Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has commended the United Kingdom and United States for promising to take tough disciplinary action on any politicians or Nigerians hoping to disrupt the forthcoming general elections.
On Thursday, the UK and US issued a statement to restrict masterminds of violence during the fast approaching elections from visiting their countries.
However, Lai Mohammaed on Friday released a statement in Ilorin, where he said that the move by UK and US became important in order to ensure a peaceful and credible election devoid of 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 realised they can’t win a free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
“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. ”
”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 Independent National Electoral Commission, 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 organised an election that was later described as flawed by its own ‘winning’ presidential candidate is well known to Nigerians. That party is not the APC.”