From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The recent threats of street protests in major cities around the world by the United Nigerians in the Diaspora (UND) to call for the resignation of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have agitated the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Northern Emancipation Network.
AYCF president General Yerima Shettima and the Chairman of NEN Suleiman Abbah in separate statements averred that the threat is nothing but a sponsored heinous plot to undermine the gains recorded by INEC and the democratic stability attained by Nigeria, saying this malicious attempt must be vehemently resisted.
It further stated that the orchestrated campaign also appears to be part of a wider clandestine plot to discredit Nigerian institutions and reverse the populist tendencies of the Bola Tinubu administration, adding that we must stand against any efforts to destabilize our democracy and tarnish the reputation of those working tirelessly to ensure free and fair elections.
It is also concerning that certain individuals in the Diaspora are using the platform provided by foreign countries to propagate hate and incite discontent against Nigeria.
AYCF and NEN both condemned the behaviour and called on the international community not to allow their spaces to be used for such nefarious purposes. Countries like the United Kingdom and the United States have laws in place to prohibit hate speech and incitement of violence, and, surprisingly, they have not taken action against the threats made by UND.
The northern groups said as a sovereign country, Nigeria has always maintained friendly and supportive relationships with its international partners. However, the actions of UND are seen as unpatriotic and aimed at destabilizing the peace and unity of Nigeria.
In the UK, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 prohibits anyone from causing alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour. Similarly, the US laws, as seen in the case of Brandenburg v. Ohio, forbid speech that incites imminent lawless action.
The actions of UND fall within the purview of these laws, yet no action has been taken by the authorities in these countries. If the tables were turned, and a US citizen were to call for mass protests against the US on Nigerian soil, the outrage would be palpable. Nigeria would not tolerate such behaviour, and the US would vehemently react.
It is therefore disappointing that Nigeria’s international partners have allowed their territories to be used as a launching pad for such a campaign against Nigeria.
