Northern youths blast El-Rufai over threat to kill foreign observers during the election

Emmanuel OgunremiFebruary 7, 2019

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A group, under the auspices of Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations, JACON, have condemned in strong terms the recent threat to international community, election observers by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

JACON group said the governor to throw the state and country into another round of bloodletting.

The Kaduna State Governor had on Tuesday warned that those who intervene in the forthcoming general elections will “go back in body bags”.

Reacting, the association called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and not be perturbed by the comment made by El Rufai.

Murtala Abubakar, convener of JACON, in a statement said, “The recent outburst and threat to the international community, especially election observers by Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru Ahmad el-Rufai is not surprising. What is surprising is extending it outside the shore of Kaduna and Nigeria, targeting the international community who are interested in fair, transparent, credible and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

“In the face of this, we call on all to remain steadfast, not to bow to intimidation, not to play into the hands of people like el-Rufai whose plan is to throw the state and the nation into another round of bloodletting. We shall triumph over those who don’t want to see us in peace.

“This is not new. But as northern youths, we have resolved not to be drawn into any act that will lead to lost of lives and property in Kaduna State, the region or the nation as a whole.

“For the record, Governor el-Rufai is no stranger to such inflammatory statement meant to stock ember of discord and results in violence. But we have seen through his veiled calls to violence.

“El-Rufai is known to have called the opposition in Kaduna termites and ants and should be crushed. He has asked those who asked questions on his style of scothearth leadership to climb Kufena Hill and jump to their death.

“The most recent and bizarre was his allusion to a religious icon; the celebrated and revered Catholic leader, The Pope. That statement was meant to infuriate the Catholics and Christians to cause religious conflict. But we thank the Christian community for their restrain and the show of maturity by not playing into the hands of the governor.”

The associations noted with dismay that just this week, three young boys were mowed down in cold blood at Unguwan Muazu within Kaduna metropolis right under the watch of Governor el-Rufai in his campaign train.

“Despite the security agents in the Governor’s motorcade, no one has been arrested nor did he visit to condole with the families of the murdered boys. It took serious intervention of peace loving people to ensure the killings of the young boys did not lead to another circle of bloodletting in Kaduna,” the associations explained.

They said, “Nigeria like the governor said in this last infamous interview on a national television has been involved in other countries to ensure they have peaceful and credible elections. What is wrong to ensure Nigeria does same with other countries as observers.

“El-Rufai’s statement that “those that are calling for anyone to intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person to come and intervene. They would go back in body bags because nobody would come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country” is unfortunate, condemnable, a call to violence and veiled threat to all peace loving people.”

They called on the security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

“We also urge the international and the election observers not to bow to threats such as the one coming from Governor Nasir Ahmad El-rufai,” they assured.