Presidency accuses Amnesty International of ‘promoting tweets that call for the overthrow of the Nigerian Constitution’

Nigeria’s Presidency on Sunday, August 4, accused Amnesty International of ‘promoting tweets that call for the overthrow of the Nigerian constitution’.

This came after the human rights group was allegedly placed on a security watch list and a subsequent protest by some ‘pro-government‘ protesters at its office in Abuja.

The Presidency in a tweet shared on its official handle said it had no problem with Amnesty International but queries its motive in promoting tweets that call for the overthrow of the Nigerian constitution. Read the tweet below;

The Government of Nigeria has absolutely no difficulty with @amnesty , and no objections to the work that they do in line with their stated mandate. But does @AmnestyNigeria  have any defence for their promotion of tweets that call for the overthrow of the Nigerian constitution?

The human rights group had in a statement released by its spokesperson Isa Sanusi on Saturday, August 3, explained its aim and interest in Nigeria.

“Amnesty International is a human rights organization and not affiliated to any interests, political, religious or commercial. We have been working on Nigeria since 1967 our role is to hold governments to their obligations to respect and protect human rights, and to ensure that anyone whose rights are violated has an effective remedy.”

“For this reason, the organization continues to call on the Nigerian government to use its authority and resources to investigate all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, including of rape, torture, arbitrary detentions and unlawful killings, to ensure reparation for the victims, to hold the perpetrators accountable, and to ensure non-repetition of the violations.

“Despite sponsored protests, we will not stay silent. In the face of efforts to evade responsibility or to smear our organization, we will continue to raise our voices whenever and wherever we see injustice, sexual abuse, discrimination against women, or any other violations of human rights in Nigeria.”