*We have no preferred Candidate in Nigeria’s election – US, UK
According to a statement issued in Ilorin on Friday and signed by his Special Assistant Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government was particularly delighted that the US, UK’s statements came after it alerted the nation to the machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.
Much as the loud cries within the opposition circle accusing the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Federal Government of planning to rig coming elections and denying government’s allegations against them of mobilising for violence to disrupt the exercise thereby setting up Interim National Government (ING), the opposition parties have continued to be silent since United States and United Kingdom threatened that any perpetrator of violence at the elections will not be issued visa to leave the Nigeria.
This is even as the Federal Government Friday welcomed the statements from the western and European societies demanding credible and peaceful election in Nigeria and threatening punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence.
The US and UK governments had warned that perpetrators of violence before, during and after the Nigeria’s general elections would face some form of sanctions, including visa restrictions.
In a separate statement on Thursday in Abuja, both governments said they would closely monitor actions of individuals and withhold or withdraw visas of those who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence.
They reaffirmed strong support to genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process, insisting that they have no preference for any specific candidate or party.
It will be recalled that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been celebrating, by the controversial visit of his presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the United States recently, that President Muhammadu Buhari now has no friends globally even as Atiku is more loved by American government and leaders all over the world.
The US, in a seeming reply, denied having a preferred candidate in the election and saying also that , “We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections,” said a statement from the US Embassy in Abuja.
“We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members,” the joint statement added.
According to a statement issued in Ilorin on Friday and signed by his Special Assistant Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government was particularly delighted that the US, UK’s statements came after it alerted the nation to the machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.
”A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country. Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realized they can’t win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.
”The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said Nigerians and the international community should take seriously the assurance of a credible and violence-free election that has been consistently given by President Muhammadu Buhari, a tried-and-tested democrat and a globally-acclaimed man of integrity.
He said the APC-led Administration is very confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, adding that a party that was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition had no business rigging election or perpetrating violence now that it is in power and is enjoying massive support from the citizenry.
The Minister called on the international community to keep a close eye on those who are spending more time on a dubious strategy of scuttling the polls than campaigning to win in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election.
”As their campaign flounders and their strategies collapse, they have resorted to seeking power by subterfuge. That’s why they are doing everything possible to discredit an election that has yet to be held by unleashing their attack dogs on INEC, the police and the entire electoral process.
”On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organizing and securing the election. That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go.
“The party that has a history of rigging polls is well known to Nigerians. The party that has a history of using security forces to unleash violence in order to steal the people’s votes is well known to Nigerians. The party that organized an election that was later described as flawed by its own ‘winning’ presidential candidate is well known to Nigerians. That party is not the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
