Delivering an address to the Joint session of the Kenyan Parliament on the sidelines of his state visit to that country, Jonathan stressed that International Organisations were created to resolve problems and not to compound them.
Continue after the break.
He said International Organisations should be seen to resolve crisis in countries across the world and not to be seen as contributing to problems of nations.
Specifically, Jonathan said that the insistence on trial of Kenyatta by the ICC would further compound the political crisis which had already been doused in Kenya.
He recalled that a general elections in Kenya in 2006 plunged the country into political turmoil, which was later resolved.
Jonathan noted that with the successful completion of the recent peaceful Presidential elections in Kenya, the ICC should not be seen as a body to derail the progress made in the country.
“I belief that any law whether local or international as well as Treaties and Conventions should be seen to solve human problems and not to compound them,’’ he said.
He called on the international community to support Kenya in its social-economic development.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the trial of Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto, over alleged crimes against humanity committed before their elections had generated controversies in that country
NAN reports that on Thursday, the Kenyan Parliament were recalled from recess to vote for the withdrawal of the country from the ICC.
The lawmakers who successfully voted in favour of the motion, had contended that they were taking the steps in defense of Kenya sovereignty.
However, the Global court has insisted that the trial of Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto would go ahead.
In a contrary opinion, Jonathan argued that the 2013 Presidential elections which brought President Kenyatta to office had demonstrated that Kenyans were capable of resolving their problems without interference from the international community.
“I believe I share the sentiments of the government and people of Kenya when I say that we in Nigeria do not embrace democracy and the rule of law in response to external pressure or demand.
“We have embraced democracy and its underpinnings such as free, fair, credible and transparent election; rule of law; respect for human and peoples’ rights, because they are the right things to do and they are good for us.
“We do not seek the validation or endorsement of our democracy outside the collective will of our people, the citizens and electorates of our respective countries.
“Democracy is not a one-size-fits-all system; rather it is a dynamic political system which must be operated within the particular context it finds itself,’’ he said.
President Jonathan also called for the reform of the UN Security Council and other multilateral Organisations with lopsided membership.
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