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Redefining National Sovereignty
By
Kunle Sanyaolu
culled from GUARDIAN, May 7, 2006
It is instructive that Nigeria
has somehow cropped up in the discussion of some foreign super powers over
the third term bid of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The development is hardly
surprising considering that nothing else seems to be happening in the
country except struggle for and against third term. This much is seen in the
National Assembly where the House of Representatives' members slugged it out
to deliver their points, and where the Senate engaged in long winding,
sometimes heated debate on the issue. Yet, the consideration of a third term
in Nigeria should not ordinarily be the business of any other country. By
international convention entered into by the comity of nations, such matters
are internal affairs of the country concerned. In respect to sovereignty of
nations therefore, it is improper, even unacceptable in international
politics, for a country to meddle in the affairs of another. In the last
week however, the British Parliament, in consideration of a letter written
it by a group of Nigerians based in Maryland, United States, had cause to at
least mention the third term issue. If nothing, the members took legislative
notice of the matter. The group that wrote the letter was basically
complaining about President Obasanjo's alleged attempt to elongate his
tenure beyond the term stipulated in the 1999 constitution; and his
tinkering with that constitution, using the instrumentality of the Joint
Committee of the National Assembly, to give his desire constitutional
authority. It is noteworthy that the British Parliament read out the letter
to the hearing of all members present, before declaring that it was not a
matter it could deliberate upon, having regard to its nature as an internal
affair of Nigeria and Nigerians.
The United States was more
forthcoming when it implored Obasanjo to respect term limits in the 1999
constitution. According to the United States Embassy in Abuja that
issued a statement portraying the U.S. concern, respect for term limit
makes room for the nurturing of leaders, widens the democratic space and
supports the rule of law. Responding to what it called "continuing media
inquiry regarding our position on the on-going process of amending the
National constitution", the embassy was categorical in its statement
thus: "Our view is very clear that executive term limits should be
respected in the interest of institutionalising democracy and opening
political space. This allows for new leaders to be groomed and it
supports the rule of law. A regular turnover of power ingrains and
institutionalises a democratic process. " The embassy noted however that
President Obasanjo was yet to make a categorical statement on his plans
after 2007.
Again, one could argue
that commentary on political transformation being engineered in one
country is not the business of another. The U.S was of course
careful in its statement. While it neither supports nor opposes
third term, it nevertheless stated its "view" pointing out that it
was necessitated by " continuing media inquiry". The embassy's view
is in effects, nothing short of advice to Obasanjo to tow the line
of term limit in the 1999 constitution. By inference, the president
should bow out in 2007 and allow sanity prevail. If he doesn't, his
action will be detrimental to democracy and will not be supported by
the U.S. What diplomacy! Whether you regard it as meddling in
another's affairs or undermining a sovereignty or plain rendering of
a piece of advice, the United States' position on third term is
unmistakable. And the country cannot claim to be ignorant that it
has passed strong comment on an issue that normally would have been
regarded strictly as Nigeria's internal matter.
Why then are these
countries playing the seeming pranks they are doing? The answer
is simply to say that while they respect Nigeria's sovereignty
and national integrity, they are not comfortable with the heat
being generated in the country over the third term. The
countries are experienced enough to know that though Obasanjo
has not declared his desire to be president for another four
years, he has revealed that desire in no unmistakable term.
Britain and America in particular are fully aware of the
possibility that if the fragile peace in Nigeria breaks, the
spillover effect could be tragic. Before third term became one
boiling issue, America had warned that Nigeria stood the risk of
breaking apart if certain indices were not checked. These
include ethnic and religious rivalry, restiveness in the Niger
Delta and emergence of militias. Third term is only adding to
the factors, and it is real. As leading nations, the U.S and the
United Kingdom would be bound to intervene in the event of a
violent escalation. They would be bound to raise funds, material
and men to keep peace through the United Nations or
unilaterally. It stands to reason that rather than watch and
allow the worst scenario to unfold, these super powers believe
they could and should do something to prevent an unpleasant
situation. This they do by releasing views and informed opinions
about the countries concerned. They try to infuse diplomacy in
their efforts, minding the possibility of an accusation of
meddling in matters that do not concern them.
Invariably,
sovereignty is being gradually redefined to the effect that
a country's independence is respected when that country can
control its affairs in a way not to hurt neighbouring
countries. A country should not only aspire to peace and
progress, it should prevent violence and recourse to
anarchy. In the case of Nigeria it has been shown that a
breakdown of law and order is capable of destabilising the
entire West Africa. Current information is in fact pointing
to the fact that our neighbouring countries are undergoing
pressure. Nigeria is easily the most populous black nation.
Its citizens are found in virtually all countries in the
globe, many of them not by choice, but due to unbearable
conditions within. Morocco is worried about the existence of
6,000 illegal immigrants from Nigeria in its fold. Nigerians
are known to undertake risky journeys in the night and
across the desert and the sea, just to be able to land in
Europe where they hope they could restart their lives after
a hopeless, long wait for a break at home. The Funny enough,
most of the countries they take risk to go have comparably
little natural resources, in relation to Nigeria. But the
countries have been able to organise themselves politically.
They conduct their politic with sanity and fair integrity.
They write rules and constitution that they respect. They do
not attempt to bend rules in the middle of the game.
Naturally, other goodies of life will follow a stable
polity. The economy can boom and regenerate. Social
condition will be humane. All citizens will be entitled to
the basics of life without needing to cut corners.
Infrastructure can expand and be in working conditions.
These are all conditions that have eluded Nigeria for a long
time. And now, with the third time bogey, no one in
government seems bothered to correct the flaw.
Whatever
America or the United Kingdom say or do about the third
term, Nigerians should know that their fate lies in
their hands. Members of the National Assembly who are
supposed to be representing the people are presently in
disarray, having been torn between respecting the wish
of their people and making themselves an easy, lifetime
fortune merely by supporting third term. It should be
little consolation to Nigerians that the Group of Eight
industrialised countries (the G.8) in the world has a
dwindling respect for Obasanjo and may not invite him to
its July summit holding in Russia over his third term
bid. Despotic leaders in Africa, indeed in Nigeria have
been known in the past to care less about the feelings
of the international community on them. On their part,
Nigerians have not been known to shy away from their
right. This is one occasion they should stick by that
principle. America and UK's concern about Nigeria is
borne out of their knowledge that Nigerians will fight
the third term to a standstill, and in the process,
cause a lot of upheaval around them. Perhaps somebody,
may be the president, will do something to allay the
fear of the civilised world.
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