… urges monarchs to disrobe criminal politicians
Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Sunday Frank-Oputu, has backed the United States Government over the decision to impose visa restrictions on some Nigerian politicians involved in undermining democracy in the country.
Frank-Oputu, who spoke in Yenagoa, on Wednesday, said the action of the US government should be emulated by other countries of the world to put an end to acts of electoral fraud, imposition of candidates, rigging and violence in the nation’s electoral processes.
He also called on the traditional rulers in Nigeria to take the bold step of withdrawing the chieftaincy honours bestowed on some politicians over their alleged involvement in cases of electoral frauds.
Frank-Oputu, who is a chieftain of the APC from the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, said the decision to impose ban on some Nigerian politicians should serve as a reward for years of electoral frauds committed by the political class to subvert the will of the Nigerian people.
He urged countries such as United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, among others, to emulate the US.
He stated, “All advanced countries in the world should ban politicians who want to ride on the people and who believe impunity is the only source of their power or that impunity is what gives them pleasure. They want to ride on the people’s back as their horse. It is unfortunate. And if this kind of strict measures are taken against them, I think it will give us some relief.”
He called on the traditional Institutions to rise above sentiments and support the United States’ action by withdrawing the honours bestowed on the politicians involved in electoral frauds and those sponsoring violence during election.
He said, “I am using this medium to call on our communities, our royal fathers that people who rig elections, and do not allow elections to take place and announce falsified results at every given opportunity should also be sanctioned.
“Those who have been made chiefs, or whatever title given to them should be disrobed of their chieftaincy titles.”