The Nigerian government also warned its nationals against misusing asylum claims abroad.
“The government further urges Nigerian nationals to refrain from making unfounded allegations against Nigeria under the pretext of seeking asylum or favours from foreign entities”, it added.
