…Gives him ‘final warning’
The political storm around former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, deepened yesterday as both the state government and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) accused him of incitement, falsehood, and undermining democratic values.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Kaduna State government alleged that el-Rufa’i was plotting to destabilise the state following the defeat of his loyalists in the August 16 by-elections. Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shu’aibu, accused the former governor of engaging in “overt provocation and covert manipulation” designed to drag Kaduna back into ethno-religious strife.
“The good people of Kaduna State have endured enough trauma, bloodshed, and division. This Government will not fold its arms and allow a discredited former leader, who left the state in ruins, to ignite chaos”, Shu’aibu declared.
He alleged that el-Rufa’i convened an “illegal and chaotic” political meeting on August 30 which ended in violence and gunshots, endangering lives. Shu’aibu dismissed claims that the state sponsored thugs to disrupt the gathering, arguing that a Government that had just won elections would not waste energy on “a gathering of losers”.
The Commissioner also faulted el-Rufa’i’s television remarks that governments were bribing bandits, calling the claim “malicious lies” that insulted the sacrifices of security operatives. He cited improved security in several flashpoints under Governor Uba Sani, insisting Kaduna would not be allowed to slide back into crisis.
“El-Rufa’i thrives in chaos. Stripped of relevance, he now seeks to make Kaduna ungovernable once more. This administration will not allow it”, Shu’aibu said, warning that security agencies would hold anyone accountable for threats to peace.
The statement further accused el-Rufa’i of “pitting the people of Southern Kaduna against their brothers and sisters in the North” during his eight years in office, contrasting that with Governor Sani’s “healing, dialogue, inclusion, and sustainable development”.
The state government also warned that “No individual, no matter how highly placed or previously powerful, will be allowed to destabilise the state. The peace of Kaduna State is non-negotiable; anyone who dares to threaten it, be it Nasir el-Rufa’i or any of his accomplices, will be held accountable”.
Separately, the CNG accused el-Rufa’i of “distorting the truth” by claiming he never obstructed public gatherings during his tenure. Its National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, recalled that in December 2022 the group’s peace summit at Arewa House was violently disrupted by armed thugs allegedly linked to his government.
The group described the incident as part of a “pattern of suppression” under el-Rufa’i, adding that the former governor’s recent political troubles were “karma” for years of repression, unjust demolitions, and intimidation of citizens.
“El-Rufa’i has ‘murdered sleep’. The repercussions of his policies will haunt him. Power is transient, and no leader can escape accountability”, the statement read.
Both the state government and the CNG urged Kaduna residents to remain vigilant against any attempt to revive division and conflict, stressing that peace and accountability must guide the state’s future.
