Country director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi says the organisation will make an example of Francis Fadahunsi, senator representing Osun east, by shaming him across the 150 countries where it operates over his remarks ahead of the Osun State governorship election .
Sanusi spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while reacting to Fadahunsi’s controversial remarks ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Fadahunsi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, has come under intense criticism after a video circulated online showing him seemingly directing supporters to kill members of the Accord party.
The Osun police command summoned the senator on Tuesday and grilled him for about two hours on Wednesday.
Sanusi said Amnesty would make an example of Fadahunsi to serve as a deterrent to other members of the political class.
“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 push for accountability, arguing 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 Fadahunsi’s remarks, saying authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.
The organisation described the senator’s comments as reckless and said they were aimed at inciting violence ahead of the Osun election.
“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” Amnesty said.
(Ripples)