Those that are calling for people to come and intervene, we are waiting for them to come and intervene, they will go back in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country. We got back our independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible.
Admin l Wednesday, Feb. 06, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – Comments by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El-rufai, that foreigners who interfer in Nigeria’s electoral process will go back home in bags has continued to occupy space in the social media.
His comments that foreigners who interfer will be killed and put in bags back to their homeland is reminiscent of the murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi was not only murdered but his body was cut into pieces and evacuated with bags from the embassy.
Till date, his body has not been found, a development that has sparked diplomatic row worldwide. In the El-rufai video, laced with hate speech, Rufai questioned the rationale for foreigners to come and teach Nigerians how to conduct its affairs.
“Those that are calling for people to come and intervene, we are waiting for them to come and intervene, they will go back in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country. We got back our independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible. We know the history of those countries that are trying to teach us these things, we also know that at their own stages of development, they also have these challenges, so let’s work together, let’s advice one another…”, he said.
Recall that the British High Commission and the American Embassy had warned Nigerians in the wake of suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Walter Kanu Onnoghen about the suspension very close to the election,stressing that it gives cause for concern.
While noting that they respect Nigeria’s svereign authority and its right to adjudicate on constitutional provisions, it noted that as friends of the Nigerian people, they are compelled to observe that the timing of this action, so close to national elections, gives cause for concern.
“It risks affecting both domestic and international perceptions on the credibility of the forthcoming elections. We, along with other members of the international community, are following developments closely. We encourage all actors to maintain calm and address the concerns raised by this development through due process, demonstrating their commitment to respecting the constitution and the impartial administration of the rule of law”, they said.
