The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade
Timi Frank has written to the Secretary General
of the United Nations, António Guterres, calling
on the world leaders to come to the aid of
Nigeria and the people of Ekiti state in what he
described as “dark hour of massive security
crackdown against the people.”
Timi Frank
According to Frank, democracy in Nigeria is
again being confronted by massive attack
allegedly launched by security agents employed
and funded by the country to protect the citizens
and safe guard the nation’s territorial integrity.
In an open letter to the UN on Thursday titled:
“Police siege on Ekiti: Nigeria democracy on trial”
Frank said: “Yesterday the world saw an
appalling form of impunity and brutality against
innocent citizens in Ekiti State apparently in a
last ditch effort to sway the results of this
Saturday’s gubernatorial election in favour of the
candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), John Kayode Fayemi.
“The rally (road walk) organized by the outgoing
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not only
disrupted with noxious and harmful gas, Fayose
was forcefully restricted to the Government
House – where he was equally gassed. This
renewed intimidation, harassment and attacks
against leaders and members of an opposition
political party in Nigeria, has compelled me to
alert you of the threat to peace and democracy
in the country as amply demonstrated by the
highhandedness and open display of intolerance
by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration and the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) against opposition political
parties in Nigeria.
“There is, therefore, urgent need for the United
Nations (UN) under your leadership to intervene
to prevent the ongoing gross violation of the
fundamental human rights of citizens to
assemble and the brutal attacks against the
person of Fayose and hundreds of supporters of
the PDP, who had congregated for a grand finale
rally in favour of its candidate in the Election,
Professor Olusola Eleka, only to be driven back
to their houses by the police through the use of
tear gas and live ammunitions. Note that the
police were recently deployed to the State by the
Federal Government under the guise of
maintaining law and order before, during and
after the Saturday election. Regrettably, the
police deployed to the state in addition to the
officers and men in the Ekiti State Police
Command have now turned to be an army of
occupation.
“The ongoing police siege on Ekiti State by
30,000 fully armed policemen in the guise of
election duty is nothing but a well-orchestrated
security crackdown on innocent citizens who are
hoping to be allowed to cast their ballot on
Saturday and participate in electing the next
governor of the state.
“It has been established by several UN
Conventions and human rights’ charter that the
right to vote and be voted for is an inalienable
right of a citizens of any country. For the a
avoidance of doubt, the number of police
personnel and equipment deployed so far for the
Ekiti election include a Deputy Inspector General
(DIG) of Police in charge of operations, Assistant
Inspectors General of Police, Four
Commissioners of Police, eight Deputy
Commissioners of Police, 30,000 fully armed
policemen, two patrol surveillance helicopters, 5
additional armored personnel carriers, 10
amoured personnel vehicles and 25,000 police
patrol vehicles. The above represents police
deployment. Other security agencies will yet
make similar deployments.”
While calling on UN to call the APC led federal
government to order, Frank said: “I dare say that
the unlawful use of the police against innocent
citizens and members of the opposition PDP in
Ekiti is a direct manifestation of the level of
desperation of the APC and the present
administration to win the Ekiti Governorship
election. Let me add that had ex-President
Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP be this
desperate in 2015, Buhari and APC would never
have tasted power. Impunity has overwhelmed us
in Nigeria. And we need help to ensure that our
democracy and voting process is devoid of
harassment, intimidation and undue influence by
the government.
“If the open display of barbarity by the police in
Ekiti State, is anything to go by, one can safely
say that a worse fate awaits members and
leaders of the opposition political parties during
the 2019 general elections. The UN and by
extension the world cannot afford to condone
this open aggression against a peaceful people
gearing up to elect a governor of their choice!
This is why I am calling on you to come to the
aid of Nigeria in this dark hour of massive
security crackdown against the people of Ekiti
State. Otherwise, chaos and anarchy may soon
reign in an unimaginable way should the people
now pushed against the wall be forced to resort
to self help to defend themselves. If a Governor
can be treated in such shabby and inhuman
manner, then where lies the hope for the
common man on the streets?”

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