Buhari defends El-Rufai promising that elections will be free and fair and devoid of violence

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has defended Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent statement threatening foreign observers who attend this month's elections saying there in nothing to fear as the elections will be free and fair as well as devoid of violence.

 

In a moment of recklessness yesterday, Kaduna State's Governor El-Rufai warned that any foreigners who intervened in the elections would go back to their countries in body bags. His comments immediately attracted widespread national and international condemnation, with the European Union (EU), UK, Commonwealth, African Union and US all saying they would be sending observers to monitor the elections.

 

Seeking to limit the diplomatic damage the statement may have caused, President Buhari issued a statement through his spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu, saying the governor spoke in the interest of Nigerians and there is nothing more to sneeze at. He further assured the international community of a free and fair and violence-free election.

 

Mallam Shehu said: “The federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari would cooperate with election observers and would not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections. The presidency assures Nigerians and the international community that the president would do everything within its power to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.

 

“We have taken note of the clarification to an earlier statement by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that the latest statement by him should rest the issue for good. There is nothing more to sneeze at as the governor spoke strongly in defence of our national interest.

 

Governor El-Rufai had said: “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags. When reminded that Nigeria also intervened in international matters, the governor said Nigeria had intervened militarily in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990’s upon the resolution of the international community and as a gesture of neighbourliness.

 

Mallam Shehu added: “It is clear that El-Rufai, our party and all its candidates have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. They are all of the view that there is no place for violence against local people or foreign citizens in our midst.

 

“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ought to own up to the mistakes of their own policies for 16 years which have led the country to a sorry pass that has cost lives, jobs and growth instead of dwelling on diversionary issues.”

 

Also wading into the issue, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said Governor said El-Rufai’s threat was appropriate if it was targeted against foreigners plotting to compromise the forthcoming election. Ohanaeze spokesman Chuks Ibegbu, however, stated that if the threat was against countries like the US and other western countries that have shown concern over Nigeria’s democracy then it is inappropriate.

 

 

He said: “Well for me if it’s targeted against foreigners who are coming to compromise our elections then he is right, foreigners have no business interfering with our elections. There is no country where foreigners interfere in their elections so if his concern is genuine and not bias, then he is right."

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