El-Rufai Denies Calling For Violence In His Comments About Foreign Interference

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied calling for violence in his comments about foreign interference.

His denial comes as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the International Community to impose a travel ban on the Kaduna State Governor for his comments against peaceful elections in the country.

El-Rufai was reported saying that members of the Global Democratic Institutions that are not working for a peaceful election in Nigeria will return to their countries in body bags.

His comment has however drawn the attention of the opposition party, threatening to withdraw the peace accord that was signed.

Following his comment, the PDP in a statement through its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, threatened to pull out of the peace accord which was signed earlier in the week.

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He said, “Nigerians are still in a shock over comments by the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who declared on national television that members of the global democratic institutions that are not working for a peaceful election in Nigeria will return to their countries in body bags. What a threat?

“We call on the international community to immediately impose a travel ban on El-Rufai for this inciting comment against peaceful elections in our country”.

PDP accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidation of deployment of security agents as well as thugs to snatch ballot boxes.

The party has therefore called on the National Peace Committee to note the infractions by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord, ‘including the shut down of all the stadia in Kano state by the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in order to frustrate the PDP Presidential campaign rallies in the state.

“We, therefore, call on the National Peace Committee to immediately summon El-Rufai on his remarks against the peaceful election in our country.

“The PDP holds that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process.

“In that regard, we might have no option left than to allow our members to defend their votes with whatever that is available to them.

“This country belongs to all of us and no individual or group, no matter how highly placed, can subjugate other citizens or seek to appropriate any sort of absolutism to themselves”.

BUT In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, governor El rufai said that his statement was not a call for violence.

He explained that When the governor appeared on national television, ‘he made comments every patriot can understand.

“He stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

“The video of his comments is in circulation. Any fair-minded person with modest familiarity with the English language and unimpaired comprehension can understand it. It does not contain any call for violence.

“What it is a powerful defense of sovereignty. Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?”

Mr. Aruwan noted that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot. It is not a call for violence. Warning about the consequences of meddling in another country’s affairs is legitimate.

“Non-interference in the affairs of other countries is a basic principle of international law. Threatening to intervene in another country implies the use of force. Those who are basing their electoral calculations on foreign intervention need to be discouraged. Only the lawful votes of the Nigerian people should make or unmake governments”.

He added that the governor’s comment is a call for vigilance and clear notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the opposition for national weakness.

He also added that the governor is standing firmly against those trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines, and is opposed to violence but firmly committed to peace and harmony.

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