Group cautions Amnesty Int’l over comments on electoral violence

By Paul Efiong, Abuja

The West African Network of Election Observers, WANEO, a coalition of election observers, Civil Society Organisations involved in election in the West African sub-region, has cautioned the Amnesty International, AI, on alleged provocative comments on electoral violence in Kano state which it claimed is capable of inciting Nigerians against one another.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Convener of WANEO Umezinwa Michael insisted that the alleged comments of AI was in bad faith and in a pursuit of predetermined agenda, adding that the comments suggested that Kano state is an exceptional case of electoral violence.
“The Network wishes to state that the Amnesty International is not an election observer but a human right organization. Those who observed elections like us can confirm that elections have held and a winner has been declared. Nigerians in Kano, Plateau and other parts of the country have made their choice.
“We wish to counsel Amnesty International and their agents to desist from making comments capable of inciting the God fearing citizens of Nigeria, especially in Kano state.
“We urge the Executive Governor of Kano state to immediately establish a commVission of inquiry to look into the cases of electoral violence and bring perpetrators to book,” he concluded.
He promised that the Network will constitute an independent civil society fact finding mission to visit Kano, Rivers, Benue states as well as other areas where electoral violence took place during the elections to comprehensively assess the situation and make recommendations to government.
Umezinwa therefore pleaded with Nigerians to accept the outcome of the elections and resist any effort by those he described as fifth columnists who want to magnify issues of violence for their selfish interests.