A suspended chieftain of the All
Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has written an open letter to the President
of the United States of America, Donald Trump, raising the alarm on the
survival of democracy under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The politician In the letter to
Trump, lamented the state of the worsening human rights record under the
present administration.
He also complained of wanton
killings across the country and the plight of ordinary Nigerians and sour
economy.
Frank’s letter is entitled,
“Urgent Need to Save Nigeria’s Democracy.” In the latter, he accused Buhari of
failing to obey court orders, while the economy remains in the doldrums despite
claims of improvement.
The letter was sent through the
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, where he expressly
called for the intervention of the United States to salvage the country’s
democracy.
Part of the letter reads, “Your
Excellency Sir, while you daily work to advance the cause of the United States,
the Nigerian situation under the present administration, led by the ruling All
Progressives Congress has failed to promote the nation’s interest and work for
the sustenance of our democracy. It was most unfortunate that when President
Buhari visited you recently, he minced words on the true situation of the
current happenings in the country, which pose a great threat to our national
fabric of unity, peace and progress.
“The ruling APC and President
Buhari were ecstatically embraced by Nigerians and voted into office with a
promise to fight corruption, insecurity and grow the economy in 2015. However,
three years on, prevailing maladministration and insecurity have left everyone
spell bound, as wanton killings by herdsmen, kidnapping for ransom, armed
robbery, corruption and insurgency in the North-East still ravage the country
unabated.
“Furthermore, the cost of
fighting these deadly malaise continues to skyrocket without corresponding
mitigation in insecurity. A recent example is the withdrawal of $1 billion from
the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram and other security
challenges across the country by the executive in collaboration with the
National Economic Council, without due recourse to the National Assembly for
statutory approval.
“More so, need I mention that the
recent advance payment of $496 million to your country for the purchase of 12
Tucano fighter jets by the Buhari-led Federal Executive Council was done in
complete violation of extant laws regarding such purchases. I must say that
that action remains illegal, criminal and a breach of the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers the National Assembly to approve
all expenditures of the executive.
“I am aware that the United
States is a nation ruled by laws and therefore cannot condone impunity and
illegality of this nature – no matter the amount of benefits accruable to it
from the sale. I would therefore, kindly appeal to you, to use your good
offices to ensure that the $496 million is repatriated into the Nigerian
coffers and the deal renegotiated and made to follow due process.”
The Beyalsa born politician
further claimed that Nigerians are no longer free to express themselves or to
criticize the activities and policies of the government without being assaulted
or clamped down upon.
He cited examples of the
harassment meted out to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and President of
the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“I believe you are better placed
to advise the current leadership on the need to obey the rule of law and be
impartial in its ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
“I humbly invite you to work with
other defenders of democracy, freedom and human rights across the world, like
the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and organisations like the Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, etc, to ensure that the present gagging of
the press and opposition political party members in Nigeria do not degenerate
further.”
“Help us to prevent imminent
breakdown of law and order that may result to chaos and anarchy if the current
atmosphere of government’s orchestrated harassment, intimidation, coercion,
denial of the right to free speech and outright repression of perceived enemies
of the administration, is allowed to continue unabated.
“I thank you in anticipation that you will
take positive steps to liaise with your friend, President Muhammadu Buhari, in
order to prevent escalation of anti-democratic acts by agents of the
administration,” he concluded.
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Because your principal Atiku has left APC, and before now you were suspended from the party one can understand the bitterness in your heart. let watch and see you and your principal after Buhari most have won the general election by 2019 will come back to this same party and be praising it after rendering false apology
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