To some analysts and international observers, Nigeria’s abstinence from voting to suspend Russia from the United Nation’s Human Rights Council on Thursday smacks of hypocrisy and policy inconsistency at the international level.
The criticism comes on the backdrop of earlier condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by Nigeria alongside other countries.
“Abstaining from giving practical expression to what you have agreed at the first instance, shows either lack of understanding of international politics or the usual policy summersault for which the country is reputed for, home and abroad,” says an international policy analyst who pleaded for anonymity.
Another analyst sees the action as portraying Nigeria in a bad light to the international community.
However, Lagos based analyst says Nigeria’s action may be borne out of intimidation, considering the fact that the country is losing out fast considering the fact that she looks up to Russia for the Ajaokuta company project and other bilateral relationships, hence the need for the country to be cautious.
According to him, Nigeria’s latest stance may be a careful balancing of her position on the Ukrainian crisis.
Nigeria and many African countries abstained from joining the western nations to suspend Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday.
The suspension done by the UN General Assembly came after reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” by invading Russian troops in Ukraine.
The U.S.-led push garnered 93 votes in favour, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained.
A two-thirds majority of voting members – abstentions do not count – was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member council.
Many African countries, like Nigeria abstained from the vote.
Nigeria had voted, along with 140 other nations, to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine on March.2
Suspensions are rare. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.
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The resolution adopted by the 193-member General Assembly draft expresses “grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,” particularly at reports of rights abuses by Russia.
Russia had warned countries that a yes vote or abstention will be viewed as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters.
