Sir, - I write in response to a letter from the Charge d'Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy, Mr Edwin Edobor (June 4th). Could I ask Mr Edobor why the Nigerian army annulled free and fair presidential elections in 1993 and jailed the winner, Moshood Abiola, if, as he says, "there is no persecution of any nature, nor reign of terror in Nigeria"?
A very different picture is painted of life in Nigeria by our partners on the ground who continue to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses such as the harassment and detention of human rights activists, journalists, opposition politicians and any other critics of the Government.
If, as Mr Edobor says, there is no "reign of terror", why then is there no legal recourse against any human rights violations by the government, which has continued to show contempt for the rule of law, ignoring court orders and publishing military decrees to prevent interference by the judiciary?
I challenge his assertion that "the situation in Nigeria does not warrant its citizens to seek refugee status outside the country". With thousands of democracy activists in jail, press freedom banned the constitution suspended and the present military regime intent on holding on to power at whatever cost, many are forced to leave Nigeria for their own safety or operate underground and are constantly on guard against the possibility of arrest.
Finally, could I ask Mr Edobor to reflect on why his government received so many appeals for respect of human rights from the United Nations, the EU the US many governments in Africa the Commonwealth, Japan, Sweden, the Vatican as well as numerous nongovernmental organisations.
Yours, etc.,
Trocaire,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.