The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had asked the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden among other members of the international communities to impose visa ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his cabinet.
The PDP said this should be done immediately, in view of the suspension of Twitter operations which was “stifling free speech in Nigeria.”
This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The statement read in part, “The party also urges the world bodies to also sanction the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as certain leaders of the APC for their individual ignoble roles in the ban imposed on Twitter in addition to associated harassments and threats to Nigerians.
“The PDP urges the countries to bar President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, Abubakar Malami, and their family members from entering their territories for any private purposes whatsoever.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Article 19 of the UN Charter on Human Rights provides that Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impact information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
“In the same vein, section 39 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”
The PDP said its demand was based on the violation of UN international Charter on Human Rights by President Buhari by banning the use of Twitter in Nigeria.
It noted that banning Twitter in Nigeria is a clear violation of Article 19 of the UN Charter as well as section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guaranteed freedom of expression to all Nigerians.
According to the party, the trio of President Buhari, Lai Mohammed, and Abubakar Malami and their agents cannot continue to enjoy diplomatic privileges and rights extended by virtue of their offices in Nigeria, while at the same time flouting the UN Charter.
