The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that anyone caught trying to snatch ballot boxes would pay with their lives.
The president made the comment at the opening of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus Meeting on Monday, adding that he had ordered the security agencies to deal “ruthlessly” with ballot box snatchers and political thugs bent on disrupting the political process.
Buhari said, “I do not expect anybody to make any disturbance. I have briefed the law enforcement agencies and the military to identify hot spots, flashpoints and they should be prepared to move.
“They, too, would have made their own arrangement as much as possible and as resources provide as much as the country can afford it.
“And anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb it (election), maybe that would be the last unlawful action he would take.
“I have directed the Police and the military to be ruthless.
“We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections. I want Nigerians to be respected.
“Let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I’m not afraid.
“As you said, I have gone round all the 36 states and Abuja. I think I have gotten enough support across the country.
“I am going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system, he would do it at the expense of his own life.”
However, Sani said that the president’s statement could be misconstrued to mean a support for jungle justice.
Taking to his Facebook page, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) senator said, “Those who attempt to snatch or snatched Ballot Boxes should be arrested and brought to book;This is a better expression to avoid jungle justice or Licence for disorder by thugs who may take the law into their hands.”
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