From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
National Coordinator of the youth wing of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Solomon Simon has given reasons that made the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, not to scale through the ministerial screening appointment before the National Assembly under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a statement yesterday, he noted that el-Rufai’s grievances in recent times against the region were not far-fetched because the people petitioned him over the ministerial screening before the lawmakers at that time.
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“Our attention has been drawn to the recent comments made by former Governor Nasir el-Rufai during an interview on national television, in which he made disparaging remarks about the good people of Southern Kaduna.
“The reason behind el-Rufai’s renewed hatred against Southern Kaduna is not difficult to understand. When his name surfaced for ministerial nomination, we petitioned the National Assembly and duly copied all relevant agencies.
“In that petition, we laid out in detail why he was unfit to hold public office, citing his undemocratic style of governance, serial violations of human rights, persistent disregard for court orders, abuse of civil service rules and procedures and suppression of press freedom during his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State.
“It was this weight of evidence that guided the National Assembly’s decision to withhold his confirmation and it remains the root of his deep-seated hostility toward our region.
“Furthermore, following the 2023 general elections, a leaked video exposed el-Rufai boasting about being an architect of the Muslim-Muslim ticket. In that same recording, he bragged that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had been silenced, and went on to predict that another Muslim-Muslim arrangement would succeed the Tinubu administration.
“Such utterances are not only unfortunate, but also a deliberate attempt to misrepresent and demean an entire people who have made immense contributions to the peace, progress and unity of our state and our nation.
“What is worrisome, however, is that some unsuspecting Nigerians may take his words at face value. This is why we feel obliged to set the record straight, not because his falsehoods carry weight, but for the sake of the gullible, who may not understand him too well, and above all, to defend the dignity of our people.
“True to his mindset, and consistent with his discriminatory treatment of Christians in Southern Kaduna, el-Rufai expected President Tinubu to marginalise Christians across Nigeria. To his utmost disappointment, the reverse has been the case.
“Southern Kaduna today stands as one of the major beneficiaries of the Tinubu administration, with landmark projects such as the University of Applied Sciences, a Federal Medical Centre and several other development initiatives.
“This progress is what has fuelled the bitterness behind el-Rufai’s latest tirade. His anger is not about truth or justice, it is simply the frustration of a man, whose narrative has been defeated by the reality of Southern Kaduna’s growing relevance in the Nigerian project.
“We wish to state categorically that people of Southern Kaduna are known for their resilience, hospitality and commitment to nation building. No amount of reckless speech can erase our history of sacrifice, patriotism and development.
“We, therefore, call on el-Rufai to retract his offensive statements and tender an unreserved apology to the people of Southern Kaduna. Going forward, we urge all leaders, past and present, to weigh their words carefully and act in ways that foster peace, unity and mutual respect among all Nigerians.
“The people of Southern Kaduna will not be distracted by this attempt to cast them in a negative light. We remain focused on building bridges of understanding and contributing positively to the development of our society. To el-Rufai, we say this: your words may stir controversy but they cannot hide the truth. Kaduna State belongs to all its citizens equally, Christians and Muslims, Hausa and non-Hausa alike,” the statement said.
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