Ukraine: ‘Nigeria not under EU, Western world’

They both gave this explanation during their presentation at the UN Security Council and general assembly over the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week considered a Resolution on the conflict on the situation in Ukraine.  This followed the deadlock at the UN Security Council where an earlier Resolution […]

They both gave this explanation during their presentation at the UN Security Council and general assembly over the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week considered a Resolution on the conflict on the situation in Ukraine.  This followed the deadlock at the UN Security Council where an earlier Resolution was blocked by the Russian Veto and abstention by China.  
The UN reaffirmed the paramount importance of the UN Charter as the bed rock as the promotion of the rule of Law including the imperative to uphold the principles of the UN Charter particularly Article 2 as well as other relevant provisions of International Law.  
Wali said Nigeria’s vote has been misunderstood as if it arose from the pressure and the direction of the European Union (EU) and other Western Powers adding that nothing can be further from the truth as explained by the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Professor (Mrs) Joy Ogwu and himself.
“Nigeria voted in favour of principles and in defence of its national interest.  What was at stake was some of the fundamental principles on which the UN is based as contained in the Charter of the global body.  Respect for the territorial integrity of countries and recourse to negotiations and peaceful dialogue in the resolution of conflicts are among the fundamental principles of the UN to which Nigeria strongly subscribe. This was what Nigeria voted for,’ the minister said.
He however noted that what is more important to Nigeria as a multi-religious, multi- ethnic, and pluralist society, is respect for territorial integrity, peace and unity of the country as a matter of core national interest.  Adding that that was why Nigeria could not have voted in favour of any attempt to dismember any member state of the UN, especially when the issues in dispute have not been resolved amicably.
“It is our considered view that change of existing borders, when they do occur, must arise from peaceful negotiations in a process that is open, fair, and transparent; devoid of external influences.  Anything short of this is an open invitation to international anarchy,” Wali said.
Wali said those who hold the view that Nigeria voted based on pressure from Western Powers and EU, have conveniently ignored the time tested axiom that foreign policy decision making must reflect the national interest. In the process of upholding and respecting ones national interest, there could be coincidence of views and positions of countries or group of countries.