KADUNA State Government has issued a stern and final warning to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign of provocation, manipulation, and dangerous rhetoric aimed at destabilising the state’s fragile peace.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, the government said El-Rufai’s recent activities amount to a deliberate attempt to drag Kaduna back into the cycle of ethno-religious violence, insecurity, and economic stagnation that plagued the state during his administration.
“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 read.
The government accused the former governor of intensifying his plots after the defeat of his allies in the August 16 by-elections, where his political coalition “was resoundingly rejected” in what the statement described as free, fair, and transparent polls.
According to the government, the defeats especially in constituencies traditionally dominated by the opposition signalled public disapproval of El-Rufai’s divisive legacy and endorsement of Governor Uba Sani’s inclusive, people-centred leadership.
Instead of accepting the outcome, the government said, El-Rufai convened an “illegal and chaotic” meeting on August 30, which descended into violence, including gunshots that endangered innocent citizens.
“Why would a government that has just won the people’s mandate through credible elections need to disrupt a gathering of losers? This narrative is insulting to the intelligence of Kaduna residents,” Dr. Shuaibu stated.
The statement also condemned El-Rufai’s appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics” programme of August 31, where he alleged that both federal and state governments were bribing bandits.
The Kaduna government described the remarks as “reckless and malicious,” stressing that such claims were designed to undermine security efforts, incite anger, and embolden criminality.
It cited the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which has already debunked the allegations, insisting that neither it nor any agency of government had ever paid or induced bandits.
“For a former governor, who once occupied the highest office in the state, to publicly deny these hard-won victories, and in doing so insult the memory of brave officers who died in the line of duty, is beyond shameful. It is dangerous. It is a deliberate act of sabotage,” the Commissioner said.
The government highlighted achievements in security, noting that once volatile areas such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia, and Igabi have recorded relative calm.
It pointed out that notorious bandit leaders—including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow, Janburos, Buhari, and Boka have been neutralised, while Ansaru terrorist leaders previously operating in Kaduna have been captured.
The administration also credited the Kaduna Peace Model, built on dialogue with traditional rulers, rural leaders, and security agencies, for restoring hope, reviving farmlands, reopening schools, and rekindling economic activity in communities once devastated by banditry.
The statement further listed socio-economic achievements under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership:
• Over 2.5 million unbanked citizens integrated into the financial system.
• Upgraded primary healthcare centres across 23 LGAs and ongoing renovations of secondary hospitals.
• Improved WAEC rankings, with Kaduna now placed 7th nationally.
• Revival and completion of abandoned infrastructure projects, alongside new road networks linking rural and urban areas.
“This is governance with a conscience; governance that puts people before politics,” the government declared.
The statement accused El-Rufai of leaving behind “a climate of fear, ethno-religious division, and systematic marginalisation,” warning that his attempts to exploit old wounds for political survival would not succeed.
“He thrives in chaos. He relies on fear. He is intoxicated by power and allergic to progress he did not initiate. But Kaduna has moved on. The era of nepotism, impunity, and intimidation is gone.”
The government vowed that no individual, regardless of past position, would be allowed to undermine Kaduna’s peace.
“Let there be no doubt: the Kaduna State Government has the capacity, the resolve, and the legal backing to deal decisively with any individual or group that seeks to destabilise the state. The law will take its course. The peace of Kaduna State is non-negotiable.”
Concluding, the statement urged residents to reject El-Rufai’s alleged divisive tactics and embrace the peace and unity being built under the current administration.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s time is over. Kaduna belongs to the future, not to the ruins of the past.”