The United States government appears set to sanction a former Niger Delta minister, Godsday Orubebe, and 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 an op-ed 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.
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 apologised.
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”. It is however unclear if Mr. Shema’s comments resulted in any specific case of violence.
The U.S. may also target the former militant leaders in the Niger Delta who threatened war if President Goodluck Jonathan lost the elections.
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,” she said.
She said the conclusion of a peaceful electoral process in Nigeria will serve as an example to other nation preparing for elections.
She said, “Nigerian democracy will be a beacon across the continent and beyond”.
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.
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