SOKAPU demands apology from El-Rufai over ‘unguarded utterances’

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has called on former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to tender an unreserved apology over what it described as unguarded comments made about the people of Southern Kaduna during a recent television interview.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Comrade Solomon Simon, National Coordinator of the SOKAPU Youth Wing, and made available to journalists in Kaduna.

According to the statement, “Our attention has been drawn to recent comments made by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai during an interview on national television, in which he made remarks that we consider disparaging to the people of Southern Kaduna Senatorial District.”

The group described the statements as “unfortunate and a deliberate misrepresentation” of a people who, according to them, have contributed immensely to the peace, progress, and unity of Kaduna State and the nation at large.

“This is why we feel compelled to set the record straight—not because we believe the allegations have merit, but to correct the narrative for those who may not be fully informed, and above all, to defend the integrity and dignity of our people,” the statement read.

SOKAPU also referenced their previous opposition to El-Rufai’s nomination for ministerial appointment, noting that they had submitted a petition to the National Assembly outlining what they described as reasons he was “unfit to hold public office.” These, they claimed, included concerns about alleged governance style, alleged disregard for court orders, civil service procedures, and media freedom during his tenure.

“It was this petition, backed by verifiable concerns, that we believe contributed to the National Assembly’s decision to withhold his confirmation. We view the recent remarks as an extension of long-standing grievances stemming from this development,” the group stated.

Despite these issues, SOKAPU noted that the Southern Kaduna region is benefiting from recent federal initiatives, including the siting of a University of Applied Sciences, a Federal Medical Centre, and other development projects under the current administration.

“We therefore call on Malam Nasir El-Rufai to retract his statements and issue a public apology to the people of Southern Kaduna. We urge all public figures—past and present—to speak responsibly and promote peace, unity, and mutual respect,” the group added.

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They stressed that the people of Southern Kaduna remain committed to building bridges of understanding and contributing positively to national development.

“To Nasir El-Rufai, we say this: your words may cause a stir, but they do not erase the truth. Kaduna State belongs to all its citizens equally—Christians and Muslims, Hausa and non-Hausa alike,” the statement concluded.