UNGA: PDP asks UN to query Buhari on terrorism, rights violations, corruption

ABUJA – As President Muhammadu Buhari is set to address the 76th session of the United Nations General As­sembly (UNGA), in New York, today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the world body and other democratic institutions to query the president on the role of his admin­istration in the escalation of terror­ism, violation of rights, electoral malpractices, corruption, national division and economic ruin of Ni­geria in the last six years.

The PDP noted that the sanctity of human lives, freedom, respect for human rights, justice and rule of law; credible elections, democratic governance pro­motion of peace, accountabil­ity in governance, economic development, among others, which the General Assembly stands for have all been vio­lated by the Buhari adminis­tration.

The party, in a statement by its Spokesman, Kola Olog­bondiyan, urged the General Assembly not to lose sight of the reports by credible inter­national organisations in­cluding the US Department of State as well as Amnesty International (AI), on cas­es of arbitrary arrests and detention in dehumanising facilities, widespread extra­judicial killings, sudden dis­appearances of dissenting voices and disregard to rule of law under President Bu­hari’s watch.

“This is in addition to bra­zen disobedience to court or­ders, use of security forces to suppress citizens, media gag­ging, and systemic injustices that underscore the horrible situation in Buhari’s Nigeria, as also profiled by the Interna­tional Criminal Court (ICC),” the party said.

The PDP urged the Gener­al Assembly to question Pres­ident Buhari on the failures and alleged compromises of the nation’s security coordi­nation under his administra­tion, leading to un-abating mass killings, kidnapping, banditry, arson and maraud­ing of communities across the nation, to the extent that Nigeria now ranks as the third country with the highest level of terrorism after Iran and Afghanistan.

“The General Assembly is further called upon to take on President Buhari over his administration’s alleged provision of official cover for sponsors of terrorism in Ni­geria, including those recent­ly communicated to it by the United Arab Emirate (UAE),” the party said.

On abuse of human rights, the PDP urged the General Assembly to query President Buhari on the killing of inno­cent and unarmed protesters in various parts of the coun­try by security forces under his command, particularly the killing of the young ones during the EndSARS protest in 2020.

The PDP also urged the General Assembly and the in­ternational media to question President Buhari on the ero­sion of constitutionally guar­anteed freedom of speech; the hounding of opposition and dissenting voices, clampdown on the media and suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

“President Buhari should explain to other world leaders why he had been condoning corruption by, according to him, ‘easing out’ treasury looters in his government instead of prosecuting them.

“Our party also urges the General Assembly to use the opportunity to extract commitment from President Buhari on the amendment of the Electoral Act to enable for electronic transmission of results as well as impress it on him to allow for free, fair and credible elections in 2023,” the party said.