Apostles of violence, division will be shamed —el-Rufai

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has insisted that the state will overcome its challenges, adding that “the apostles of violence and division would be shamed.”

In a statement personally signed by the governor and issued to newsmen in the state on Saturday, the governor said “ 2016 was a year of attainments and challenges.”

According to him, his administration made tangible progress in implementing its agenda, adding that much had been done, but much more remain to be accomplished.

The governor said his government had confronted its difficulties with the same decisiveness that had produced results across sectors.

“Amidst our successes, we have experienced security challenges in parts of southern Kaduna. We regret and condemn the loss of lives and property, and the disruption of social order that had been witnessed in those areas. We welcome the assistance of the Federal Government in deploying additional security assets to the area. Through all these, we have been guided by the immensity of our oath of office, rather than the media headlines,” he said.

‘The human toll that our compatriots in southern Kaduna have been seized upon as an occasion for much irresponsible commentary and intense efforts to fan division. I wish to assure all the people of Kaduna State that we will continue to do our best to uphold security and to promote peace and harmony. That duty also imposes on us an obligation to vigorously uphold the rule of law, punish hate speech and incitement.

‘I call on all the people of Kaduna State to ensure that we march into 2017 together, upholding harmony and a common humanity and jointly pursuing those policies and programmes that can best enhance the progress and live chances of our people.