European Union Monitors React To El-Rufai’s Statement On Foreign Intervention

A team of European Union election observers on Wednesday reacted
to a statement by Governor Nasir El-Rufai that Nigerian forces
would kill any foreign soldiers who intervene in
Nigeria’s elections.

The EU team said the threat would not deter it from observing
the general elections set to hold on February 16 and March 2.

The team, however, said it would continue to review its security
arrangements before, during and after the elections.

“We are aware of the comments by the Governor of Kaduna about
non-interference by foreigners during a talk show on the elections
Tuesday 5 February.

“The EU only deploys an election observation mission when it is
invited to do so by the authorities of a country. The EU has been
invited to observe all of the general elections in Nigeria since
1999. Thus this is the sixth time the EU is observing elections in
Nigeria.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission invited the EU to
deploy an observation mission for the 2019 general elections.

“EU election observation missions give commentary and analysis,
and make recommendations about the electoral process. EU election
observation missions are impartial, do not interfere in the
electoral process, and operate according to a strict code of
conduct.

“While the security of EU observers is of paramount importance,
and will remain under constant review, EU observers will continue
their work across the country in the run-up to – and beyond – the
16 February elections.

“For the last month the mission’s team in Abuja, as well as 40
long-term observers across the country, have followed the
elections. We have met with a wide range of candidates, parties,
election officials, security agencies, and civil society
organisations, and have enjoyed good cooperation at federal and
state levels.

“The mission looks at all aspects of the election, including the
campaign tone, the transparency of the election administration, the
neutrality of security forces, and the independence of the
judiciary,” the statement by the team’s Sarah Fradgley read in
full.

Mr El-Rufai’s controversial comments were made during an
appearance on Nigerian Television Authority Tuesday night.

“Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in
Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and
intervene, they would go back in body bags,” Mr El-Rufai said.

The governor argued that Nigeria’s sovereignty was sacrosanct
and the country also respects other nation’s sovereignty. He said
Nigeria only intervened militarily in other countries (Liberia and
Sierra Leone) when it had international mandate to do so. In
another statement on Wednesday, Mr El-Rufai tried to clarify
his statement saying he was only trying to vigorously defend
Nigeria’s territory and did not call for violence against foreign
countries.

The governor’s statement has been criticised by many Nigerians,
and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party mentioned it as a
reason for threatening to pull out of a peace accord.

Last month, presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu said Nigeria
would raise its forces against any military intervention. Mr Shehu
stated this after the United States, United Kingdom and the EU
criticised the unconstitutional suspension of Chief Justice Walter
Onnoghen.

NIPR to Commence Prosecution of Illegal
Spokespersons
…. Appoints General Olukolade Chairman of Compliance Panel

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has appointed
retired General Chris Olukolade as its Chairman Compliance
Committee to monitor and initiate prosecutions of uncertified
spokespersons who fraudulently claim to be practicing public
relations in the country.

The President of NIPR, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo who made this known
at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja said the Institute
would pursue and ensure full compliance to its enabling laws.

He said; “We shall add teeth to our enforcement of the
provisions of the Act because doing so will help our democracy and
support government’s effort at anti-corruption and entrenching
respect for the rule of law.

“We solicit support from the Minister of Information to approach
the Attorney General of the Federation to constitute the tribunal
to check the unwholesome activities of quacks as stipulated in the
NIPR Act.”

Also speaking on the inductions of new NIPR members from the
Federal Ministry of Information at the occasion, the President said
the Institute is willing to deploy its expertise as communication
managers to reduce the spate of hate speeches and divisive politics
that tend to undermine the core values that unite us as a
nation.

He said: “I reasoned that the best way to reduce the fear of
marginalization by different segments of our society is to widen
the space for dialogue Our establishment of Tonie Iredia led Policy
and Strategy Committee which will among other things organise
Public Relations Summit which will be a quarterly national platform
where issues that are germane to the corporate existence, unity and
development of our nation shall be examined dispassionately by
notable critical stakeholders with a view to enriching government
policies, promote healthy debates and ensure better consensus
building.

“One of the reasons why there is more attraction to fake news
and hate speeches on social media is the perennial problem of poor
management of public communication. The way to change that is to
stop putting square pegs in round holes in our choice and
appointments of spokespersons, public affairs or communication
managers in public and private offices at the Federal, State and
Local Government Levels in Nigeria.”

The terms of reference of the Compliance Committee, which has
serving and retired officers from security and law enforcement
sectors as members is to sensitize the various stakeholders and the
general public on the need for full compliance to the NIPR Act and
NIPR Bye-law; to facilitate the setting up of the NIPR Tribunal to
check the activities of quacks who are practice public relations in
Nigeria without proper registration as required by the NIPR Act and
to monitor advertisements and recruitments relating to public
relations practitioners and call attention of such advertisers to
the provision of the NIPR Act.

Others include to monitor the activities of PR practitioners
with a view to ensuring that all those who are not registered are
made to do so and initiate the prosecution of individuals or
corporate bodies operating in violation of the NIPR Act.

The law establishing the NIPR makes it a criminal offence for
any individual to practice public relations or spokesperson without
the necessary certification and licensing. The law provides for
imprisonment, fine, or both.

By PRNigeria