Federal Government has urged Canadian authorities to immediately withdraw the erroneous classification of some Nigerian political parties as terrorist organisations.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned that such a move could be misinterpreted as supporting politically motivated narratives against Nigeria.
The declaration was linked to the case of Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and sought inland refugee status under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The statement reads, “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.”
“The declaration was in pursuance of a case involving a Nigerian, Douglas Egharevba, who arrived in Canada in September 2017 and applied for inland refugee status under the immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada.”
“A statement by this baseless classification is not only reckless but also constitutes an unacceptable interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs and democratic processes.”
“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.”
“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 its 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 government also cautioned Nigerian nationals against making unfounded allegations about the country in pursuit of asylum or other favours from foreign entities.
