Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has criticised calls by some United States lawmakers for Nigeria to abolish Sharia law, insisting that no foreign nation has the authority to dictate constitutional changes to a sovereign country.
Bwala said any external attempt to influence Nigeria’s constitutional provisions would amount to an assault on the nation’s sovereignty.
“They don’t have the locus,” he said when asked whether the US could compel Nigeria to scrap Sharia law in northern states or alter its constitution.
“Doing so would infringe on the territorial integrity and rights of the country.”
Bwala also dismissed US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks hinting at possible military intervention, describing such threats as inconsistent with international conventions.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, he noted that a military invasion is only legally permissible under three conditions: if invited by the host nation, if the invading country is at war with the host, or if authorised by the United Nations.
He clarified that Sharia law, practised in 12 northern states, is a state-level legal system allowed within Nigeria’s federal structure.
“Sharia law is not a national law.
“We practice a federal system, even if theirs is more advanced,” he said.
His remarks follow a briefing to US lawmakers on Tuesday, where experts urged Congress to pressure Nigeria to abolish Sharia law and disband Hisbah religious police.
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations warned that extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP exploit Sharia-based institutions and Hisbah operatives to promote violent persecution and forced conversions.
Bwala, however, reaffirmed that Nigeria’s constitution is solely the concern of Nigerians.
“We differ with them on this idea of amending our constitution.
“Nigeria is a sovereign state, has never been colonised by America, and we are not Venezuela,” he said.
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