Nigeria has opposed the proposal to split the African Union, AU’s, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
Nigeria’s opposition to the proposal was announced by President Bola Tinubu, who emphasised the need for a more vibrant, viable, and relevant AU in the face of rapidly changing global realities.
President Tinubu, whose stand was made known in a statement by his special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, commended the reform proposals put forward by his counterparts in Rwanda and Kenya, Paul Kagame and William Ruto.
President Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria had also endorsed the proposal to establish a Heads of State and Government oversight committee for AU reforms, as well as limiting the AU Summit agenda to three strategic items.
However, the President rejected the proposal to create a new department out of the existing Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
He argued that such would incur unnecessary expenditure and destabilise the AU’s political affairs, peace and security process.
According to the President, the Nigerian government’s stance is that clear reform is necessary, but it must be done in a way that is transparent, inclusive, and phased.
President Tinubu emphasised the importance of focusing on areas where consensus has already been reached, rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
