Nigeria and the Commonwealth

I recently noticed the existence of an international forum of mainly former British colonies around the world, which is known as the 'Commonwealth of Nations.' The Federation of Nigeria, my motherland, is a member as it was a British colony for almost 100 years.

After doing some reading on this forum, I observed that charterwise, it is well organized and a serious attempt by its members to achieve unity. In practical terms however, it's used by some western nations for their selfish political and economic satisfaction.

I have seen an instance where former colonizers used it for meddling in other people's infernal affairs. But how do they do it? I asked a friend who said: "They use democracy and human rights issues." This answer wasn't that satisfactory so I asked my friend for a good example of this.

My friend pointed out that Nigeria is a good example of a Commonwealth member whose leaders, for the sake of national sovereignty, refused to bow down to the Commonwealth's attempt to temper with her internal affairs. He further said that if it's true there are any human rights/democracy inconsistencies in Nigeria, the same or worse can be found elsewhere, because Nigerians are merely human beings as good or as bad as any other.

At this point, I was totally convinced and I even added to his example thus, in this world, is Nigeria the only country that is ruled by the military?

Recently my country, almost unilaterally, put Liberia on the path to democracy and is now assisting Sierra-Leene on its path to democracy.

I wonder why those achievements are less well-publicized. Nigeria was finally suspended from the Commonwealth last year for failing to establish democracy. The result is that a number of Nigerians, including myself, believe that Commonwealth membership is not a condition for human survival so it's high time for our country to pull herself out of this 'big-for-nothing' organization.

Pakistan, also a former British colony, is no longer a member. Even the U.S. should be a member but it is not. So the Edinburgh conference of Commonwealth should have borne in mind that those who play a major role in the Commonwealth unfortunately still have democracy/human rights problems of their own. Take the conflict in Ireland as a case in point.

Prominent members like Canada, Britain, New-Zealand or agents like South Africa should in particular take note that North- Nigerians who are in their country's leadership are people who do not know the meaning of inferiority to the West.

Instead they even believe that democracy or human rights issues must be handled by the West and inform of exemplary actions, or in other words: "Charity begins at home."

BUHARI ABDU

Jakarta