By James Sunday, FCAI, MNIIA
Citizens Integrity Group, a coalition of civil society organisations, has called on the Canadian Government to demand the retraction of a recent court pronouncement in Canada which declared some political parties in Nigeria as terrorist organisations. The coalition described the ruling as an affront and an act of blackmail against a sovereign nation like Nigeria, the most populous Black nation in Africa, one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies, and a regional power bloc that has fought terrorism head-on for the past 16 years.
The group observed that instead of supporting the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism, Canada chose to rely on the personal assessment of a single individual, out of the thousands of Nigerians living in Canada who contribute positively to the country’s growth and development. Nigeria itself is home to over 200 million citizens.
The coalition further stressed that eminent Nigerians residing lawfully in Canada have consistently proven their integrity and professionalism, and have never been found wanting or indicted in any terrorism-related activities. It urged the Canadian government to treat individuals on their merit rather than relying on the unfounded and sweeping generalisation made by the court. According to the group, such pronouncements risk placing law-abiding Nigerians in a negative light, particularly when it comes to exercising their fundamental human rights, including access to visas and lawful travel to Canada and other countries.
In view of this, the group called for the immediate retraction of the court’s statement and an official apology to the government and people of Nigeria. Failure to do so, it warned, could lead to litigation at the International Court of Justice to seek redress for blackmailing a sovereign nation and its citizens.
The coalition also urged the Nigerian government to prioritise sending seasoned career diplomats to key countries of interest, while deploying political appointees to nations with less diplomatic challenges. It noted that the Canadian court’s declaration branding some Nigerian political parties as terrorist organisations is not only misguided but also a reflection of global politics at play.