Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has said his comments that foreigners who interfere in the country’s forthcoming general elections would leave in body bags was made in the interest of the country.
Dismissing the criticisms which have trailed the comments, he maintained that he was defending the dignity of Nigeria.
Recall that the governor had said on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on Tuesday that foreigners planning to interfere with the country’s election will leave in body bags.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday, El-Rufai insisted there was nothing wrong with his comments.
The statement read; “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 it is 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?
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“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.
“Malam 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.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the EU has reacted to el-Rufai’s comments saying that its observers would not be deterred from doing their work by his threats.
According to the EU, it was invited to observe the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and has observed Nigeria’s elections since 1999, therefore the upcoming elections would not be different.
