Polls ’ violence : Patience Jonathan , Orubebe, others faces U . S visa ban

The United States government said on Monday it will
impose visa restrictions on the wife of Nigeria ’ s
president , Patience Jonathan , a former Minister of
Niger Delta Affairs , Godsday Orubebe, the governor of
Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema , and several others for
inciting violence and interfering with the country ’ s
electoral process .
The U . S . Assistant Secretary of State for African
Affairs , Linda Thomas- Greenfield, said in a statement
that America will shut its doors on people involved in
any form of violence during the polls .
“ Anyone found to have incited violence or interfered
with electoral processes will be unwelcome in the
United States and subject to visa sanctions, ” Ms.
Thomas - Greenfield said in the statement.
Although the U . S official did not mention names of
those considered for sanctions, Orubebe has been
listed in several quarters as one of those that will be
affected ostensibly because of his unruly behavior
during the collation of the presidential election results
at the Independent National Electoral Commission ’ s
National Collation centre in Abuja last month .
The former minister verbally assaulted the INEC
chairman , Prof . Attahiru Jega , alleging that the
results of the election were skewed in favour of the
All Progressive Congress (APC ).
Although Orubebe later apologized to Nigerians , his
action was widely condemned within and outside the
country .
Mrs. Jonathan on her part incited violence against
APC supporters during the Peoples Democratic

Party ’ s campaign activities in some parts of the
country .
Ms . Thomas- Greenfield said while the elections were
generally peaceful , some people resolved to
undermine the will of Nigerians and interfere with
electoral processes through violence and voter

intimidation .