Nigerians have reacted to threat made by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, during a programme that was aired on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on Tuesday, February 5, 2019.
Governor El-Rufai warned the United States (U.S), the United Kingdom (U.K) and the European Union (EU) and other international bodies to desist from interfering in Nigeria’s political affairs or face fatal consequences. He said:
“Those that are calling for everyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that will 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’ve got that independence and we are trying to run our country as decently as possible and we know the history of those countries that are trying to teach us these things; we have read their history. We also know that in their stages of development they went through these challenges.
“So, please, let’s work together; let’s advise one another but don’t lecture us.”
El-Rufai’s statement did not go down well with most Nigerians, some has taken to their social media account reacts to the governor’s threat #ElrufaiBodyBags. Here are some reactions on Twitter below:
I PRAY MY DEAR BROTHER NASIR EL RUFAI WILL WITHDRAWAL THAT UNFORTUNATE THREAT… I'M HIS FAN…
Nigerian Governor, El-Rufai, Threatens murder of Foreign Officials over upcoming elections…https://t.co/YhaWHwFRrX
— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) February 6, 2019
The threat to kill foreigners who ‘interfere’ in Nigeria’s elections is a condemnable act. Nigerians & the Intl community must take this seriously.D sources & plots of violence is now clear.While our mind is set on ballot boxes & votes,their’s is set on bulets,bodybags & coffins.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) February 6, 2019
Is this madness? President @MBuhari if you don’t reject this evil, this fellow will bring your government into disrepute! Never in Nigeria’s history have we ever had such recklessness in a public official. I urge @OfficialAPCNg to publicly repudiate this https://t.co/9k02TSr16j
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2019
In this election season, we have heard so many violence inspiring utterances and rhetoric, to the extent that I feel compelled to urge all of Nigeria’s leaders to remember that you can’t claim to be a leader and then speak like a destroyer. You must choose one or the other.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2019
The threat by Gov. El-Rufai that foreign powers that interfere in our elections would go back in "body bags" is troubling & sickening. Are we in a jungle here? Are we murderers? We must stop "leaders" who think they have the right to say & do anything. @elrufai Represent us well!
— Remi Sonaiya (@oluremisonaiya) February 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/MiriamShehu/status/1093124561539907584
So El-Rufai, d murderous thug, is also an internationally certified corrupt villain? Let's see how far d backward, atavistic idiots that El Rufai is a part of & on whose behalf he wants to murder foreigners can go. They don't want to lose without going down with the whole nation https://t.co/prwqAL4A3I
— Farooq Kperogi (@farooqkperogi) February 6, 2019
I can't help but be happy RN, reason being that atleast now the whole country n the world has come to understand what we as citizens of kaduna are going through… This is the peak of it though! Threats everywhere! Haba Jema'a! #ElrufaiBodyBags#LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain pic.twitter.com/lOLMBX7ZjC
— AfricanHealer (@Rrofeey) February 6, 2019
#ElrufaiBodyBags speech should be given an award of the most inciting speech of the year m imagine threatening countries like US, UK n co. @Elrufai is nothing but a big joke
— REFORM NIGERIA (@Danieldanmagaji) February 6, 2019
Oh dear Lord God!😭😭😭
Unfortunately the EU Election Observers never knew @elrufai had wishes to kill and place them in body bags, until he revealed so during Tuesday Live programme. #ElrufaiBodyBags @john_danfulani @DanganaEli @anche_76803 @segalink @realKefason @Jimgami @hrw https://t.co/w0NDUqGaVU
— Xmonk (@_xmonk) February 6, 2019
El-rufai threatened foreign observers that they will go back in body bags #ElrufaiBodyBags if they dare come to Nigeria and Kaduna. This shows that @elrufai is not ready for free and fair election in Kaduna. @KarickSKuyet @EnochZickz @McMeshman @SKSolaKuti @realFFK @DanganaEli pic.twitter.com/oDF0fTFnbp
— DestinyChild (@swanmercy) February 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/freakyfreon/status/1093230199506956289
El-Rufai needs to be arrested asap. He is a threat to national security Walahi. But then some people are already pushing him for 2023 vice presidency. #NeverAgain
— Selzing (@Selzinng) February 6, 2019
The only word which can be formed using the letters from El-Rufai is FAILURE.
The short man devil is worse than Bokoharam, perhaps he's the sponsor of boko haram cos all the Idiot thinks abt is how to kill innocent People.#elrufaissanityisindoubt pic.twitter.com/i9GaTVTvrN
— Sweet Shantel (@SweetShantel) February 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/SuperlitG/status/1093213657956339712