Defence Minister Christopher Musa has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of intentionally orchestrating the killings of individuals in Southern Kaduna during his tenure.
Musa made this accusation on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he also criticized the former governor’s management of ethnic and regional relations within Kaduna State.
The Defence Minister stated that El-Rufai’s administration fostered significant divisions within the state, leading to a situation where residents of Southern Kaduna reportedly struggled to live freely in the northern regions, while some individuals from the north moved southward.
“We are aware of the conditions during El-Rufai’s administration; it was toxic,” Musa remarked.
He charged the former governor with taking measures that exacerbated divisions throughout Kaduna, while praising Governor Uba Sani’s administration for its efforts to restore trust and encourage unity.
Musa recognized that the reconciliation process is still ongoing but noted that there have been visible advancements.
“It’s not complete. Let me clarify, it’s not complete, but one can observe that he is making a concerted effort to unify the state,” he stated.
The minister also commented on the sentiments of Southern Kaduna residents towards the former governor, indicating that the region continues to endure the emotional aftermath of the violence experienced during El-Rufai’s time in office.
He alleged that the former governor had intentionally orchestrated attacks that led to the loss of lives.
“If there is anything worse than being unhappy, we can never find happiness with someone who has intentionally planned the deaths of our people,” Musa expressed.
Furthermore, the Defence Minister asserted that El-Rufai had openly discussed some of his actions during his tenure, including claims regarding payments made to bandits.
“He admitted to us that he paid bandits. He stated that he did this and that. He did not conceal it,” Musa claimed.
Musa stated that the extent of violence faced in Southern Kaduna during that time continues to be a significant source of distress for the local population, while he contended that the security conditions have improved under the current administration.
He further accused the former governor of depriving certain residents of opportunities during his time in office, asserting that individuals from El-Rufai’s own region were among those impacted by his policies.
The minister urged Nigerians to reject political leaders who exploit religion, ethnicity, or other social differences to foster division.
Musa emphasized that Nigeria requires leaders who will advocate for unity instead of taking advantage of existing disparities for political gain.
“Anyone who employs religion, ethnicity, or any other means to divide Nigeria is an adversary of the state,” he remarked.
The claims made by Musa are political in nature and have not been independently verified based on the information provided. The report did not include El-Rufai’s response to these allegations.
