The Presidency has lent its support to comments by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai that foreigners who interfere in the forthcoming general elections would return home in body bags.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Wednesday evening, defended el-Rufai, saying he spoke strongly in the defence of national interest.
The governor had come under severe criticism on Wednesday following his comment on an NTA programme, threatening that
foreigners planning to intervene in the elections will leave in “body bags.”
While the EU has reacted to the threat, maintaining it would go ahead with its mission of observing the forthcoming elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, threatened to pull out of the peace accord signed by the political leaders.
But in a statement on Wednesday, el-Rufai through his media aide dismissed his critics insisting that he spoke in defence of the nation’s dignity.
According to Shehu, el-Rufai’s clarification on his earlier comment should therefore, put paid to further comments and reactions from people.
He said; “We have taken note of the clarification to a reported earlier statement by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i, concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that latest statements by him should rest the issue for good.
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“There is nothing more to sneeze at. The governor spoke strongly in defence of national interest. It is clear that El-Rufa’i, our party the All Progressives Congress, 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.”
On free and fair polls, he said, “The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari will cooperate with election observers and will not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections.
“The Presidency assures Nigerians and the international community that the President will do everything within his power to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.”
