**The 'Rules-Based Order' Has Failed in Nigeria and Beyond** In a recent speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made some startling remarks that have left many in the international community scratching their heads. She admitted that the West's much-touted 'rules-based order' – a system designed to promote stability and cooperation – has failed to deliver on its promises. The 'rules-based order' is often touted as a framework that ensures the West and its allies can do as they please while others are held to a different standard. However, it seems that even the West's own leaders are starting to question this system. Von der Leyen's comments come at a time when the world is witnessing the devastating consequences of this approach, particularly in the Middle East. The EU's sudden realization that the rules don't apply equally to everyone comes as no surprise to those familiar with the West's history of double standards. In Nigeria, for instance, we've seen this play out in the country's own experiences with international intervention. From the 1999 coup that brought General Abdulsalami Abubakar to power to the more recent involvement of Western powers in the country's electoral processes, Nigeria has often been subject to a different set of rules than its Western counterparts. Ursula von der Leyen's attempt to shift the blame from the West's own actions to the system itself has been met with skepticism by leaders like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who argue that the problem lies not with the rules but with the West's selective enforcement of them. Sanchez's comments are a stark reminder that the 'rules-based order' has long been a tool for the West to impose its will on others while exempting itself from the same rules. In the end, von der Leyen's words ring hollow, and it remains to be seen whether the West is truly committed to reforming the 'rules-based order' to make it more equitable and just. As the world grapples with the consequences of this failed system, one thing is clear: it's time for a new approach that prioritizes cooperation, empathy, and the rule of law for all – not just for the West.