Inside Nigeria
Congressman Chris Smith To Trump: Punish Any Nigerian Official Who Manipulates 2019 Polls
American congressman, Chris Smith, who is also the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, has urged President Donald Trump to use his sanctioning authority to hold accountable any (Nigerian) official who subverts the 2019 electoral process or foment violence against citizens.
He issued a statement concerning the 2019 general elections, zeroing in on the North East violence which he believes is ‘largely attributable to Fulani extremists.’
Smith, who represents New Jersey’s Fourth District at the American Congress, wrote via his official website https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401629.
He states: “I am very concerned by the current trajectory in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy and economy, and President Muhamadu Buhari’s apparent crackdown on non-violent protests and harassment of opposition leaders, such as freezing the assets of opposition vice presidential candidate Peter Obi and the raiding of the home of two sons of opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar.
“I call upon the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that elections will be free and fair, and for the Commission to remain impartial.
“I further call upon President Buhari to use his authority to end the violence perpetrated by Fulani extremists, particularly in the Middle Belt region, and question why he has failed to do so.
“I also urge the Trump Administration to monitor the evolving situation closely, and not to hesitate to use its sanctioning authority to hold accountable any officials who subvert the electoral process or foment violence against citizens.”
Smith chaired a hearing on Nigeria on December 13, 2018, entitled “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Election.”
It may be recalled that the Buhari administration denied the allegation of freezing Peter Obi’s assets, while it also said that it was the home of the son of a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, that was searched by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, and not that of Atiku Abubakar’s two sons as alleged.
Anonymous
December 24, 2018 at 2:38 am
Which buhari?
Anonymous
December 23, 2018 at 7:21 am
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Anonymous
December 23, 2018 at 7:08 am
Nah him
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 10:12 pm
Wetin concern Trump for Nigeria?
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Fake news
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 5:17 pm
How will he do that?
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Coca-Cola just sacked about 2,660 workers
Diamond-Access merger to layoff 1,000 workers
# NextLevel !!!
…..
Malnutrition kills 132 children in Kaduna State.
*El-Rufai is working…*
….
We Withdrew N1trillion From Excess Crude Account For Security Operations In North East..FG (Legalized Looting)
…
PMB, Nigeria best President ever ,who made Nigeria World Poverty Capital…
….
We beg INEC n Police to help BABA PMB win next election, because PMB must destroy Nigeria economic future before he goes home
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 4:58 pm
The same Buhari, leader of Boko Haram, Britain knows it, America knows it, and the entire Western world know it but all paying deaf ears because of oil. Boko Harsm getting stronger every day and their atrocities will one spill over into Western World as usual. Keep mute because of oil and because it is happening in Africa. We refused to learn from history. The Christian bloods being spill by Boko Haram supported by Buhari is going on without ICC doing anything about it. UN had been hijacked and only look out for Europeans and their allies. You wonder why too many people rushing to your countries. U have sitting terrorist president in the name Buhari and no one dire stop him because he supply oil to u all.
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Fulanization and Islamic agenda is real.
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Amen
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 4:21 pm
After brown envelope will be secretly passed by the British, US, including trump will gone mute, while watching, the lifeless and it’s boss to rigg freely go freely
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 6:09 pm
You’re talking bullshit
Anonymous
December 22, 2018 at 6:11 pm
It can never happen.