Presidency sees nothing wrong with El-Rufai’s ‘body in bags’ comment

As reactions continue to trail Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s ‘body in bags’ comment, the Presidency has said it saw nothing wrong with the comment.

It said the comment by the governor against some members of the international community was done in defense of national interest, arguing that there was nothing more to sneeze at.

This was stated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu in response to the vexed issue.

El-Rufai had in a live interview Tuesday night said, “Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags.”

He was reacting on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, and calls by the opposition on the international community to intervene in the current situation in Nigeria.

But in his reaction, Shehu said, “We have taken note of the clarification to a reported earlier statement by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that latest statement by him should rest the issue for good. There is nothing more to sneeze at.

”The Governor spoke strongly in defense of national interest. It is clear that El-Rufa’i, our party the APC and all its candidates have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections. They are all of the view that there is no place for violence against local people or foreign citizens in our midst.

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“Opposition PDP ought to own up to the mistakes of their own policies for 16 years which have led the country to a sorry pass that has cost lives, jobs and growth instead of dwelling on diversionary issues.”

Shehu meanwhile assured that the Federal Government would cooperate with election observers and would not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections.

He added that Buhari’s government would do everything within its power to make sure the coming election is free, fair and credible.

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