APC ex-spokesman writes UN over attacks on legislature, opposition

Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) has written an open letter to the
United Nations, UN, on the assault on Nigerian lawmakers and
opposition leaders.

He explained that his petition was consequent upon the Police seige at
the official residences of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his
deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Frank stated that the threat against Nigeria's democracy was an open
secret and called on the international community to wade in.

See full letter below:

OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Secretary/General of the United Nations
H.E. António Guterres
Thru: UN's Abuja Office
Diplomatic Drive
Central Business Area
Area 1, Garki Abuja.

Sir,

BUHARI AND THREATS TO NIGERIA'S DEMOCRACY

Once again, I write to draw your attention to the tyrannical and
undemocratic conducts of agents of the present administration in
Nigeria, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, which if not urgently
checked, can lead to the abortion of the 2019 general elections and
irretrievably scuttle the nation's hard earned democracy. On Tuesday,
the world woke up to a horrendous report of massive security crackdown
against the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and
his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The residences of the two
presiding officers of the Senate were put under siege by security
forces acting on orders from the presidency.

The siege on the residences of Saraki and Ekweremadu has continued to
receive widespread condemnation from Nigerians who see it as a return
of jackboot dictatorship reminiscent of military regimes in the
country. This is why I want to urge the United Nations not only to
condemn the crackdown against opposition figures and perceived
political enemies in the country, ahead of the 2019 general elections,
but to lead other world leaders including the G-7 nations, European
Union, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States
to stop the ongoing security crackdown on opposition figures and
wanton abuse of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians irrespective
of their political persuasions.

Permit me to state that the resort to the use of security forces to
advance political interests by this administration, if not checked,
may sooner than later cascade the entire country into a vortex of
cataclysmic political struggle capable of tearing the economy into
shreds, truncate democracy and lead to unimaginable hardship for the
already pauperized and traumatized masses of this country.

May I also state that the UN must act urgently to protect democracy in
Nigeria and safeguard the precious lives of countless opposition
political actors. This is in view of allegations that certain people
are considered to be in opposition to the re-election bid of Mr.
President in 2019. Hence the Government is believed to have mapped out
plans to suppress and, at the extreme, eliminate them. This may appear
to be an unconfirmed report but as the saying goes, there is no smoke
without fire. The names of the perceived enemies of government include
the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his
Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, whose residences were on Tuesday
besieged by the police in Abuja, among others.

Recall that the National Chairman of the Reformed All Progressives
Congress (RAPC), Engineer Buba Galadinma and his son were recently
involved in a road mishap. It is telling that the accident occurred
shortly after the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole openly boasted that he was going to "crush him." The
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche
Secondus, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the Ekiti State
Governor, Ayodele Fayose, have continued to voice out grave concerns
about the their personal safety. Also on the watch list is a frontline
member of the RAPC, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Senator Dino
Melaye, whose convoy was recently attacked by security forces in Kogi
State.

Tuesday's barbaric attempt to use security forces to create a lacuna
in the Senate in order to force a leadership change was a coup against
democracy in the country. It also underscores the level of desperation
by the present administration to silence the legislative arm of
government which is condemnable. The illegal deployment of heavily
armed security forces to detain and muzzle highly placed opposition
figures, both within the ruling APC and the PDP also amounts to a
denial of their inalienable rights to freedom of association and to
hold opinion which are guaranteed by the nation's Constitution and
several international charters, to which Nigeria is a proud signatory.

Permit me to say that Nigeria deserves the protection and every help
possible from the international community to sustain its democracy,
protect fundamental rights of citizens and above all to prevent it
from imminent disintegration. The threat against Nigeria's democracy
is an open secret. I call on the UN all allies of Nigeria to rise to
her defence and help to contain it. The UN and leaders of the free
world owe it a duty to Nigeria as a good standing member of the Common
Wealth and comity of nations, to help prevent this looming political
catastrophe before it snowballs out of control as fears abound that
the situation will degenerate further.