As reactions continue to trail the postponement of the 2019 general
elections, a US congressman has written a letter to president Buhari
asking him to emulate the peaceful transition process of the Jonathan
administration.
Chris Smith, a ranking Republican in the House sub-committee on
Africa laid the blame for the postponement squarely on president
Buhari’s shoulders. He said this in a letter to President Buhari titled,
‘On the Postponement of Elections in Nigeria,’
The letter reads:
“Responsibility for the delay of Nigeria’s presidential election lays
squarely with President Muhammadu Buhari and those close to him.
Actions in advance of the election — including removal of Supreme Court
Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen and arson attacks on Independent National
Electoral Commission offices in opposition strongholds — are undermining
confidence that this election and subsequent gubernatorial elections
will be free and fair. At a minimum, the presidential election must meet
the 2015 standard, which saw a peaceful transfer of power and a
statement by the then-sitting president that all bloodshed must be
avoided.”
“In addition to being sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria
is its biggest economy, and what happens in Nigeria has ramifications
beyond its borders,” Smith said.
“Given the magnitude of global problems Secretary Pompeo
must contend with, he should consider appointing a Special Envoy for
Nigeria vested with full authority. “The State Department must use all
tools at its disposal, including visa denial and sanctioning authority,
to hold accountable those who undermine democracy and foment sectarian
and ethnic violence,” Smith added