A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has filed a petition at the Embassy of the United States of America and the United Kingdom (UK) in Abuja ca
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has filed a petition at the Embassy of the United States of America and the United Kingdom (UK) in Abuja calling for a visa ban on Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State over the arrest and incarceration of Agba Jalingo, a journalist.
The petition was jointly signed by Ariyo Dare Atoye of Coalition In Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC), Raphael Adebayo of Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) and Deji Adeyanju of Concerned Nigerians.
According to the copy of the petition dated 20th October 2019, it was addressed to the Ambassadors of the two countries in Nigeria. The group asked the US and UK to place a visa ban on the Governor and members of his family adding that democracy has no place for anybody who cannot stand public criticism.
The petition read in part, “We, therefore, beseech you to please look into these human rights violations going on in Cross Rivers State and impose visa restrictions on the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Ben Ayade and all the members of his family. We are a civil society organization that prioritizes human rights and good governance in Nigeria. We have consistently taken a stance against the myriad violations of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians by unscrupulous individuals and public institutions.”
The group noted that the Governor has declared war on press freedom and free speech in the state by arresting, and incarcerating activists and journalists on fallacious charges. The coalition added that allowing the trend of despotism to continue without consequences will only aggravate the worsening human rights conditions in the country.
