By Admin
Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has blasted the leaders of Southern Kaduna; said they are lying about the situation of things in the long-running crisis between their people and the Fulani all because they want to be living fat from the crisis.
El-Rufai made these allegations in an interview on Channels TV on Sunday night.
According to him, “the leaders from the region are concealing their complicity in the crisis in order to garner sympathy from outsiders and likewise secure financial support as well”
He said unlike his predecessors, he would not appease them but would ensure they were arrested and duly prosecuted for prolonging the crisis.
El-Rufai further explained that he had been accused by these Southern Kaduna leaders of taking sides because he refused to ‘appease or bribe” them.
Said that his administration will not cave in to bribing trouble-makers.
“I have no time for nonsense. I will not appease criminals. And I will not appease idle people who have nothing to do but to raise a spectre of genocide”
“They do that to get money into their bank accounts and also get donations from abroad instead of standing up,”
The southern part of Kaduna state has experienced the worst form of carnage in recent times with hundreds of residents murdered by bandits and other enemies of peace.
We could recalled that some leaders in area, including a lawmaker representing Zagon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Amos Magaji, accused the governor of taking sides in the clashes between various ethnic and religious groups in the region.
But the governor, on Sunday evening, said the crisis rocking the region has a 40-year history and past and present governments have tried to stabilise it.
Countering the claims by Magaji, El-Rufai said, “Anyone that is moderate anyone that is promoting peaceful co-existence between various ethnic groups is considered a sellout.
“And a governor like me, who does not appease them because they are used to being appeased. They cause troubles; they organise these killings; and then, their leaders are invited by the governor; they wine and dine; and they are given brown envelopes. That’s what they have been doing for 20 years”
“And we came into office and we said no more; nobody who does not encourage peaceful co-existence will not have access to the governor or the Government House. I have no time for them”
“I am using the security agents to carefully mark them; and when we accumulate enough evidence, we will get them and put them before a judge.” El-Rufai said.
“Most of the people saying that they have no means of livelihood; they were living off the governments. The governments before us were paying them money every month; they called it peace money. We stopped it”
“But now they have come up with other things because the money they got during the election is exhausted; and they can say whatever they want to say”
“But I want everyone to know this very clear; I will not tolerate people that incite. I will map them; we will arrest and prosecute them; that’s my style, I obey the rule of law.”