Ahmed Elrufai of Kaduna state, who threatened that International Observers
would return in body bags if they interfere in Nigeria’s elections.
Falana also assured that once the Governor leaves office, he would be
prosecuted.
He asked the international community that has promised to impose visa ban
on those inciting violence to make an example of the governor.
Falana was speaking at secretariat of the Committee for the Defence of
Human Rights (CDHR) during a memorial event in honour of Beko
Ransome-Kuti, the human rights activist who died 13 years ago.
Falana said:
“Last week, Mr. Nasiru El Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State threatened
that foreign election observers and monitors who interfere in the 2019
general elections would return to their countries in body bags because
nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run out country,” Falana
said.
“The threat to attack and kill foreign election observers in Nigeria
constitutes an infraction of the Electoral Act, 2010 and the Penal Code
but because Governor El Rufai currently enjoys immunity his trial and
prosecution for the offence will have to await the end of his tenure.
“The western countries that have threatened to place travel restrictions
on members of the ruling class who incite violence or interfere in the
electoral process should not hesitate to make an example of the governor
without any further delay.
“The Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who has also
warned against any form of electoral violence in the country is urged to
hold Governor El Rufai responsible if foreign observers and monitors are
killed during the 2019 general election.
“Notwithstanding the recklessness of the threat to attack foreign election
observers, Governor El Rufai’s has confirmed that the 2019 general
election is going to be a do or die affair (apologies to Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo) for the leading factions of the ruling class.
“Since leading politicians have recruited and armed thugs the general
elections will be characterised by violence in many parts of the country.
Even if some of the thugs are arrested and are arraigned in the courts,
the various attorneys-general would file nolle prosequi to terminate the
criminal cases as the managers of the neocolonial state cannot afford to
prosecute their armed agents.
“Therefore, since the children of the sponsors of violence are in
expensive schools at home and abroad we urge the masses of our people not
to allow their own children to be used as cannon fodders during the battle
for the control of political power and economic resources of the country
by the ruling class.”
The lawyer also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of considering manipulating results.
He wondered why ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed to implement the
recommendation of the Uwai panel set up by the late President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua to tackle electoral malpractice.
Falana said like Jonathan, President Muhammadu Buhari also jettisoned the
Ken Nnamani panel set up by the APC government.
“It is indubitably clear that both APC and PDP are resolutely committed to
the status quo which permits the manipulation of election results,” he
said.
“Hence, both parties have rejected the reform of the electoral system. But
it is high time democratic forces mounted sufficient pressure on the
political class to implement the recommendations of the electoral reform
panels.”
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