He should defend himself first..... INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court (ICC) lawyer Goran Sluiter has alleged that there is evidence to prove that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari instigated post-election violence in 2011. Four years ago, General Buhari ran for presidency against President Goodluck Jonathan as the Congress for Progressive Change candidate and came second. Following the loss, there were widespread riots across northern Nigeria, leading to the death of about 800 people, including members of the National Youth Service Corp, who acted as election agents. Having watched footage of the violence, Mr Sluiter, a Dutch national, who is a human rights lawyer who represents complaints to the ICC, said there is evidence to show that General Buhari behind it. He said he hopes that by raising the issue now, it will prevent similar such violence after next months elections. Mr Sluiter said: There are references to lynching and theres a reference to killing. My clients are really committed to justice being done, which is an inevitable ingredient for peace and stability in Nigeria. Human rights activist Yunana Shibkau said his Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice will use such recordings to convince the ICC to charge the retired general with crimes against humanity. It is expected that he will now compile a recording of General Buharis comments and statements to his supporters in 2011 and package them into a dossier for the ICC. According to Mr Shibkau, General Buhari should have been prosecuted in Nigeria for inciting the post-election violence in which 65,000 people were also made homeless and Christian churches and schools were burned. He quoted from a 2011 rally where General Buhari told his supporters: If anybody tries to prevent you from guarding your vote, kill them. However, General Buharis campaign has denied the allegations saying that it is all part of a campaign to stop their candidate at all costs. They added that the 2011 violence was a spontaneous reaction to perceived electoral shenanigans. With elections due next month, many analysts are predicting a win for President Jonathan in the most closely contested election since military dictatorship ended in 1994 However, DaMina Advisors, a research firm focusing on Africa, published an electoral statistical model that anticipates Genera; Buhari would narrowly beat President Jonathan. President Jonathans party has suffered numerous defections lately because his candidacy flouts an understanding that the presidency rotate between a Christian southerner and a Muslim northerner. In addition, General Buharis supporters say he can curb the northeastern Islamic insurgency, clamp down on Boko Haram and combat corruption.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:04:03 +0000
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