The former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent comments on a television show, in which he accused the federal and state governments of “bribing bandits” to achieve peace, have been condemned by the Kaduna State Government.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, said El-Rufai’s comments are “calculated, malicious lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality.”
The former governor’s recent actions posed a direct threat to peace and development, according to the statement, who also claimed that he had plotted to “provoke, manipulate, and incite,” and that it would not allow him to repress the state into violence.
The former governor’s activities increased in response to the defeat of his political allies in the by-elections on August 16 in the opinion of the Commissioner.
The Commissioner declared, “This Government will not fold its arms and allow a discredited former leader who abandoned the state to suffocate it to cause chaos and bring the state into a new era of ethno-religious tension, insecurity, and economic stagnation.”
In free, fair, and transparent elections that affirmed the people’s confidence in Senator Uba Sani’s progressive leadership and Senator Shuaibu’s leadership, his rejected candidates and the incoherent coalition he assembled were resoundingly defeated, according to Shuaibu.
El-Rufai has chosen to sabotage this democratic outcome in order to refuse to accept it with dignity.
READ ALSO: El-Rufai’s claim that he has power against bandits is baseless.
El-Rufa allegedly convened “an illegal and chaotic meeting” with his political associates on August 30 that turned into a series of violent incidents, including gunshots to endanger innocent people, according to the government.
El-Rufai made a false claim that the government sponsored thugs to disrupt the meeting, which was true to form, according to the statement.
Why would a Governor who has just won the hearts of the people with credible elections need to disrupt a gathering of losers? El-Rufai’s desire to return Kaduna to the violence and fear that defined his rule is exposed in this narrative, which insults the intelligence of Kaduna residents as well.
The Commissioner also pointed out that El-Rufai’s accusations had already been refuted by the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), insisting neither the Federal Government nor any of its subordinates had ever paid bandits.
Instead, Shuaibu noted that both the federal and the state governments have repeatedly urged Nigerians to never pay ransom and to pursue justice through coordinated military and community engagement plans.
He claims that security improvements made by Governor Uba Sani’s administration were evident in previously troubled regions like Igabi, Giwa, Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia, and Birnin Gwari. Boderi, Baleri, and Sani Yellow were among the infamous bandit leaders who were eliminated, according to him, while Ansaru members were also detained.
It is “beyond shameful for a former governor who once held the highest office in the state to publicly deny these hard-won victories and insult the memory of brave officers who lost their lives in the service,” he said.
The government contrasted El-Rufai’s eight years in office with Uba Sani’s nearly two years, which the organization claimed focused on dialogue, development, and division, which it described as “division and intimidation.”
According to the statement, “It is well known that El-Rufai’s time as governor was characterised by ethno-religious division, disregard for human life, a climate of fear, and the systematic marginalization of whole communities.”
Uba Sani, the president, has a new direction that emphasizes healing, dialogue, inclusion, and sustainable development. The Government has cultivated trust and ownership in security strategies through dialogue with traditional rulers, local leaders, and rural communities. Birnin Gwari, formerly bandit-infested areas, are among the beneficiaries of the Kaduna Peace Model, which has produced measurable outcomes. The people are beginning to see hope again as farmers return to their land, and children are back to school.
With millions of citizens integrating into the financial system and upgrading facilities across the 23 local government areas, the statement also lists accomplishments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
El-Rufai was advised by the commissioner to abstain from violent behavior, citing the security agencies’ high alert status.
He declared, “This will not be tolerated by the Kaduna State Government.” Within the bounds of the law, this administration will take all necessary steps to preserve the stability and peace that our citizens have worked so hard to rebuild.
No one can destabilize the state, no matter how well-established or powerful they are. Kaduna State’s peace is a non-negotiable.
