The President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Roack Villa
Abuja, FCT
Dear Sir,
RE: PETITION AGAINST THE BELLIGERENT AND PUGNACIOUS ACTION OF GOVERNOR NASIRU EL-RUFAI AGAINST SENATORS SULEIMAN OTHMAN HUNKUYI, SHEHU SANI AND DANJUMA LAAH
We are Solicitors to Senators Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Shehu Sani and Danjuma Laah hereinafter referred to as our clients. We have their instructions to forward to you this petition against the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasiru EL-Rufai.
Sir, the Governor on Friday 4th May 2018 at a Political Rally in Kaduna threw decency away and publicly promoted “hate speech” against the above mentioned Senators.
He publicly incited the people of Kaduna State against them and proclaimed that the senators are “useless” “bastards” and called on God to forsake them for voting to reject the $350 million loan his government had sought from the World Bank. The statement was a clear recipe for violence. It was hate speech in its merciless form and also a deliberate attempt to ignite mob action and mass violence against the respected Senators.
The statement in its pungent form further states that; “……..…” the Senators who worked against the World Bank Loan are useless “……..…” what is their reason for rejecting the loan “……..…”? it is because they are haters of the masses in Kaduna State“……..…” today there are no hater of masses in Kaduna like Shehu Sani, Suleiman Hunkuyi and Danjuma Laah “……..…” God will curse them God will reward their wickedness against the people “……..…” may God never bless them “……..…” if they come to Kaduna shave their heads and beards, “they have no ancestral origin”. Sir these hate speeches were spewed in the presence of the National Chairman of the APC and from his body language and those of the mob, they cheer and applauded the statement of the Governor. As a matter of fact, the statement that the beard and head of the two Senators should be shaved by the mob whenever the Senators come to town, clearly suggests in lucid terms that the people of Kaduna State should rise and kill the three Senators. Sir, this speech is a signpost for danger.
The Governor, from his antecedents and recent disposition, has always been undemocratic and prefer to bully and promote nascism. The above situation where a Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of his state will promote anarchy by turning his state into an arena for violence that could lead to pogrom is certainly a cause for concern.
This is probably the worst hate speech anywhere in the world and that indeed the good people of Kaduna State might have unwisely entrusted their democracy to fascist, tyrants and irredentist who will brook no opposition.
The Governor of Kaduna State and his allies like one Uba Sani have no doubt unleashed the most despicable act of terrorizing the opposition in the state.
On the 29th day of April 2018, Senator Hukunyi, Dr. Tijani Ramalan and other APC stalwarts narrowly escaped being lynched by thugs suspected to have been sponsored by agents of Kaduna State Government during an APC stakeholders meeting at the NUT Hotel in Kaduna. The thugs were chanting “Kaduna sai Mallam” “Senator na central sai Uba Sani” and shot at innocent people. Prior to this, on the 30th July 2017, the same incident occurred when Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi, Shehu Sani, Dr. Tijani Ramalan and other APC stakeholders met at the NUJ Secretariat. Some sponsored thugs were unleashed onto the audience and our clients narrowly escaped by killed. Despite the fact that the Police Command in Kaduna State were notified they hardly do anything nor arrest the culprits who are well known thugs.
The said Uba Sani who also doubles as the Political Adviser to the Governor justified the attack of 30th July 2017. He did that on Nagarta Radio aired in Kaduna on Friday 4th August 2017. He (Uba Sani) said “the attack was appropriate, it is part of politics”. From the above lucid admission of fact, it was clear that Uba Sani was the mastermind and perpetrator of these mindless, lawless criminal act.
The implication of all the above is that the template for electoral violence is being put in place in Kaduna State by the Governor; And this is what fuels armed conflict that snowballs into war.
Our clients are, therefore, praying for your immediate intervention by setting up a high Powered Presidential Committee that will look into all these infractions committed against our clients for the purpose of punishing the offenders and also liaising with the necessary Electoral Institutions to bar perpetrators of violence like Uba Sani and the Governor from participating in future elections.
Sir, the action of the Governor and his cohorts represent a gross violation of International Humanitarian Law because it not only disparages the victims, but incites violence and prejudicial action against our clients who are protected by law. The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in article 20 is very clear in that it states that
“any advocacy of national, racial or religious hate that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.”
We also refer to article 13(5) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right which also specifically bans hate speech and considers them to be offences punishable under the law.
It is upon this premise that our Clients present this protest to your Esteemed Self and awaits presidential action. We have also been briefed to file the necessary petition to the ICC and other relevant Regional, Sub Regional and International Legal Institutions for the right action and remedy against our client also in concurrence to our clients prayers to you.
Thank you
Yours
Yusuf Dankofa Ph.D
Professor of Law
Cc:
The Secretary-General,
United Nations
New York, USA.
The Prosecutor,
The International Criminal Court
Hague.
The Executive Secretary,
National Human Rights Commission
Abuja.
The President,
European Commission, Brussels.
The Ambassadors,
All Foreign Missions in Nigeria.
