As the countdown to elections in Nigeria continues, our correspondent Gary Duke travelled to Nigeria in the wake of reports that the Governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai issued a derogatory statement purporting that he would “return all foreigners in body bags if they interfere with elections in Nigeria.” The irony however, is that the Governor barely few days ago, campaigned in the company of two Governors from Niger Republic for the reelection of President Buhari. The President was also at the rally. Here is what a concerned Nigerian had to say on the comments of Mallam Rufai:
It’s a shame that the Nigerian Military, Police, National Assembly, Judiciary and the “supposed” Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which ordinarily, should act as a check on the excesses of President Buhari have been rendered toothless and more or less incapacitated to the extent that they can’t boldly speak to their President. It may be recalled that the Buhari administration relied heavily on the support and campaign of then U.S. President, Barack Obama to controversially claim victory in the 2015 Presidential elections. While it was convenient for Governor El Rufai and Buhari to welcome such interference, it’s sad how they now threaten the international community/observers with death having realized that the elections would be lost if it were to be conducted free and fair.
“if your position is to kill all foreigners [El Rufai] who interfere with elections in Nigeria, then you are morally bound to explain to Nigerians why you allowed foreign Governors (from Niger Republic) to come into our country to campaign for your political party. Does that not amount to interference with our internal political affairs?”
The clarion call therefore, is for the Nigerian Military, Police, National Assembly, Judiciary and INEC to stand up and be bold for once. The sooner they realize that the African continent looks up to them for hope, the better for Nigeria. They must not allow President Buhari and his cohorts to truncate the gains made in sustaining Nigeria’s nascent democracy. The international community must not fold its hands and watch another Idi Amin emerge in Africa. They must call President Buhari to order.
