After coming under huge criticism and condemnation by his alleged threat to kill foreigners who dare to intervene in the forthcoming general elections, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai even with a video evidence dismissed he ever called for violence with his body bag statement on NTA Live Tuesday programme.
The Governor who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said his comment was not a call for violence but rather a powerful defense of sovereignty.
He explained that he is standing firmly against those trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines, and was opposed to violence but firmly committed to peace and harmony.
“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.
“It is a powerful defense of sovereignty. Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?
“Non-interference in the affairs of other countries is a basic principle of international law. Threatening to intervene in another country implies the use of force. Those who are basing their electoral calculations on foreign intervention need to be discouraged. Only the lawful votes of the Nigerian people should.”
… Having seen that video over and over again, I think rather than come up with this latest excuse, El-Rufai should man up and take back his statement, as video evidence shows he meant what he said and people have the rights to interpret his body bag statement the way they understand it…