Mrs Patience
Jonathan heads list of potential US sanction targets for incendiary comments she made while campaigning for her husband's re-election (Image source: PREMIUM TIMES)
|
The
United States government appears set to sanction Nigeria’s first lady,
Patience Jonathan, a former Niger Delta minister, Godsday Orubebe, and the
governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, and other Nigerians accused of
either disrupting the just concluded elections, or instigating violence.
The
U.S. said Monday that it will impose visa restrictions on any Nigerian found to
have incited violence or interfered with the electoral process. The
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield,
said in a statement that the U.S. will shut its doors on people involved in
any form of violence during the polls.
“Anyone
found to have incited violence or interfered with electoral processes will be
unwelcome in the United States and subject to visa sanctions,” Ms.
Thomas-Greenfield said.
PREMIUM TIMES report continues:
Although
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield did not give names of those considered for sanctions, Mr.
Orubebe, appears one of the most likely targets.
The
former minister openly disrupted the process of collation of the presidential
election results in Abuja on March 31, as the event was broadcast live by the
international media.
Accusing
the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, of
bias, Mr. Orubebe for several minutes asked Mr. Jega to stand down before the
process could continue.
The
former minister received worldwide condemnation for his actions, and later apologized.
Mrs.
Jonathan had said at the ruling Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign in
Calabar, Cross River State, early March, that anyone chanting change should be
stoned.
“I’m
telling you, anyone that comes and tell you change, stone that person,” she
said. “What you did not do 19 kilikili, is now that age has caught up with you,
you want to come and change? You can’t change rather you will turn back to a
baby. You will turn back to a baby. From old age nothing, so nothing like
change. Rather (it) is continuity.”
The
sanctions may also target Mr. Shema of Katsina state, who was caught on tape
prodding his supporters to attack and kill opposition members and their
supporters. He described members of the opposition as “cockroaches”.
The
deputy governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru, had also during a campaign rally
in the state, called on the people to fight and redeem the state from the All
Progressives Congress, APC, even if it means shedding their blood.
“It
is necessary for the sake of your fathers, for the sake of your mothers, for
the sake of your brothers and sisters and for the sake of your children. Every
Rivers man must stand up to fight this evil among us,” Mr. Ikuru said. “If it
demands your blood, so be it.”
Also,
in January, the Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Yero, was caught on tape
threatening violence against the APC.
Mr.
Yero vowed swift “revenge” if ever attacked by any one “born of woman”.
The
U.S. may also target the former militant leaders in the Niger Delta who
threatened war if President Goodluck Jonathan lost the elections.
The
ex-militant leaders, among them, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader, Niger Delta
Peoples Volunteer Force; Victor Ben Ebikabowei, aka, Boy Loaf; and Government
Ekpudomenowei, aka, Tompolo, made the threat in January.
Several
other politicians may also be sanctioned after investigations into dozens of
election-related violence are completed.
Ms.
Thomas-Greenfield said, while the elections were generally without a
significant scale of violence, and irregularities in some parts of Nigeria,
some people were resolved to undermine the will of Nigerians and interfere with
electoral processes, resorting to violence and voter intimidation.
She
said the U.S. regretted any loss of life and property during the process,
adding that violence and rigging was unacceptable in a democratic electoral
process.
She
commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and its chair, Attahiru
Jega. She also encouraged Nigeria and other nations to continue to explore the
use of relevant technologies in future elections.
She
said, “Despite some technical glitches, it is clear that technology and use of
social media-INEC’s online posting of results for each polling unit, live
tweeting of results, the use of biometric permanent voter cards and electronic
card readers- improved efficiency and limited fraud.”
The
US President, Barack Obama, had before Nigeria’s general elections said
successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent
challenges Nigerians face today.
Ms.
Thomas-Greenfield said, “Now more than ever, it is up to all Nigerians to stay
united so that Nigeria can move forward with a clear set of priorities for the
future”.
She
said the U.S. welcomed all commitments made by the outgoing and the incoming
presidents towards a peaceful transition process.
“This
next phase is critical as the world continues its hopeful watch for what happens
in Nigeria. Nigerian democracy will be a beacon across the continent and
beyond”.
She
said the conclusion of a peaceful electoral process in Nigeria will serve as an
example to other nation preparing for elections.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said
the US looked forward to the inauguration of the president elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, on May 29 and the beginning of a new chapter of the relationship
between the two countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment