GOVERNOR Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna of state has broken his silence over the choice of his running mate Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate. He said his running mate a fellow Muslim was chosen from the list of 32 names.
Speaking in Kaduna, on Tuesday while receiving the Paramount ruler of Numana Chiefdom, Brigadier General Aliyu Yamma (rtd) and his to people who were in Government House on a Thank you visit over the choice of their daughter.
It will be recalled that the announcement of the appointment of Hadiza Balarabe had generated a lot of reactions across the State because of her religion as a Muslim, resulting in Muslim/Muslim ticket, the first of its kind in the State.
While responding his critics over the choice of a Muslim running mate, El-Rufai said Government House is not a place of worship, but a place of work for the people.
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Narrating the journey that led to the choice of Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Governor El-Rufai said, “about a year ago, the Deputy Governor, Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala told me he was go going to contest for Senate, I was in dilemma to get a replacement for Architect Bantex.
“So, we started piling list of people for consideration, and I had up to 32 names, including names of some people seated with me here today. Then, we started the selection and dropping of names based on merit. From 32 manes to 17 to 12 and then 5 names, three males and two females.
“At that point, and as usual of us, when we are taking serious decisions we consult President Muhammadu Buhari because he is the only person I know that has worked in the army, he has been Governor, Minister and President. So, when I told him, he said anyone older than you should be dropped, then one name was dropped, remaining two men and two women, then he said since you are interested in a woman to pick the best woman. That was how I picked Hadiza because she was the best.
“Meanwhile, from the beginning, I had told my team that, I will never choose or deny anyone appointment because of religion or ethnicity. But some people have started all manner of things, ‘Muslim-Muslim ticket’ and so on. But the government house is not a place of worship, we come here to work for the people.
“The people that have criticised me most on this are people who never voted me in the first place. So, are they not supposed to be celebrating if in their own opinion I have made a wrong choice? Then, why are they mourning?” El-rufai queried.
While speaking on Dr Balarabe’s giant strides in her previous assignment, El-Rufai said his running mate has repositioned the primary healthcare development agency where she was Executive Secretary.
Earlier, the people said that the appointment of their daughter, Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe as the running mate to governor Nasir El-rufai for the 2019 election has given them hope of that they actually belong in the affairs of governance.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the traditional ruler of Numana, Etu Numana, Brigadier-General Aliyu Yamma (Rtd), said over the years, the successive government had forgotten the people of the area as far as participation in government is concerned.
The traditional ruler noted, “The governor couldn’t have made a better choice than the selection of Hadiza. We now feel a sense of belonging in Kaduna government. We are just like black Americans in Kaduna State.”
He also appealed to Governor El-rufai to ensure the establishment of Army Battalion in Sabo Gida village area of the local government because of insecurity in the area.
He said, “The Sabo Gida has become a hideout for criminals, these criminals run from Plateau State to hide here, so we are calling on the governor to help us with the establishment of Army Battalion in Sabo Gida.”
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