Sanders warns over denigrating the Country 'Nigeria'.

By Jaiyeola Andrews ¨

One of the four candidates currently vying for the influential post of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Sir. Ronald Sanders yesterday warned Nigerians against denigrating their country.

He said if Nigeria capitulates, it would have massive effect on African continent.

Sanders spoke while commenting on a question by a participant at the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) conference in Abuja that denigrated the image of the country.

He told the participants that rather the rubbish Nigeria’s image, its people must do all the needful to shore it up.

He stressed that developing countries would face monumental problems if Nigeria capitulates, and as such all hands should be on deck to protect Nigeria’s image.

Nigeria is yet to sign Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and European Union (EU).

The Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) had warned Nigeria against signing the agreement.

It said signing it would negatively affect local manufacturer, as Nigeria lack the capacity to compete with its European counterpart.

MAN noted that Nigeria would loose about $1.3 trillion revenue should it sign on the agreement.

Both the EU representatives and their Nigeria counterpart debated extensively on the agreement, but no common ground was reached. 
Sanders delivered the keynote address at the international conference on the EU-ECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

However, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir. Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal  presented his historic memoirs, ‘Glimpses of a Global Life’ for the first time in Africa before a gathering of Commonwealth, African and European Union ambassadors in Nigeria.