Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the visiting Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, not to be deceived by the
lies and propaganda being spewed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
government concerning the political, social and economic health of the
country during her visit.
May is scheduled to visit Nigeria on Wednesday among two other countries
in Africa.
Frank in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday urged May to use the visit to
interrogate the germane of issues which bothers on the freedom and liberty
of the people to freedom of expression, association, expression, and the
press in the country.
He noted that the rising scale of of human rights violations,
intimidation, harassment, arrests and prosecution of perceived political
enemies under the guise of anti-corruption should not escape the scrutiny
of the Prime Minister.
Frank’s Letter to Theresa May, reads in part:
Dear Theresa May,
It is with great delight that we welcome you to Nigeria for this
auspicious visit. I must say that many Nigerians, particularly my humble
self, are very glad to have you visit the country. Nigerian are glad
because they believe your presence in Nigeria will enable you to see
things as they are and not how they had hitherto been presented to you in
Downing Street, London. I also believe that after observing the harsh
conditions under which Nigerians daily make their living, you will be
better placed to advice the government led by President Muhammadu Buhari,
on how to proceed with his change agenda in such a way that will make it
beneficial to the masses of this country economically, socially and
politically.
We are glad that as a Prime Minister who is at the verge of making history
with Brexit in Britain, you are well acquainted on how to lead a major
national reform without compromising on the rule of law and fundamental
human rights of citizens. It is the hope of majority of Nigerians that
following the role of the U.K. in Nigeria up to Independence in 1960, your
presence in Nigeria will kickstart a fundamental change in the hostile
attitude of the present administration towards Nigerians. Be that as it
may, I wish to urge you not be carried away by rich hospitality and royal
banquet that will be lavished on you during this visit. Rather, Nigerians
want you to use the visit to re-interrogate, albeit diplomatically, the
many cases of human rights abuses, disdain for the rule of law,
disobedience to court orders, selective and lopsided anti-corruption
crusade, intimidation, harassment, hounding, arrests and forceful
detention of opposition political party leaders, and the invasion of
National Assembly by hired thugs and the attempt to forcefully take over
an arm of government – the National Assembly – by one of the security
agencies recently.
Following your quest and passionate campaign to end modern day slavery and
prevent illegal migration from Africa to Europe, I implore you to use your
good offices to prevail on President Buhari to return to the path of
democracy and rule of law in the conduct of government business in the
country without which people seeking to escape from the oppressive regime
and migrate to Europe will continue to swell.
The questions Nigerians want Your Excellency to ask President Buhari include:
1. Is Buhari a democrat or an authoritarian/dictatorial President?
2. Is Buhari fighting corruption or shielding alleged corrupt persons who
now find the APC under his leadership a safe haven to escape prosecution?
3. Why is Buhari desperate to get Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki forcefully
removed as President of the Senate – by hook or crook – through the
invasion of the Senate by thugs and recent siege on the National Assembly
by a section of the nation’s security apparatus.
4. Why is Buhari and APC trying to truncate democracy by refusing to
prosecute those who have violated the sanctity of the parliament through
the recent brazen invasion/siege on the National Assembly?
5. Why has Buhari not ensured the release of Leah Sharibu – the Dapchi
school girl – who has continued to languish in captivity after others
girls they were kidnapped together have since regained freedom through
government’s direct intervention?
6. Why has Buhari kept the Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria
(IMN), Sheik El-Zakzaky in detention for over three years despite several
court rulings granting him bail?
7. Similarly, why has Buhari refused Col. Sambo Dasuki to go home after
six court judgements, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice, that have
granting him bail?
8. How can Buhari claim to champion an anti-corruption fight when the APC
under his leadership continues to compromise the nation’s electoral
process through open vote buying to win elections?
9. Why has Buhari continued to gag the press through arrests and long
detentions as witness in the case of Jones Abiri – a Port Harcourt based
journalist – who was detained without trial for two years and a Premium
Times reporter, Samuel Ogundipe who was incarcerated for failing to
disclose his sources to the police?
10. Why has Buhari refused to name murderous Fulani herdsmen as a
terrorist organization just like he did to the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB)?
It is important for you to ask Buhari the above questions and get clear
cut answers instead of being fed with propaganda and lies for which this
government is now reputed.
Signed
Comrade Timi Frank
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC
28/08/2018