“You destroyed the British Commonwealth and left an empty shell that does not honor human rights”_ David Matsanga
The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General. Image from X:@IGIHE
Renowned international lawyer and activist Dr. David Matsanga (PhD), has issued a scathing critique of Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, accusing her of a “disastrous” leadership style that, he claims, has undermined the organization’s core values. In a letter dated May 16, 2024, Matsanga expressed concern over Scotland’s tenure, specifically her alleged failure to address pressing human rights issues in Nigeria, a member state of the comity of civilised nations.
According to Matsanga, Patricia Scotland’s tenure as Secretary General has been a disservice to the Commonwealth and has diminished the Commonwealth’s global standing.
“Madam Secretary General, you have destroyed the British Commonwealth and left it an empty shell that no longer honors human rights,” Matsanga wrote in the letter. He went on to say that the Commonwealth’s founders “must be turning in their graves,” as the organization fails to act on blatant abuses in Nigeria.
Matsanga said he would not hide his “delight” at Scotland’s eventual departure from the Commonwealth, accusing her of leaving behind an organization marred by corruption and dishonesty. He argued that her failure to act on pressing issues like Nigeria’s human rights abuses showed that she had “sold her soul” and allowed the Commonwealth’s integrity to deteriorate under her watch.
Matsanga’s central claim is that Nigeria, with a population of over 220 million, has become a “haven of terrorists, killings, abduction of people, and rampant corruption,” particularly since 2010. He emphasized that human rights abuses have become normalized in the country, and recent elections have been marred by what he calls “judicial electoral fraud.” In his letter, Matsanga declared, “It is only a matter of time before the Commonwealth acts, or its silence becomes a confirmation of complicity.”
According to the lawyer, the situation in Nigeria is in violation of the Commonwealth’s core values, which should warrant immediate suspension from the organization. Comparing the current situation to previous expulsions of member states for human rights violations, Matsanga argued that Nigeria’s continued membership exposes double standards and makes a mockery of the Commonwealth’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights.
He noted that past governments, such as Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe, had been expelled for similar reasons and that Nigeria’s ongoing abuses should not be overlooked.
“Has the Commonwealth become so corrupt that you don’t see the human rights abuses?” Matsanga questioned.
Matsanga accused the Secretary General of turning a blind eye to the illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK), the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which Matsanga describes as an abduction. He argued that Scotland had received “hundreds of letters” about the case but had taken no action due to alleged corruption.
Earlier this year, Bruce Fein, international counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK) petitioned the United Nations, European Union, the Commonwealth and the African Union, seeking the suspension or expulsion of Nigeria from the comity of civilised nations. Bruce Fein in a petition to the world leaders alleged that Nigeria is an outlaw nation and a threat to international peace and security, saying that “no country in the world is safe from Nigeria’s trademark lawlessness”.
“Madam SG, it is sad that a British citizen with a British passport was kidnapped while in Africa and flown to Nigeria where he has been detained without trial,” Matsanga wrote. He went on to claim that corruption has pocketed Scotland, preventing her from acting on this and other abuses in Nigeria. Matsanga implored the Secretary General to “rectify the wrongs” of Kanu’s detention before leaving her post.
