By Rex Emmanuel
Rep. Chris Smith, immediate
past chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Africa, has spoken on the postponement of Nigeria elections.
His reaction was contained in a statement he signed on Monday.
The statement
posted on his website 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.”
Rep. Smith also
called upon the Trump Administration and the State Department to focus greater
attention upon Nigeria.
“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.”
Earlier, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Africa, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), expressed her concern after Presidential
and National Assembly elections in Nigeria were postponed to February 23rd.
A statement she
signed reads: “This delay impacts Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters who
traveled from cities across Nigeria, as well as North America, Europe and Asia,
for the sole purpose of making their voices heard at the ballot box.
“My hope is
that this delay does not impact voter turnout or harm the credibility and
legitimacy of the election, as the postponement could impact local, regional,
and international observation missions.
Earlier, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Africa, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), expressed her concern after Presidential
and National Assembly elections in Nigeria were postponed to February 23rd.
A statement she
signed reads: “This delay impacts Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters who traveled
from cities across Nigeria, as well as North America, Europe and Asia, for the
sole purpose of making their voices heard at the ballot box.
“My hope is
that this delay does not impact voter turnout or harm the credibility and
legitimacy of the election, as the postponement could impact local, regional,
and international observation missions.
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