A former presidential aspirant of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 general elections, Patience Key, has backed the United States (US) decision to impose visa restrictions on more Nigerians, allegedly undermining democracy.
On Monday, OsunDaily News reported that the US imposed entry restrictions on more Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during the just concluded general elections.
The development has attracted a barrage of reactions among politicians and concerned citizens as it is the latest in a series of visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians in recent years.
Speaking during an interview in New York, Key, who commended the development, said visa restriction would significantly impact individuals and serve a larger purpose in upholding the integrity of democracy.
“The U.S.’s imposition of a visa ban on certain Nigerians who are believed to have disrupted the democratic processes during the recent 2023 elections signifies the U.S. government’s commitment to uphold democratic values worldwide.
“This action, issued by U.S. State Department Secretary, Antony Blinken, is intended to discourage future instances of such behaviour and to hold accountable those individuals who threatened or undermined the electoral process.
“A visa ban, at its core, restricts the named individuals from entering the United States. This could significantly impact these individuals’ personal and professional lives.
“It could limit their access to international conferences, educational opportunities, business transactions, and even personal trips. In essence, it’s a limitation on their global mobility,” Key said in New York.
The former presidential aspirant submitted that the decision to impose a visa ban or other sanctions is not about punishing those who misbehaved during the elections. She said it is also about setting a precedent for future elections in Nigeria and globally.
“This sends a clear message that undemocratic practices will not be tolerated and will have tangible consequences.
“If the elected Nigerian president was found to have encouraged such undemocratic practices, the U.S. government would face a challenging decision,” she said.
Key added that it was crucial to balance upholding democratic values and maintaining cordial international relations.
“This could mean working closely with other international bodies such as the United Nations, the African Union, or the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure a collective, balanced response,” said Key.
In terms of potential accusations of partiality, transparency and consistency, Key said the U.S. should ensure that any actions taken were based on factual evidence and that they were applied uniformly, regardless of the country or individuals involved.
“The process and rationale behind these decisions should also be communicated clearly to the international community to mitigate misunderstandings,” She said.
Democracy: US Imposes Visa Restriction On Some Nigerians
Earlier on Monday, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced in a statement that the country has imposed Visa restrictions on some Nigerians.
According to him, the United States was committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and worldwide; hence the decision was necessary.
“Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections cycle,” Blinken had said.
According to him, these actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole.
“Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these individuals will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy,” he said.
Blinken said these individuals had been involved in the intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
