The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the US, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the International Communities to immediately impose visa bans on President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his cabinet who have been implicated in restricting free expression in Nigeria.
The PDP based their claim on President Buhari’s violation of the UN International Charter on Human Rights by banning the use of Twitter in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP stated that banning Twitter in Nigeria is a blatant violation of Article 19 of the UN Charter as well as Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees all Nigerians the right to freedom of expression.
The party also urged international bodies to sanction Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and other APC leaders for their individual ignoble roles in the Twitter ban, as well as the resulting harassment and threats to Nigerians.
The PDP urged the countries to bar President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, Malami and their family members from entering their territories for any private purposes whatsoever.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 19 of the UN Charter on Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impact information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Similarly , section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”
“Our party holds that the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and Abubakar Malami and their agents cannot continue to enjoy diplomatic privileges and rights extended by virtue of their offices in Nigeria, while at the same time blatantly flouting the UN Charter, which Nigeria is a signatory to, as well as the 1999 Constitution (as amended) upon which provisions they hold office.
“This is more so as the stifling of information flow as being witnessed in the ban on Twitter further creates an enabling environment for abuse of human rights and acts of terrorism in our country.”
The PDP called on the international community to hold the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and Malami responsible for the escalated abuse of human rights, constitutional violations as well as the situations that embolden terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and vandals in our country.
The PDP said it has commenced the compilation of list of APC leaders, involved in the infringing on the rights of Nigerians for onward transmission to the UN and other world bodies for sanctions.
