Kaduna group backs Defence Minister, says El-Rufai’s govt divisive, arbitrary

A Kaduna-based interfaith group, the Kaduna State Muslim-Christian Network for Good Governance, has thrown its weight behind the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, over his recent comments on the administration of former Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.

The group described the minister’s remarks as “an honest and patriotic assessment” and condemned what it called a “reckless attempt to drag the good name and reputation of the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, through the mud” following his interview on a national television station.

In a press statement on Monday, signed by its Chairman, Tahir Tanko, Secretary, Steven Kefas, and five other officials, the network, which described its platform as “a political pressure group comprising Muslims and Christians committed to the unity, peaceful coexistence, and development of our people in Kaduna State and Nigeria,” expressed concern over reactions trailing the minister’s comments.

The group’s statement, which copy Arewa PUNCH has read in part: “We are appalled by the selective amnesia and ethno-religious rhetoric contained in some of the  commentaries and rejoinders to the Honourable Minister’s honest and patriotic assessment of the administration of former Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai in Kaduna State.”

The Network stressed that residents were “living witnesses to the divisive and arbitrary rule of Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai between 2015 and 2023” and listed several grievances.

“His many actions against Kaduna State traditional rulers and workers, thousands of whom he sacked without recourse to due process; his supervision of the unjust killings of Shiites; his reckless handling of insecurity in the state; the demolition of markets and homes without either just cause or compensation; and the constant abuse, arrests, and incarceration of both Christian and I Muslim leaders who expressed dissent over some of his administration’s inhumane policies, among others, are well documented,” it stated further.

The group, while also referencing a viral video where the former governor spoke about marginalisation, noted, “In addition, Malam Nasir El-Rufai claimed in a widely circulated video that he had laid the foundation for the marginalisation of a section of the state and called on Islamic and political leaders to sustain that agenda until at least after 20 years when the victims of that agenda must have accepted their fate,” the group highlighted.

It further accused the former governor of weaponising religion, pointing out that “El-Rufai  also repeatedly and publicly sought to use religion as a political weapon, particularly during elections, while he held sway as Governor of Kaduna State.”

The Network insisted that General Musa was only speaking the truth about that period, stating, “General Musa’s remarks on that ugly past are a true reflection of what we experienced in the state during those toxic years. We therefore challenge anyone who claims ignorance of, or attempts to twist, this narrative to present facts to the contrary rather than hide under an ethnic or religious cover in a bid to defend El-Rufai or attack the Honourable Minister,” the statement added.

The group cautioned against limiting the minister’s comments to Southern Kaduna alone.

“We advise, in particular, those who seek to explain the minister’s comments out of context by limiting their scope to only the people or areas of Southern Kaduna to make a detour.

“Objectively speaking, when he said, ‘El-Rufai deliberately planned the killing of our people,’ he was referring to the entire Kaduna populace who died, in one way or another, as a result of El-Rufai’s terrible policies, actions, or incompetence in managing and securing a diverse society like Kaduna State,” it clarified.

The Network said, “We condemn such misguided rhetoric and express our total support for General Musa and his comments during that Channels TV interview.”

It added that the minister’s intervention was long overdue. “We are proud that, finally, someone at his level has re-echoed a conversation that has been going on in almost every part of the state and at the national and international levels, so that the world will know who Nasir El-Rufai truly is and how badly his administration divided Kaduna State,” the group further reacted.

The Network also pledged support for the minister’s national assignment and called for unity in Kaduna, stressing, “We support the minister’s patriotic work for our country and wish him success as he collaborates with other patriots in the security sector to deliver a safer country for all.”

The statement concluded, “We call on every patriotic citizen of Kaduna State to close ranks with the present government of Kaduna State in its efforts to restore unity, inclusiveness, and fairness in the governance structure of the state.”