NIGERIA DECIDES 2019: MUSLIM GROUP WARNS US, EU, UK AGAINST INTERFERING WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

NIGERIA DECIDES 2019: MUSLIM GROUP WARNS US, EU, UK AGAINST INTERFERING WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Monday cautioned foreign embassies in the country against interfering in the ongoing announcement of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

INEC is currently announcing the results of the Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

However, MURIC urged ambassadors of United States, US, United Kingdom, UK, and the European Union, EU, in Nigeria not to allow themselves to be used as tools by looters and deceptive politicians.

In a statement signed and forwarded to a news agency by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the body said: “We have been reliably informed that a former Nigerian high commissioner to Canada has been contracted by the main opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to spread false propaganda among foreign envoys particularly the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union with a view to discrediting the electoral process.

“The plan is to get these foreign embassies to propose a stoppage of the announcement of results which is already ongoing under the excuse of widespread violence.

“This will be a disservice to the Nigerian people, a subversion of democratic process and a diplomatic coup against Rousseau’s General Will.

“The elections were generally free, fair and peaceful. There were only pockets of violence in two out of 36 states (Rivers and Lagos). Even that of Lagos was infinitesimally insignificant as it was curtailed within minutes.

“We call on the ambassadors of US, UK and EU not to allow themselves to be used as tools by looters and deceptive politicians. It is interesting that those attempting to deceive the foreign diplomats are the same people who are defending corrupt judges, the same people who oppose the use of card readers and the same people who oppose action against ballot box snatchers.

“Why? It is simply because they are adept at such games. Western diplomats should avoid becoming willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.

“Finally, we assert that Nigerians wish to be left alone to handle their elections. We, therefore, appeal to foreign diplomats to respect our values and norms as a people by steering clear of the announcement of results. We have succeeded in holding a peaceful, free and fair election. It will amount to a brutal rape on democracy for Western diplomats to intervene during the announcement of results”.