ACN Leader Urges US cooperation on terrorism

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has called for Nigerian-American cooperation in counter-terrorism, corruption and strengthening of democratic institutions.

Speaking when Ms Tamara Klajn, a staff member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee visited him in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu said America should help Nigeria strengthen its capacity in these vital areas in order to build democracy and spread development and prosperity.

“Nigeria is tense and uncertain, and it is drifting.  There is a disturbing sense of a lack of capacity at the highest level of governance.  There is therefore an urgent need to develop democratic institutions.”

He said strengthening democratic institutions should begin with institutional guarantees of free and fair elections; as well as strengthening the judiciary.

He said the 2011 elections were not as fair as they were made out to be and alerted of a an alleged plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure ACN, his party did not win any election again.

“After ACN’s showing in 2011, the PDP has decided that the ACN would not win any further elections.  All the elections since then have been flawed.  INEC is sliding backwards,” he warned.

“PDP has tried to undermine the opposition, especially the Action Congress of Nigeria, and I personally have suffered political persecution.  The international community needs to press the Nigerian government now on electoral reform and not believe that the issue has been resolved or that INEC is passable.”

“The moment elections are not free, and you cannot settle election disputes, the next step would be in the streets.  That would be bad for any country, as even Boko Haram would be a child’s play” he warned.He drew the delegation’s attention to the dwindling confidence in the judiciary, adding that the judicial arm of government should be strengthened since the rule of law held a pride of place in a democracy, with its endless political disputes and law interpretations.He lauded the US government for aiding Nigeria in counter-terrorism tactics as it was clear in the fight against Boko Haram, but suggested an effective oversight to avoid turning the gadgets into spy materials of political opponents.

Beyond gadgets to counter terrorism, Asiwaju Tinubu said the United States should help Nigeria to confront and defeat social injustices and economic privations that serve as the root cause of terrorism.He said the United State must be a partner-in-progress with Nigeria to strengthen the political party system, such that multi-party democracy would develop and deepen.He also called on the US government to help build the Nigerian government’s capacity to fight corruption.On Miss Klajn’s delegation was Joseph Stafford, US Consul-General in Lagos and other consulate officials.