By Akinwale Kasali
Former All Progressives Congress, APC, Deputy Publicity Secretary and Activist, Comrade Timi Frank, has commended the Government of the United States on the ban placed on election riggers in Nigeria, especially during the conduct of the November 2019 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. The ban on the issuance of Visa to such people, and the cancellation of subsisting Visas, also extended to those propagating violence in the up-coming Edo and Ondo Governorship Elections.
Frank had ,also, asked the United Kingdom, and the European Union to follow suit.
In a statement in Abuja, Frank, described the announcement by the US Government as a commendable step that will further strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
He also called on the US Government to include the wives and children of all affected politicians, security operatives and Judges who help validate fraudulent election results at Tribunals and the Appellate Courts.
He recalled that he made a similar appeal in a statement in July 2019, but was treated with kid gloves.
He noted that election riggers are enemies of Nigeria, as their actions are responsible, in part, for the insecurity, poverty and social dislocation in the country.
He said: “The US Government must be commended for this move which is in furtherance of its commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria as it would help checkmate individuals who have operated with impunity at the expense of the generality of the Nigerian populace.
“This Visa Restrictions should also be extended to recalcitrant Judges, INEC officials, Security agencies and political party chieftains who aided and abetted the rigging of the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship elections, while all those who perpetuate similar crimes in the Edo and Ondo polls should not be spared.
“For our democracy to survive, all true lovers of democracy must ensure that the elections in Edo and Ondo states produce genuine leaders who will pilot the affairs of these two states.”
The Bayelsa-born political activist also urged the Government of the United Kingdom and the European Union to emulate the action of the United States Government by placing a similar visa ban on Judges, security agents and their leaders, and appointees of governments who have been undermining the nation’s democracy through subversion of election processes.
He said they should also ensure that members of the National Assembly and other persons who would want to partake in the destruction of the nation’s nascent democracy are prevented from doing so.
The United States, on Monday, announced the ban on the issuance of Visas to all those who rigged the Governorship Elections held in Bayelsa and Kogi states in 2019.
It also extended it to those perpetuating, or planning violence or rigging during the up-coming Edo and Ondo states’ governorship elections slated for September 19 and, October 10, respectively.
