Hold el-Rufai Responsible For Any Violence In Southern Kaduna – PDP

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has put the Federal Government and the international community on notice of the activities of Governor Nasir el-Rufai that constitute a breach of peace and tranquility of the State.

This is just as the Party described el-Rufai as the greatest purveyor of lies, a religious bigot, and an advocate of hate speeches ever seen in the history of the state.

The PDP specifically noted that el-Rufai introduced religion into the campaign, but adherents of both religions in Southern Kaduna and the entire State, however, insist on merit as a basis for support and votes, adding that the people of Kaduna State have resolved to vote PDP as no amount of intimidation, bullying or wrong labelling would change that. 

Accordingly, the major opposition party said el-Rufai should be sorely held responsible for any breakdown of law and order before, during, and after the general elections in the state.

The Party in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abraham Alberah Catoh said Governor el-Rufai has also concluded plans to rig the scheduled general elections in the state, adding that the governor is preparing to achieve his selfish desire through the help of security agencies.

Catoh further said; “On January 29, 2019, the Nation newspaper’ carried a news story where Governor el-Rufai was quoted as saying some people in Southern Kaduna were bent on causing crisis before or during the governorship election in the area.

“The Governor went ahead to say that he had met with the nation’s security chiefs who have promised him that more security personnel would be deployed to the southern axis of the state for the election. 

“For the PDP in Kaduna State, these provocative words from the governor simply lend credence to our belief that the governor is preparing to massively rig the coming elections with the help of security agencies.”

The PDP noted that at every given opportunity, el-Rufai has not failed to consistently declare Zone 3 as a den of troublemakers and has consistently done this in the vain hope that a lie told severally would become truth.

According to the PDP; “Nasir el-Rufai also told this lie so as to have an alibi to compromise security personnel into helping him to swing votes for electoral victory in Southern Kaduna.

“Both conventional and unconventional media are awash with several inciting statements that el-Rufai made even before becoming the governor of Kaduna state.

“Since May 29, 2015, when he assumed the reins of power, he has brought nothing but disdain to Zone 3. He has insulted the people, unleashed a reign of intimidation on traditional institutions, sacked people from work, and ensured that political dividends that come through appointments to Zone 3 are restricted to his cronies. 

“He has threatened to relocate tertiary schools away from the Zone, apart from punitively shutting down schools and imposing a reckless, punitive, and malicious 24-hour curfew that has never been seen in the State.

“As the polls approach, the governor has intensified his capacity of spreading falsehood in a bid to create an impression that Southern Kaduna is not safe.

“If indeed Southern Kaduna is not safe, can he tell the Security chiefs how he has so far successfully campaigned in the Zone without molestation, in contrast to the embarrassment he suffered in some Local Governments in the Northern part of the State like Birnin Gwari, Zaria and Sabon Gari? Why is he not talking about deploying troops there?

“Unless el-Rufai wants to simply justify his long-held belief that Southern Kaduna is a PDP stronghold that must be won through other means; by disenfranchisement of the voters of the Zone through the Security Agents.

“el-Rufai has deployed his propaganda machinery in convincing Security Chiefs to put more boots on the ground to enable him to rig the polls, having been convinced that he has been rejected by an overwhelming majority of the State indigenes. He is frightened at the glaring defeat that stares him in the face. Aware that the people whom he has despised and humiliated are not willing to vote for him, he is doing everything possible to rig the poll. 

“While we promise to firmly vote and guard our votes in every peaceful manner as prescribed by the relevant rules governing the elections, we call on security personnel that would be deployed for duties to ensure fairness by responsibly discharging their responsibilities without any form of bias.

“The Security officials must be conscious of the fact that they are accountable to all Nigerians, and not just some power-hungry politicians who are determined to throw the State into chaos in order to realise their inordinate ambition.

“We remain committed to free, fair, and credible elections and urge all, including Governor el-Rufai to do the same,” the party stressed.