Rep. Chris Smith, immediate past chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, has spoken on the postponement of Nigeria elections.

His reaction was contained in a statement he signed on Monday.

The statement posted on his website reads: “Responsibility for the delay of Nigeria’s presidential election lays squarely with President Muhammadu Buhari and those close to him.


“Actions in advance of the election — including removal of Supreme Court Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen and arson attacks on Independent National Electoral Commission offices in opposition strongholds — are undermining confidence that this election and subsequent gubernatorial elections will be free and fair.

“At a minimum, the presidential election must meet the 2015 standard, which saw a peaceful transfer of power and a statement by the then-sitting president that all bloodshed must be avoided.”

Rep. Smith also called upon the Trump Administration and the State Department to focus greater attention upon Nigeria.

In addition to being sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is its biggest economy, and what happens in Nigeria has ramifications beyond its borders,” Smith said.

“Given the magnitude of global problems Secretary Pompeo must contend with, he should consider appointing a Special Envoy for Nigeria vested with full authority.

“The State Department must use all tools at its disposal, including visa denial and sanctioning authority, to hold accountable those who undermine democracy and foment sectarian and ethnic violence.”

Earlier, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), expressed her concern after Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria were postponed to February 23rd.

A statement she signed reads: “This delay impacts Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters who traveled from cities across Nigeria, as well as North America, Europe and Asia, for the sole purpose of making their voices heard at the ballot box.

“My hope is that this delay does not impact voter turnout or harm the credibility and legitimacy of the election, as the postponement could impact local, regional, and international observation missions.

“Nigeria’s electoral institutions played a critical role in ensuring that the 2015 elections were carried out in a transparent, fair, and peaceful manner. I hope to see that tradition continue during this 2019 election cycle.

“Nigeria can serve as an example for the region as a whole and I hope that this postponement does not negatively impact that potential.”


http://dailypost.ng/2019/02/19/nigeria-election-shift-us-lawmaker-blames-buhari-associates-tells-trump/amp/?utm_source=operamini&utm_medium=feednews&utm_campaign=operamini_feednews

Everything will be alright, they should just let us do our thing

I agree that it is Buhari's fault.

NothingDoMe:
Well....

Its a big shame for the president to feign ignorance of INEC's decision. INEC cannot make decision without the president, only the gullible ones will believe he didn't know about it. He should also claim responsibility and apologise to Nigerians.

APC thinks and behaves like they are the opposition party.

DrOBD:


Its a big shame for the president to feign ignorance of INEC's decision. INEC cannot make decision without the president, only the gullible ones will believe he didn't know about it. He should also claim responsibility and apologise to Nigerians.

APC thinks and behaves like they are the opposition party.

Fact.

If you know

Na dem know, all dia own no pass visa denial. As if no other country to go, mtcheww.

The problems wey US dey cause sef, i just tire.

Each time I see Buhari on TV, I quickly open my wallet to see if my PVC is still there.

Buhari and his administration will be history on Saturday.

fuckerstard:
Na dem know, all dia own no pass visa denial. As if no other country to go, mtcheww.

The problems wey US dey cause sef, i just tire.

If need be military action will be deployed if it becomes necessary to force out the tyrant

PaChukwudi44:

If need be military action will be deployed if it becomes necessary to force out the tyrant

Just how they forced out Ghadafi, and tore libya apart abi?

We don't need them!

Buhari will cry after the 23rd

All the economic gains made under previous administrations are now being reversed by this government. Thus on Election Day 2019, poverty would have again deepened, unemployment and under-employment would have increased and we would be back to pre-2000 economic levels. Remember that too.
The next question which every reasonable Nigerian should ask is: can the current economic programmes of the Buhari administration lift us out of poverty and joblessness?

Buhari should have upgraded our voting system but no, he wants to scare people with military, if you refused do their bidding, you would be shot with ballot box placed on your head.
God help your people

As if they are not the one that brought us here in the first place......?

SAY NO TO NEXT LEVEL OF LIFELESNESS, INCOMPETENCE, DICTATORSHIP, INSECURITY, HARDSHIP AND POVERTY.

PLEASE LETS JOIN HANDS AND VOTE OUT THIS BLAME-GAME GOVERNMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY NIGERIA

America mean this man o
Bubu don suffer this year.
Buhari should take the path of peace and tread carefully
the signs aren't looking so good for him.

Just like the Russians have dirt on Trump and have turned him to a puppet, the Americans too have an obvious mountain of dirt on Atiku and want him to win so they can have a puppet.

Africans have always been used by westerners to destroy themselves

[s]

slivertongue:



SAY NO TO NEXT LEVEL OF LIFELESNESS, INCOMPETENCE, DICTATORSHIP, INSECURITY, HARDSHIP AND POVERTY.

PLEASE LETS JOIN HANDS AND VOTE OUT THIS BLAME-GAME GOVERNMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY NIGERIA

[/s]



5%

Who is this man? Mind ya farkin business. Nigeria is not Venezuela

.


Lol!

The Buharists trending #ThisIsGMB egging him on are simply playing DIRECTLY into the hands of xxxxx!

They gave you an out by saying - "if anyone tells you Buhari said do something bad, don't do it.." basically trying to give Buhari a cover for the crimes that may have been committed or may still be committed, only for him by himself to come out and say to the whole world - "I have told the security personnel to be RUTHLESS!..."

BUHARI DON BUY JOB!

Simple

When the world starts making undiplomatic statements know that its time to shut down your computer and log out. Happy retirement (or not - it's down to you).

Meanwhile, he still will come out of all this way better than the minions egging him on on social media.

.

kingthreatz:
Who is this gay anally-stuffed Chris Smith? Mind ya farkin business. Nigeria is not Venezuela

Just stop it. Nigeria business is an international business
We need to be careful with our utterances.

The APC are not ready to lose honorably after seeing where the people stand. Most of them will end up in the Hague

Okay