Council for African Security Affairs (CASA) condemned in a strong term all attempts to undermine democracy in Nigeria as noticed in the recent ("see and buy") manipulation of elections in Ekiti State, and the purported anti-democratic impeachment of a sitting governor in Benue State of Nigeria. Also, the outright disrespect for law in Imo State, where the Judiciary struggles to hold its head up by not accepting the purported impeachment of the Deputy Governor. The negation of the rule of law, disobedience of court judgment, unlawful detention of journalist and violation of rights of citizens are evidence of anti-democratic tenets ongoing under the watch and supervision of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. In a democratic society, human dignity, equity, justice, and caring were to serve as both ends and means in our political economy, and social relations.
While the killing of Christians and other innocent Nigerians has been going on in the last three years unabated, the Nigerian government prefer to deploy the resources and its security assets on harassing opposition group and innocent citizens.
CASA supports anti-corruption efforts, but the use of law enforcement agencies, including Nigeria Police and the EFCC to coerce the opposition is condemnable. The people must see actions to combat corruption as being legal to warrant public support. We call on the US government and international community to impose proportionate sanctions on those involved through the cancellation of their visas and bar them and their family from medical and business tourism for ten years. We further call on the EU to withdraw funding assistance and strategic support for the EFCC and the Police Service of Nigeria.
The credibility of those agencies mentioned has been impeached given its role as biased as attack weapons of the ruling government. In a recent election, police were used in rigging while EFCC was quick in making prejudicial pronouncement via its official Twitter handle against a sitting governor. In the same vein, EFCC was ready to raise an unsubstantiated claim against a sitting governor after he defected from a ruling party to the opposition party.
The implication of all these is that Nigeria is gradually sliding towards dictatorship, setting the stage for anarchy. The result may be disastrous as the 2019 election is fast approaching. It is imperative for the International community to take a proactive measure to prevent further violence in the already divided country.
Willful blindness to all these would amount to letting down the good people of Nigeria. We urge the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government to stop the destruction of its democratic institutions.
Oludare Ogunlana
Secretary-General