From politics to terrorism? The dangerous redefinition of Canada of Nigerian democracy, by Olufemi Soneye – Thage

When a Canadian Federal Court recently declared the two major political parties of Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Democratic Party of the opposition people (PDP) as terrorist organizations pursuant to the Canadian law, it was not only an immigration decision. It was a political earthquake with consequences that could reverberate well beyond the borders of Canada.

This decision, taken during a case of asylum that involves the Nigerian politician Douglas Egharevba, was based exclusively on his belonging to the past in these parts. There have been no evidence to show his personal involvement in violence or terrorism. However, pursuant to immigration and protection of Canadian refugees, affiliation alone with a designated terrorist group is sufficient to prevent entry.

The implications are deeply worrying. Legally, the sentence establishes a precedent that political affiliation, no matter how equal or mainstream to terrorism can be. Diplomatically, he risks extinguishing Canada-Nigerian relations by painting the country’s main democratic institutions with the same brush as the extremist groups.

For the Nigerians abroad, in particular those who have ever kept a card to belong to the party, report an increase in control, denied the visas and rejected the claims of asylum not only in Canada, but potentially in other western democracies that can follow the example.

Even more alarming is what this means for democracy. The labeling has established political parties such as terrorist organizations undermines legitimacy at home and abroad. The vital line between dissent and danger, between governance and extremism.

Once this label has been applied, it can be exercised, at national or international level as a tool to silence the opposition, suppress political participation and erode civil freedoms.

Terrorism is a serious accusation. Harmonizing it against political organizations that have ruled a democracy for decades is to dilute the meaning of the term and cool the fight against authentic extremists. It also exploits the essential border between political disagreement and criminal threat, a border that safeguards democratic life.

Canada has long been a sample of democratic values abroad. This sentence contradicts that inheritance. It must be revisited, challenged and correct, not only for the good of Nigeria, but for the integrity of democratic policy everywhere. If this precedent is located, no political party, in no country, is sure to be redefined in illegitimacy by a foreign court.

An immediate consequence of the Canadian sentence is that the young Nigerians respectful of the law, both at home and throughout the diaspora, could be branded “terrorists” exclusively for past or current affiliation with the APC or the PDP. I know for sure that the laws on immigration of the United States and Canada allow the inadmissibility based on adhesion to a group deemed terrorist, this creates a true risk of collateral stigmatization for young people whose involvement was purely civil.

The prospect of visa denials, asylum waste or routine travel control will cool the legitimate political participation among young people who are the lifeblood of the party renewal. Far from strengthening democracy, this deterrence heroes pluralism by pushing emerging voices outside traditional politics.

The world should take note: when the courts begin to decide which foreign political parties are “terrorists”, the erosion of democracy is no longer theoretical, it has begun.

This is not simply the internal question of Canada. It is a global warning. If the definition of terrorism can be stretched to understand traditional political organizations in one of the greatest democracies in Africa, then no political movement nowhere is sure to be redefined in illegitimacy.

Canada’s decision does not only concern Douglas Egharevba, but of the dangerous precedent that imposed. And if democratic nations do not reject this type of overcoming, one day they could find their own policy in trial in a foreign court.

Soneye is an expert media strategist and former director of NNPC LTD company communications, known for its strong political intuition, bold journalism and the involvement of high -level stakeholders through government, corporate and international and international platforms

Post views:
138