Your actions, utterances threat to peace — Kaduna govt tells El-Rufai

The Kaduna State Government has said it is compelled to issue an unequivocal and final warning to a former Governor of the state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who, through a calculated mix of overt provocation and covert manipulation, is plotting to unleash mayhem across Kaduna State in a desperate bid to destabilise the state and drag it back into its dark and violent past.

It stated that his actions in recent days are not mere political posturing; they are direct threats to the peace, unity, and development of the state.

In a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Suleiman Shuaibu, in Kaduna, it was noted that the good people of Kaduna State have endured enough trauma, enough bloodshed, and enough division.

“This government will not fold its arms and allow a discredited former leader, who left the state in ruins, to ignite chaos and plunge the state into another era of ethno-religious tension, insecurity, and economic stagnation.”

The statement further said: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has made it glaringly obvious that he cannot stomach the progress Kaduna is making under the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

“This administration has been widely recognised for its inclusive, people-centred, and security-focused approach to governance. In just under two years, Kaduna has transitioned from a state on the brink of collapse, saddled with insecurity, deep ethno-religious wounds, and crushing debt, to a growing beacon of hope, unity, and development.

“But instead of supporting this journey of recovery, El-Rufai has chosen to obstruct it by exploiting old wounds and deliberately peddling dangerous lies designed to incite violence and discord.”

According to the statement: “The Kaduna State Government is aware that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai intensified his plots following the massive electoral losses suffered by his political surrogates during the 16 August by-elections.

“His rejected candidates and the incoherent political coalition he assembled were resoundingly defeated in free, fair, and transparent elections that affirmed the people’s trust in the APC’s leadership and Senator Uba Sani’s progressive governance.

“These victories, especially in historically opposition-dominated constituencies, were not mere flukes. They were a verdict on El-Rufai’s legacy: one of exclusion, division, and destruction, and an endorsement of the current administration’s focus on peace, prosperity, and inclusion.”

“Rather than accept this democratic outcome with dignity, El-Rufai has chosen to respond with sabotage. On 30 August, he convened an illegal and chaotic meeting of his so-called political coalition, which descended into violence, including gunshots that endangered innocent citizens.

“True to form, El-Rufai attempted to shift blame by falsely accusing the government of sponsoring thugs to disrupt the meeting. This is a lie, one deliberately crafted to provoke unrest and test the patience of the Kaduna State Government.

“The question must be asked: why would a Governor who has just won the hearts of the people through credible elections need to disrupt a gathering of losers? This narrative is not only insulting to the intelligence of Kaduna residents, but also exposes El-Rufai’s determination to return Kaduna to the orgy of violence and fear that defined his tenure.”

“The Kaduna State Government is also alarmed by the former Governor’s incendiary remarks in a recent interview on national television, during which he recklessly accused both federal and state governments of ‘bribing bandits’. These are not mere words: they are calculated, malicious lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality.

“At a time when Governor Uba Sani, in collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies, has made commendable strides in restoring security, El-Rufai seeks to discredit those gains and turn Kaduna back into a killing field. Such acts of subversion are unacceptable and will be met with the full weight of the law,” said the Commissioner of Internal Security.

“Indeed, El-Rufai’s appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme on 31 August 2025 was yet another display of this dangerous agenda. His reckless allegation that both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments are ‘bribing bandits’ to achieve peace in Kaduna State is not just false; it is an insult to the sacrifices of our armed forces, the intelligence community, and the thousands of local stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to restore peace in Kaduna.”

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has rightly debunked these malicious claims. In a strongly worded rebuttal, ONSA stated unequivocally that neither it nor any agency under this administration has ever paid or induced bandits.

“On the contrary, both the federal and the Kaduna State Governments have repeatedly urged Nigerians never to pay ransom and have committed to pursuing justice through coordinated military and community engagement strategies.”

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