Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has denied calling for violence in his recent comment which has attracted outrage.
Clarifying his boss’ statement, Samuel Aruwan, media aide to
the governor said “When Malam Nasir El-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night
Live, he made comments every patriot can understand. 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. What 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?”
It could be recalled that the governor’s use of the word “body bags” in the comment attracted the most controversy.
Read the full text of Aruwan’s clarification below:
El-Rufai: Let the False Outrage Stop
A notorious trait of the characters that constitute the opposition in Nigeria
is the manufacture of outrage on flimsy grounds. However, contriving anger on
false premises and summoning a din of feverish commentary will not alter the
facts. Election season is regarded as silly season in some quarters, but it is
a very serious moment.
When Malam Nasir El-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live, he made
comments every patriot can understand. 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. What 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?
Affirming that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is
the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot. It is not a call for
violence. Warning about the consequences of meddling in another country’s
affairs is legitimate.
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 make or unmake governments.
Malam Nasir El-Rufai has issued a powerful call for vigilance and a clear
notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the
opposition for national weakness.
Malam Nasir El-Rufai has stood firmly against those who have been trying to
divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines. He is
resolutely opposed to violence, and firmly committed to peace and harmony.
Let the false outrage stop.
Samuel Aruwan
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Publicity)
