Ime Akpan
The governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has come under severe criticisms over his death threat to foreigners who might interfere in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
The governor had, during an interview with Cyril Stober on NTA Tuesday Live, warned against alleged foreign intervention in the suspension of the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Mr. Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari as expressed by the US, EU, and the UK.
The US, EU and UK had condemned the president’s action saying the suspension could mar the credibility of the general elections which begin on February 16.
“We are waiting for the person that will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags, because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country.
“We’ve got that independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible.
“And we know the history of those countries that are trying to teach us these things; we have read their history. We also know that in their stages of development they went through these challenges.
“So, please, let’s work together; let’s advise one another but don’t lecture us,” he said.
In its reaction, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) threatened to withdraw from the peace accord signed by the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar ahead of the general elections.
The party’s spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said it was shocking that the governor could make such an incendiary comment.
He drew the attention of the National Peace Committee to the “infractions” by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders to the peace accord, including the provocative shut down of all the stadia in Kano state by the state governor, Mr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
“In issuing this threat at this time is in furtherance of the PDP’s Dubai agenda to build a case for the disruption of the presidential election or at the minimum, create a perception of ill will around the election with intent at discrediting the election which they know they will lose even before they commenced formal campaign.
“To advance their evil agenda, in their desperation, they have continued to throw all manners of tantrums, rubbishing institutions of states without any modicum of patriotism and civility.
“Nigerians are still in a shock over the comments by el-Rufai, who declared on a national television that members of the global democratic institutions that are working for a peaceful election in Nigeria will return to their countries in body bags. What a threat?”
“We therefore call on the National Peace Committee to immediately summon el-Rufai on his inflammatory remarks against 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,” he said.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), in its reaction slammed the governor and described him as a “drowning, frustrated man.”
AYCF chairmen, Mr. Yerima Shettima, said in a statement that Arewa youths had come of age and “are now well-informed to reject being used as tools of destruction.”
“We are worried about the way they are encouraging more foreigners into our political activities. The latest event in Kano has actually proven beyond reasonable doubt that the APC government was busy encouraging foreigners to interfere in our national life which is not right, even within the international law; it’s not acceptable as that is not the standard.
“Having said that, I’m also concerned and worried that maybe he got carried away, as a governor, he has a limitation that he can only make such declaration in Kaduna State.
“If it’s general then we expect the president to summon courage to speak against the foreigners because he has more friends in the neighboring countries like in Niger, so that should be referred to him,” said Shettima.
Also, the representative of Kaduna central senatorial district, Mallam Shehu Sani, advised the federal government to call el-Rufai to order.
Sani who took to his twitter handle wrote: “The federal government and the ruling party must unequivocally dissociate themselves and unambiguously denounce the threat to murder foreigners; silence or neutrality on this dangerous and tragic statement is consent. Travel ban and appropriate global sanctions is needed here.
“The threat to kill foreigners who ‘interfere’ in Nigeria’s elections is a condemnable act. Nigerians & the Intl community must take this seriously. D sources & plots of violence is now clear. While our mind is set on ballot boxes & votes, theirs is set on bullets, body bags & coffins.
“The FG and the ruling party must unequivocally dissociate themselves and unambiguously denounce the threat to murder foreigners; Silence or neutrality on this dangerous & tragic statement. Travel ban and appropriate global sanctions is needed here.
“Threatening foreigners with Body Bags is not nationalism or patriotism, it’s fascism. They simply want to switch off the lights, close the windows and the doors and count our votes. They are watering the flowers of our democracy with kerosene.
“Body Bag in English language and not Sanskrit means Body Bag, it’s not Backpack or Gucci Handbag or Louis Vuitton handbag. If you think Body Bag is a symbol of nationalism or patriotism, please add it to the coat of arms or your party logo.”
In his reaction, the executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Mallam Awaal Rafsanjani, called on the federal government to protect international observers whom he said are coming at the behest of the federal authorities.
“Government of Nigeria must take steps to ensure and guarantee the security and safety of all the election observers both foreign and local observers because this threat should not be taken as a joke.
“In the past local election, observers had been attacked by some political thugs and no one arrested for their violence against peaceful election observers in Nigeria. But this time around, you have a sitting governor who makes such careless statement.
“If by any way his utterance leads to an attack on election observers, surely it can cost the nation serious diplomatic crisis, and, therefore, I will strongly recommend that our security agents ensure the success of this election by providing safety and security to all,” he said.
For its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dissociated itself from El-Rufai’s comments.
The resident electoral commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini said foreign observers should feel in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Igini said: “I am concerned by that statement but we want to assure members of the international community that our election is an election that we want to conduct because election period is a period for citizens to renew ideas, policies, and persons who have governed for a period of time.
“So, here in Nigeria, we want to say that on the part of the commission, our commitment to conduct free and fair election to the satisfaction of the Nigerian people first and will also meet regional and international standards, one that we will demonstrate in this election because we have sufficient tools preparation to deal with that,” he said.
European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) also reacted saying it would not be deterred from observing the general elections set to hold on February 16 and March 2.
In a statement signed by its leader, Ms. Sarah Fradgley, the team also said it would continue to review its security arrangements before, during and after the elections.
“We are aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about non-interference by foreigners during a talk show on the elections Tuesday 5 February.
“The EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is invited to do so by the authorities of a country. The EU has been invited to observe all of the general elections in Nigeria since 1999. Thus this is the sixth time the EU is observing elections in Nigeria.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission invited the EU to deploy an observation mission for the 2019 general elections.
“EU election observation missions give commentary and analysis, and make recommendations about the electoral process. EU election observation missions are impartial, do not interfere in the electoral process, and operate according to a strict code of conduct.
“While the security of EU observers is of paramount importance, and will remain under constant review, EU observers will continue their work across the country in the run-up to – and beyond – the 16 February elections.
“For the last month the mission’s team in Abuja, as well as 40 long-term observers across the country, have followed the elections. We have met with a wide range of candidates, parties, election officials, security agencies, and civil society organisations, and have enjoyed good cooperation at federal and state levels.
“The mission looks at all aspects of the election, including the campaign tone, the transparency of the election administration, the neutrality of security forces, and the independence of the judiciary,” she said.
However, El-Rufai who reacted to the barrage of criticisms defended his comments saying he spoke in defence of the nation’s dignity.
In a statement issued in Kaduna by his spokesperson, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the governor said affirming that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot.
The statement reads: “A notorious trait of the characters that constitute the opposition in Nigeria is the manufacture of outrage on flimsy grounds. However, contriving anger on false premises and summoning a din of feverish commentary will not alter the facts. Election season is regarded as silly season in some quarters, but it is a very serious moment.
“When Malam Nasir el-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live, 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 is a powerful defence of sovereignty? Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?
“Affirming 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.
“Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has issued a powerful call for vigilance and a clear notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the opposition for national weakness. “Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has stood firmly against those who have been trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines. He is resolutely opposed to violence, and firmly committed to peace and harmony. Let the false outrage stop.”
