A cross-section of Nigerians has attacked Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai over his latest comment on the incessant killings in Southern Kaduna.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Governor El-Rufai criticised the Southern Kaduna people noting that they are responsible for the killings affecting their people.
He said, “The problem of the Southern Kaduna elites is that they have their own narrative, whether it is true or false, they stick to it. And anyone that says something to the contrary has taken sides, even amongst them. This is one of the problems that frustrated my former Deputy Governor, Architect Yusuf Bala to say ‘I don’t want to be Deputy Governor, I’ll rather run for the Senate’.
“Anyone that is moderate, anyone that is promoting peaceful co-existence between various ethnic groups is considered a sellout. And a Governor like me who does not appease them – because they are used to being appeased; they cause trouble, they organise these killings, and they are invited, their leaders are invited by the Governor, they wine and dine, they are given brown envelopes, that’s what they have been doing for 20 years. And we came into office and said ‘no more’.
“Nobody that does not encourage peaceful co-existence will have access to the Governor or the government house. I have no time for them. I am using the security agencies to carefully map them, and when we accumulate enough evidence, we will get them, put them before a judge. I have no time for nonsense. I will not appease criminals. I will not appeal ideal people who have nothing to do but raise a spectre of genocide so that they can get and so-and-so, so that they can get donations and money into their bank accounts from abroad, instead of standing up and having a profession and a business and earn a living.
“Most of the people saying that have no means of livelihood; they were living off government; governments before us were paying them monies every month as peace money; we stopped it. This is why they say I am taking sides. Whatever they say, I take it. I am the Governor of the state. If I am not abused, who will be abused?”
El-Rufai’s outburst has geentrated different reactions from Nigerians on social media.
https://twitter.com/wildeyeq/status/1295419419456417792
Gov el-Rufai’s claim yesterday that the killings in Southern Kaduna are “organised” by the victims “so that their leaders are invited” to wine & dine with the Governor & be given brown envelopes is untrue, reckless & dangerous. It’s irresponsible of him to make such a statement.
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) August 18, 2020
The crisis in Southern Kaduna has been on for over 20 years now. It’s a vicious cycle of attacks, reprisals and counter-reprisals that is fueled by successive governments’ failure to bring perpetrators to justice, address the underlying causes and reconcile the warring parties.
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) August 18, 2020
Southern Kaduna people have good reasons to be mad at the government for failing to protect them. That the killings didn’t begin today, doesn’t shift the responsibility from their government. El-Rufai’s anger is misplaced. You don’t talk down to a people burying their loved ones.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) August 17, 2020
El-Rufai sounds angry with people of Southern Kaduna, almost as angry as their killers. https://t.co/IFTPqIqG6M
— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) August 17, 2020
Yesterday I watched Nasir El Rufai on channels. He claimed that it is cos he has refused to continue to give some people in Southern Kaduna leaders money that they arw causing trouble.
Me I was lost..so they are not being attacked? Or is he implying that they are lying?
— Babasola Kuti Jr. ???????? ???????? (@RealSolaKuti) August 17, 2020
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