The Federal Government on Friday backed the decision of the United States, US, and the United Kingdom, UK, to deny visa to politicians who instigate violence during the forthcoming elections.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the Federal Government was delighted that the warning came after it raised alarm of some politicians’ plot to scuttle the 2019 elections through widespread violence.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Minister 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, who is a “tried-and-tested democrat and a globally-acclaimed man of integrity”.
The statement reads: “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.”
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