The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on the United Kingdom and other developed countries to emulate the United States of America (USA) by placing travel restrictions on Nigerians indicted for electoral offences.

The USA recently imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians involved in undermining democracy in the just-concluded general elections.

The Spokesperson of the U.S.A Department of states, Morgan Ortagus said that the visa ban was placed on individuals, who operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people, democratic principles and human rights.

The Secretary-General, IYC Worldwide, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, commended the USA for undertaking the action.

Kemepado insisted that the UK and European Union countries should tow the same path and place a ban on wicked and inhuman politicians, who were bent on destroying the country with their selfish ambitions.

He lamented that politicians masterminding electoral violence and other irregularities were in the habit of escaping to the USA and other developed countries, where value is placed on human lives and the principles of democracy are strictly adhered to.

He said: “These blood thirsty politicians have successfully taken their children to other safe countries, leaving the children of those who can’t afford such luxury at their mercy.

“If other countries do same as the U.S.A and stop the escape of these daredevil politicians after their dastardly acts, they will have to remain in the country and suffer the consequences of their actions and inactions.

“Furthermore, as the Bayelsa and Kogi State governorship elections draw near, the IYC Scribe is calling on the U.S.A, the U. K and others European countries to pay close attention to the polity, view the happenings during these elections, and place a visa ban on all those that will indulge in electoral offences or undermine democracy in any way.

“Refuge and safe haven should be denied those persons who value their ambitions and interests more than the lives of citizens or the survival of the nation’s democracy which was gotten through the blood of a few good men.

“Also, that the IYC and other related organisations will serve as monitors to furnish the U.S.A and other countries with names, pictures and other relevant information as regards those that will indulge in such undemocratic and heinous activities”. (The Nation)

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