APC reports First Lady, Patience Jonathan to International Criminal Court

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation has dispatched a formal complaint against Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to the International Criminal Court and other agencies over her statement asking Nigerians to stone anybody calling for change in the country.

Mrs. Jonathan had said at the Peoples Democratic Party Women Campaign in Calabar, Cross River State, last week that anyone chanting change should be stoned.

“I’m telling you, anyone that comes and tell you change, stone that person,” she said. “What you did not do 19 kikilili, is now that age has caught up with you, you want to come and change? You can’t change rather you will turn back to a baby. You will turn back to a baby. From old age nothing, so nothing like change. Rather (it) is continuity.”

The APC slogan for the forthcoming election is “Change” while that of the PDP is “Power.”

The APC campaign’s Director General and Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, said by her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly asking the PDP to attack the APC supporters because Nigerians know that change is the slogan of the opposition party.

He drew a similarity between some of the first lady’s inciting statement and those of a former First Lady of Cote d”Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo, in the build up to that country’s election in 2010, stating that she was indicted for her part in planning to perpetrate brutal attacks, including rape, murder and sexual violence on the opposition.

Mr. Amaechi lamented Mrs. Jonathan’s hate speech, saying it contravened the laws and also the Abuja Peace Pact endorsed by the 13 presidential candidates in the March 28 election.

He said, “PDP supporters in the state who may not know better could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against the APC members.”

Mr. Amaechi asked the police to ensure emergency measures at put in place to protect the lives and properties of the members of APC in Cross River State.

The governor said the petition would be dispatched to the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector General of Police, Suleman Abba.

Credit: Premium Times