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By Philip Nwosu
However, Amnesty International Nigeria has also vowed that it would pursue accountability over comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the organisation would use the case to demonstrate that political figures must be held accountable for statements capable of contributing to violence during elections.
Sanusi made the statement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily yesterday while reacting to a video circulating online in which Fadahunsi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator representing Osun East, was seen making remarks Amnesty described as inciting.
“We are going to use him as an example. We have had so many terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of the election,” Sanusi said.
“But this one is exceptional, a situation where somebody came out on record, saying ‘kill them wherever you find them.’”
The comments have generated widespread criticism ahead of tomorrow’s governorship election, with the Osun State Police Command summoning Fadahunsi on Tuesday.
The senator was subsequently questioned by the police for about two hours on Wednesday over the alleged remarks.
Sanusi said Amnesty International would continue to campaign for accountability over statements and actions capable of undermining peaceful political participation and electoral processes.
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He said the organisation would also raise the matter at the international level as part of its efforts to draw attention to political violence and impunity in Nigeria.
“We are going to use this man as an example to show that the impunity by Nigerian politicians cannot continue and we cannot tolerate it again,” he said.
The Amnesty director argued that advocacy of hatred and incitement to violence should be treated seriously under both Nigerian law and international human rights standards.
“I believe that that person does not deserve any peace again, because advocacy of hatred is a crime under international law as well as Nigerian laws,” he said.
Sanusi said Amnesty would continue to pressure relevant authorities to take appropriate action where statements by political actors are considered capable of encouraging violence or threatening the rights of citizens to participate peacefully in elections.
Amnesty International Nigeria had, on Wednesday, condemned the remarks attributed to Fadahunsi, saying authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred where it constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.
The organisation described the alleged comments as reckless and warned that they could heighten tensions ahead of the Osun governorship election.
“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” Amnesty International Nigeria said.
