Amnesty International Nigeria says it will “name and shame” Senator Francis Fadahunsi across the 150 countries where the organisation operates over his alleged inciting remarks ahead of the Osun governorship election.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria’s country director, made the statement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while reacting to comments attributed to Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East.
Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has faced criticism after a video circulated online showing him allegedly directing supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.
The Osun State Police Command summoned the senator on Tuesday and questioned him for about two hours on Wednesday.
‘We’ll use him as an example’
Sanusi said Amnesty International would make Fadahunsi an example to deter other politicians from making statements capable of inciting violence.
“We are going to use him as an example. We have had so many terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of the election,” he said.
“But this one is exceptional, a situation where somebody came out on record, saying that ‘kill them wherever you find them’.”
Sanusi said the organisation would continue to demand accountability, stressing that advocacy of hatred and incitement to violence should not be tolerated.
“I believe that that person does not deserve any peace again, because advocacy of hatred is a crime under international law as well as Nigerian laws,” he said.
“Therefore, we are going to use this man as an example to show that the impunity by Nigerian politicians cannot continue and we cannot tolerate it again.”
Amnesty International Nigeria had on Wednesday condemned the remarks attributed to Fadahunsi, saying authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that amounts to incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.
The organisation described the senator’s comments as reckless and called for him to be held accountable.
“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” Amnesty International Nigeria said.
The development comes as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, with concerns over inflammatory rhetoric and possible election-related violence remaining high.
