Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari Faces UN Scrutiny Over Human Rights Abuses

Strategic Insights -

Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the United Nations (UN) and other democratic institutions to query President Muhammadu Buhari's administration over allegations of human rights abuses, electoral malpractices, corruption, and economic ruin in the country. The party cited reports from credible international organizations, including the US Department of State and Amnesty International, which have documented cases of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and media gagging under Buhari's watch. The PDP also accused the government of providing official cover for sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria and failing to prosecute corrupt officials.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PDP has asked the UN to question President Buhari on the escalation of terrorism, violation of rights, electoral malpractices, corruption, national division, and economic ruin in Nigeria in the last six years.
  • The party cited reports from the US Department of State, Amnesty International, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) on human rights abuses under Buhari's administration.
  • The PDP accused the government of providing official cover for sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, including those identified by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • President Buhari is scheduled to address a high-level session of the UN General Assembly on September 24, 2021.
  • The PDP urged the UN to query Buhari on the killing of unarmed protesters in various parts of the country, the erosion of freedom of speech, and the clampdown on opposition and dissenting voices.
  • The party also called on the UN to extract a commitment from Buhari to amend the Electoral Act to enable electronic transmission of results and to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2023.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria ranks as the third country with the highest level of terrorism after Iran and Afghanistan in 2021 (AI).
  • The US Department of State has reported cases of arbitrary arrests and detention in dehumanizing facilities under Buhari's administration.
  • Amnesty International has documented widespread extrajudicial killings and sudden disappearances of dissenting voices under Buhari's watch.
  • The International Criminal Court (ICC) has profiled the horrible situation in Buhari's Nigeria, including systemic injustices and disregard for the rule of law.

Sources:

  • Thewill.com (September 23), "PDP Asks UN To Quiz Buhari Over Human Rights Abuse."
  • Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) statement (September 23), "We Urge the General Assembly to Query President Buhari."
  • Amnesty International (no date), "Nigeria: Grave human rights abuses persist under Buhari administration."
  • US Department of State (no date), "Human Rights Report: Nigeria."
  • International Criminal Court (ICC) (no date), "Situation in Nigeria."