Nigeria Warns International Community Over Meddling With Nation’s Affairs
Posted by: Channels Television
July 19, 2013
In what seemed like a kneejerk responsce to pressure from US and UK, nigeria made it clear it would not co-operate with other nations against her national interest



Nigeria would nolonger tolerate the meddling of the internationalcommunity in the internal affairs of the country. This was the warning of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru when he read the riot act to diplomats in Abuja on Friday during a session to address issues of oil theft, terrorism, death sentence, gay rights amongst others that relate to Nigeria and the international community.
The Minister lamented the constant meddling and pressures the international community places on Nigeria especially on issues of death sentence and the gay marriage.
He cautioned the diplomats against making comments on political issues that “amounted to undue interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.”
“Some ambassadorsand their diplomats have been hob-nobbing with civil society groups and opposition parties in the country. This is incompatible with the status of diplomatic missions or agents. We will not hesitate to identify and deal with erring missions that fail to respect Nigeria’s sensitivities and sovereignty”

Mr. Ashiru declared.
The envoy urged the diplomats to enable their governments understand Nigeria’s perspectives on gay rights and death penalty. He said the country’s criminal code contains provisions for death sentence for now and review could happen in the nearest future.
“On gay rights, I must stress that this is not in accord with the culture and beliefs of the generality of Nigerians. I, therefore, appeal to the international community through you to show greater understanding of the culture and traditions of our people,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria does not meddle in the business of other nations and should not be manipulated otherwise.
Al-bashir’s Visit
The Minister clearedthe air yet again over the recent visit of Sudanese President, Omar Al-bashir to Nigeria for the just concluded African Union conference, saying the indicted Sudanese leader was an AU guest and not Nigeria’s.
Mr. Ashiru reiterated that the military was fully committed to the protection of human rights, denying allegations of extra-judicial killings made against the security forces in the on-going military operations in Borno,Yobe and Adamawa,noting that state of emergency declaredin the states has recorded tremendous success.

On Piracy and oil theft

The Foreign Affairs Minister also stated that the ministry will no longer entertain appeals from foreign missions to release crew or ships involved in illegal activities on Nigeria’s territorial waters.
On the Gulf of Guinea, Mr. Ashiru appealed to the international community to cooperate with Nigeria in the fight against piracy and oil theft.
“The Nigerian Navy and NIMASA have been directed to take firm measures against any ship caught in unwholesome activities, including oil theft on Nigeria’sterritorial waters. In the past, ambassadors have come to me or my permanent secretary to plead for the release of either their ships or the crew members caught in illegal activities. This is to serve as a warning that henceforth, I will not be able to grant audience to people coming to plead for the release of their ships or crew members,” he said.
Crude oil theft has been on the increase in Nigeria as the country is estimated to be losing about 400,000 barrels daily to oil theft and sabotage of facilities.
On consular matters, Mr. Ashiru expressed concern about the rate of rejection of applicants by some countries. He asked missions to desist from dealing directly with some agencies of government on issues pertaining to issuance of Notes Verbale in support of applications for visas.
“All such matters should be referred to the ministry which remains the channel of communications with government,” he said.
He also frowned at the practice of missions writing directly to the State House on any matter, which he said, was a clear breach of established channel of communication as contained in the Vienna Convention.
He said the ministry would no longer condone such clear breach of established communication channels

Backbone is growing.