Shiites, Army clashes: UK tasks parties on rule of law
The Outgoing British High commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has called on the Nigerian Army and members of the Shiite group in Nigeria to respect the rule of law in their activities.
The Ambassador, who weighed in on the recent clashes between members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria and the Nigeria army, described it as an unfortunate incident that should be avoided in the future.
Ambassador Arkwright in a farewell reception signally the end of his tenure as High Commissioner, revealed these to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the British Envoy, “Just as the IMN must obey the rule of law by exercising their rights to demonstrate peacefully, and the key word here is peacefully.
“It is also important for the security forces in Nigeria to respect the rule of law.”
While stating that he wasn’t in the position to apportion blames, he described the recent clashes between security and the IMN as unfortunate.
He said that he hoped the government’s investigation into the problem as promised would produce recommendations on how to handle such situations.
Mr Arkwright also declared the British government’s position on the farmers/herders conflict in northern Nigeria, stating that it is not a religious conflict.
The High Commissioner revealed that the Prince of Wales’ recent meeting with religious rulers in Nigeria, further consolidated reasons that there are underlying issues of climate change, desertification fuelling the conflict.
“This is a conflict that is driven by complex reasons of climate change, pressure on resources, land and desertification of northern Nigeria.
“Population growth is among lot of issues, and I am happy to repeat that the farmers/herders conflict is not a religious conflict.
“Even if some people will like to make it about religion, and that’s very clearly the position of the British government”, he informed.
Additionally the envoy said that population explosion management and sustainable economic development remained among other thing the focal point of the British government’s engagement with Nigeria.
The Outgoing Envoy described his stay in Nigeria as a memorable one, adding that the UK government will continue to support the fight against corruption of the Nigerian government.
Mr Arkwright’s successor Catriona Laing is expected to resume office on the 26th of November.
