The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has urged the international community to impose sanctions on any Nigerian politician that attempts to subvert the will of the people or cause violence during the 2019 general election.
Wike made the call at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally at Ngo, in Andoni Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.
The governor urged the international community to ignore Kaduna Governor, Nasir el-Rufai’s statement that any foreigner that attempts to interfere in the nation’s affairs would be taken out of the country in a body bag.
Describing El-Rufai as a “purveyor of extreme electoral violence”, Wike maintained that the work of foreign election observers was critical to a credible general election in Nigeria.
“We call on the international community not to be afraid or deterred by the so-called threat by El-Rufai. They should come out and monitor the elections. If anybody rigs, they should sanction Nigeria. They should start, first, by imposing sanctions on El-Rufai by cancelling all his visas,” Wike said.
According to him, “In 2015, the international community monitored the elections and Jonathan lost. He did not fight, instead, he handed over peacefully. He (Jonathan) said his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian. The elections must be free and fair.”
The governor added, “El-Rufai is afraid because he knows he has nothing to account for his stewardship in Kaduna. That is why he can open his mouth to attack the international community. I want the international community to regard the threat by El-Rufai as empty,” Wike noted.
Read Also: Yoruba Oba Issues Warning To Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB Over Election Boycott