Following recent remarks by the US Secretary of State, John
Kerry and the European Union on the postponement of the general elections, the
Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday Feb. 11th,
warned all foreign missions in the country to stop interfering in its internal
affairs, particularly its electoral process.
At a meeting with over a hundred heads of missions in Abuja,
the Minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, said information reaching the
Federal government indicates that some foreign missions want to interfere in
the electoral process and that the federal government will not tolerate such
actions.He said interference in Nigeria's internal affairs by foreign envoys
is unacceptable...
"No country, I repeat no country, no matter how well
intentioned can love Nigeria more than Nigerians themselves. Excellencies let
me seize this opportunity to express the strong displeasure of the Federal
government on conducts of some heads of mission who have continued to behave in
an imperial manner and in clear breech of the channel of diplomatic
communication. A situation where a head of mission takes on the role of a
government seeking to impose the views and perspectives of its government and
make unguided utterances on matters that are strictly within the domestic
jurisdiction of the host country is unacceptable. Let me be clear, the Federal
government would no longer tolerate the excesses of such heads of mission. They
are hereby advised to operate within the norms and etiquette of diplomatic
intercourse” the Minister said.
While reacting to the postponement in a statement released
on Sunday February 8th, US Secretary of State, John Kerry said “political
interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission” is
unacceptable, calling on the government to “not use security concerns as a
pretext for impeding the democratic process”.
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