Is Nasir El-Rufai on a mission to murder?
Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has raised a lot of suspicions about what may be his plans for the forthcoming general elections after a statement he made on live television on Tuesday.
Defending the Presidency’s stance on foreign interference in the elections on NTA Live, Mallam El-Rufai 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, because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country. We 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.”
*[VIDEO] If you interfer in #Nigeria's #Election, we will kill you and send you back in BODY BAGS – #Kaduna Gov. El-Rufai warns International Community* pic.twitter.com/MY3TcckMCg
— Temple Tochukwu (@TochukwuTemple) February 6, 2019
The governor may have slipped but Nigerians and surely, the international community is not taken this threat lightly. Here are some of the reactions:
The threat by Gov. El-Rufai that foreign powers that interfere in our elections would go back in "body bags" is troubling & sickening. Are we in a jungle here? Are we murderers? We must stop "leaders" who think they have the right to say & do anything. @elrufai Represent us well!
— Remi Sonaiya (@oluremisonaiya) February 6, 2019
This El-Rufai man is a violent, murderous thug. He is always threatening murder & violence against political opponents. Thank goodness he became a governor, which has afforded us the opportunity to know him. Imagine this man with his homicidal tendencies as Nigeria's president! https://t.co/xjUXAAvRl0
— Farooq Kperogi, Ph.D (@farooqkperogi) February 6, 2019
Maybe El-rufai thinks the international community is like the Journalist, activist, opposition Politicians he has gagged and imprison In Kaduna illegally.
— Jim Gami Makama (@Jimgami) February 6, 2019
This dude is scared the international community will expose his plans of rigging election in Kaduna#ElrufaiBodyBags
The European Union responds:
Following Mallam El-Rufai’s comments, the European Union (EU) has said that it does not interfere in elections but monitors and analyses. Press Secretary to the EU Observer Mission, Sarah Fradgley put out a statement that reads in part:
“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. 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“
It would be unfair not to report the reaction of Governor El-Rufai’s biggest critic, Senator Shehu Sani:
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,their’s is set on bulets,bodybags & coffins.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) February 6, 2019
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 is https://t.co/E7oLIkg8S3 ban and appropriate global sanctions is needed here.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) February 6, 2019
Late Jamaican musician, Bob Marley would have been 74 today. Here’s how the world is celebrating his posthumous birthday:
The Toronto Sign will be lit in green, black and yellow today to celebrate Bob Marley Day in the City of Toronto. #BobMarley #BobMarleyDay pic.twitter.com/Sbu2INoozw
— John Tory (@JohnTory) February 6, 2019
Bob Marley would have been 74 years old today. Happy birthday, Bob.
— Pigeons & Planes (@PigsAndPlans) February 6, 2019
From a 1979 interview with Australia's '60 Minutes,' when a reporter asked Bob if he was rich: "Possessions make you rich? I don't have that type of richness. My richness is life, forever." pic.twitter.com/YrnvUVNNz3
Remembering today
— Lazy Stardust (@fermontyvila) February 6, 2019
Mr. Bob Marley 🇧🇴
The King of Reggae
was born on 6 feb 1945
in Saint Ann, Jamaica 🇯🇲
and, sadly, passed away
on 11 May 1981(aged 36)
in Miami, Florida
"One love, one heart
Let's get together
and feel allright"
RIP Buffalo Soldier 🚀 pic.twitter.com/eHVjkgRC7i
Today is Bob Marley’s birthday. Here he was with Cde Chinx, during rehearsals ahead of the Independence celebrations at Rufaro Stadium in 1980 pic.twitter.com/pgxRrz6EV0
— Sungura Central (@SunguraCentral) February 6, 2019
[…] According to Paul Ibe, Clinton’s last minute withdrawal may not be unconnected to a recent comment made by Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai. […]