PDP Urges US, UK, others To Impose Visa Ban On Buhari, Malami, Lai Muhammed

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the United States,
United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the
international community to promptly impose a visa ban on President
Muhammadu Buhari and other members of his cabinet involved in
stifling freedom of speech in Nigeria.

PDP stated that the ban on the social media app, Twitter, in
Nigeria by the federal government is in violation of the UN
International Charter on Human Rights.

This was written in a statement titled, ‘Twitter Ban: Impose
Visa Ban on Buhari, Malami, Lai, PDP Tells US, UK, Others,’ signed
by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

“The PDP insists that banning Twitter in Nigeria is a clear
violation of Article 19 of the UN Charter as well as section 39 of
the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guaranteed freedom of
expression to all Nigerians.

“The party also urges the world bodies to also sanction the
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as certain
leaders of the APC for their individual ignoble roles in the ban
imposed on Twitter in addition to associated harassments and
threats to Nigerians.

“The PDP urges the countries to bar President Buhari, Lai
Mohammed, Abubakar Malami, and their family members from entering
their territories for any private purposes whatsoever.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 19 of the UN Charter on
Human Rights provides that “everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression.” This right includes freedom to hold
opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.

“In the same vein, section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended) provides that “every person shall be entitled to freedom
of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive
and impart ideas and information without interference”.

“Our party holds that the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed
and Abubakar Malami and their agents cannot continue to enjoy
diplomatic privileges and rights extended by virtue of their
offices in Nigeria, while at the same time blatantly flouting the
UN Charter, which Nigeria is a signatory to, as well as the 1999
Constitution (as amended) upon which provisions they hold
office.”

The party said the ban on Twitter further creates an enabling
environment for abuse of human rights and acts of terrorism in
Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on the international community to hold the trio
of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, and Malami responsible for the
escalated abuse of human rights, constitutional violations as well
as the situations that embolden terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and
vandals in our country.

“Furthermore, our party has commenced the compilation of a list
of APC leaders involved in infringing on the rights of Nigerians
for onward transmission to the UN and other world bodies for
sanctions,” the statement concluded.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the United States,
United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the
international community to promptly impose a visa ban on President
Muhammadu Buhari and other members of his cabinet involved in
stifling freedom of speech in Nigeria.

PDP stated that the ban on the social media app, Twitter, in
Nigeria by the federal government is in violation of the UN
International Charter on Human Rights.

This was written in a statement titled, ‘Twitter Ban: Impose
Visa Ban on Buhari, Malami, Lai, PDP Tells US, UK, Others,’ signed
by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

“The PDP insists that banning Twitter in Nigeria is a clear
violation of Article 19 of the UN Charter as well as section 39 of
the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guaranteed freedom of
expression to all Nigerians.

“The party also urges the world bodies to also sanction the
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as certain
leaders of the APC for their individual ignoble roles in the ban
imposed on Twitter in addition to associated harassments and
threats to Nigerians.

“The PDP urges the countries to bar President Buhari, Lai
Mohammed, Abubakar Malami, and their family members from entering
their territories for any private purposes whatsoever.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 19 of the UN Charter on
Human Rights provides that “everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression.” This right includes freedom to hold
opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.

“In the same vein, section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended) provides that “every person shall be entitled to freedom
of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive
and impart ideas and information without interference”.

“Our party holds that the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed
and Abubakar Malami and their agents cannot continue to enjoy
diplomatic privileges and rights extended by virtue of their
offices in Nigeria, while at the same time blatantly flouting the
UN Charter, which Nigeria is a signatory to, as well as the 1999
Constitution (as amended) upon which provisions they hold
office.”

The party said the ban on Twitter further creates an enabling
environment for abuse of human rights and acts of terrorism in
Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on the international community to hold the trio
of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, and Malami responsible for the
escalated abuse of human rights, constitutional violations as well
as the situations that embolden terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and
vandals in our country.

“Furthermore, our party has commenced the compilation of a list
of APC leaders involved in infringing on the rights of Nigerians
for onward transmission to the UN and other world bodies for
sanctions,” the statement concluded.