The United States government appears set to sanction Nigeria’s ​first lady, Patience Jonathan, a former Niger Delta minister, Godsday Orubebe, ​and ​the ​governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, and other Nigerians accused of either disrupting the just concluded elections, or instigating violence.
The U.S. said Monday that it will impose visa restrictions on any Nigerian found to have incited violence or interfered with the electoral process.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in a​ statement that the U.S. will shut its doors on people involved in any form of violence during the polls.
“Anyone found to have incited violence or interfered with electoral processes will be unwelcome in the United States and subject to visa sanctions,” Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said.
Although Ms. Thomas-Greenfield did not give names of those considered for sanctions, Mr. Orubebe, appears one of the most likely targets.
The former minister openly disrupted the process of collation of the presidential election results in Abuja on March 31, as the event was broadcast live by the international media.
Accusing the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, of bias, Mr. Orubebe for several minutes asked Mr. Jega to stand down before the process could continue.
The former minister received worldwide condemnation for his actions, and later apologised.
Mrs. Jonathan had said at the ​ruling ​Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign in Calabar, Cross River State, early March, that anyone chanting change should be stoned.
“I’m telling you, anyone that comes and tell you change, stone that person,” she said. “What you did not do 19 kilikili, is now that age has caught up with you, you want to come and change? You can’t change rather you will turn back to a baby. You will turn back to a baby. From old age nothing, so nothing like change. Rather (it) is continuity.”
The sanctions may also target Mr. Shema of Katsina state, who was caught on tape prodding his supporters to attack and kill opposition members and their supporters. He described members of the opposition as “cockroaches”.
The deputy governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru, had also during a campaign rally in the state, called on
​​the ​people to fight and redeem the state from the All Progressives Congress, APC, even if it means shedding their blood.
“It is necessary for the sake of your fathers, for the sake of your mothers, for the sake of your brothers and sisters and for the sake of your children. Every Rivers man must stand up to fight this evil among us,” Mr. Ikuru said. “If it demands your blood, so be it.”
Also, in January, the Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Yero, was caught on tape threatening violence against the APC.
Mr. Yero vowed swift “revenge” if ever attacked by any one “born of woman”.
The U.S. may also target the former militant leaders in the Niger Delta who threatened war if President Goodluck Jonathan lost the elections.
The ex-militant leaders, among them, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force; Victor Ben Ebikabowei, aka, Boy Loaf; and Government Ekpudomenowei, aka, Tompolo, made the threat in January.
Several other politicians may also be sanctioned after investigations into dozens of election-related violence are completed.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said, while the elections were generally without a significant scale of violence, and irregularities in some parts of Nigeria, some people were resolved to undermine the will of Nigerians and interfere with electoral processes, resorting to violence and voter intimidation.
She said the U.S. regretted any loss of life and property during the process, adding that violence and rigging was unacceptable in a democratic electoral process.
She commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and its chair, Attahiru Jega. She also encouraged Nigeria and other nations to continue to explore the use of relevant technologies in future elections.
She said, “Despite some technical glitches, it is clear that technology and use of social media-INEC’s online posting of results for each polling unit, live tweeting of results, the use of biometric permanent voter cards and electronic card readers- improved efficiency and limited fraud.”
The US President, Barack Obama, had before Nigeria’s general elections said successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges Nigerians face today.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said, “Now more than ever, it is up to all Nigerians to stay united so that Nigeria can move forward with a clear set of priorities for the future”.
She said the U.S. welcomed all commitments made by the outgoing and the incoming presidents towards a peaceful transition process.
“This next phase is critical as the world continues its hopeful watch for what happens in Nigeria,” she said.
She said the conclusion of a peaceful electoral process in Nigeria will serve as an example to other nation preparing for elections.
She said, “Nigerian democracy will be a beacon across the continent and beyond”.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said the US looked forward to the inauguration of the president elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29 and the beginning of a new chapter of the relationship between the two countries.

MizMyColi:
Supposing this were some credible news, Isn't this another blatant display of hypocrisy?

Why is Oba Akiolu's name and comment conveniently missing?

dre11:


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/181762-u-s-likely-to-sanction-patience-jonathan-orubebe-others-over-election-incitement-rigging.html

Young03:
Wetin concern US 4 naija matter.


Drinkin paracetamol 4 anoda person headache

MizMyColi:
Supposing this were some credible news, Isn't this another blatant display of hypocrisy?

Why is Oba Akiolu's name and comment conveniently missing?

ijustdey:



why did Nigerian government run to US for assistance during the boko haram period before they turn them down

ShowYourCertificate:
Amaechi who threatened a parallel govt wasn't mentioned, Oba Akiolu's name wasn't mentioned. These APC sponsored journalists are no longer hiding their bias. This reaks of unprofessional journalism.

ijustdey:



it has to be APC journalist because it doesn't come from NTA or AIT.....




Turing blind eyes to the truth or you want to say those people mention didn't utter those words

Young03:

because they assumed dt they av no businex wit 9ja

By Emmanuel Ande
Yola — Despite the urgent need for external support for Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram, the United States (U.S.) has declared that it will not sell arms to the Federal Government. The position of the U.S. was disclosed by the country's Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle.

Entwistle, who spoke in Yola Thursday in an interactive session with journalists after addressing American University of Nigeria (AUN) students and staff on his mission to Adamawa State, explained that the decision of the U.S. government not to sell arms to the country was due to what he described as massive human rights abuses by the Nigeria military.
"The U.S. government is against human rights abuse by any country in the world. So it will be ungodly for the U.S. to sell arms to Nigeria, a country that its military is notoriously known for human rights abuse. We cannot sell our arms to a country that will use our technology which is meant for defence of the helpless people to harass the helpless citizens", he said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201410100462.html

ShowYourCertificate:
How can a bias statement be the truth? Why wasn't the names of Oba Akiolu and Amaechi mentioned?

ijustdey:



you are wrong ........


let me refresh your memory

ijustdey:


did Amaechi incite violence.......
did he called for the people or populace to be killed

temitemi1:
Capital NONSENSE!

ShowYourCertificate:
How can a bias statement be the truth? Why wasn't the names of Oba Akiolu and Amaechi mentioned?

Mrs. Jonathan had said at the ​ruling ​Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign in Calabar, Cross River State, early March, that anyone chanting change should be stoned.
“I’m telling you, anyone that comes and tell you change, stone that person,” she said. “What you did not do 19 kilikili,

The sanctions may also target Mr. Shema of Katsina state, who was caught on tape prodding his supporters to attack and kill opposition members and their supporters. He described members of the opposition as “cockroaches”.

Also, in January, the Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Yero, was caught on tape threatening violence against the APC.
Mr. Yero vowed swift “revenge” if ever attacked by any one “born of woman”.