Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, is not new to controversies, not the least the recent sacking of some monarchs. In this interview, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Ashafa Ayuba Inusa, says people will beg El-Rufai to go for a second term in 2019 as his development profi le for Kaduna state far overshadows these controversies. PATRICK ANDREW, brings us excerpts.
The APC in Kaduna state has been in a state of crisis, in fact, a faction of the party popularly called ‘APC Akida’ vowing to oppose Governor Nasir el-Rufai. Why has he not been able to forge unity among APC members in the state? Th ere is no disunity among members of the party in the state. APC in Kaduna state is one united body that is committed to the development of the state.
Th ose opposed to the APC now were never members of the party; they only came in to cause trouble. And because Governor el-Rufai has refused to be blackmailed into carrying out their hidden and personal agenda, they are angry with him. Also, since the governor does not play to the gallery, some politicians are not happy with him. Do not be misled, the APC members in Kaduna State are happy with el-Rufai and are proud to identify with his development strides. Th e recent sacking of some monarchs seems unpopular. Don’t you think this could prove costly to el Rufai if he decides to re-contest in 2019?
One fact the media fail to understand is that such courageous act by the governor saved the traditional ruling system from embarrassment. How can you be paying salaries of no less than 6,000 monarchs most of whom were cronies of past politicians that ruined the trado system for their personal benefi ts? So the sacking of these monarchs was done to protect the integrity and honour of the traditional system. Some mischief makers say, the act was directed at Southern Kaduna, but none of our paramount chiefs was sacked.
Th e only class of monarchs aff ected were district and village heads. I do not see anything wrong with such a decision. How would you assess the administration of Gov el-Rufai since he assumed offi ce in 2015? Th e last two years have been a defi ning period in the history of the state. Although Governor el-Rufai’s administration inherited many problems, he made it clear that he was committed to combating all the challenges of governance. A look at his performance profi le showed that he has lived up to the expectations of the electorate. Apart from carrying out massive infrastructural development, he has redefi ned governance in terms of realigning it with the suff ering masses. We must recall that during the 16- year Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration, we experienced so much hardship. In contrast today, the performance profi le of this present government attests to the fact it has done enough to attract our commendation. For instance, before the present administration, the spate of killings and the state of insecurity in various parts of the state were embarrassing. However, not only did the el- Rufai administration liaised with the federal authorities and other states to combat the then rising spate of cattle rustling, but it has put criminals on the run.
Now, there is peace in the Birnin Gwari area, as cattle rustlers and kidnappers have been dealt a deadly blow. In the southern Kaduna axis, the killings of indigenes by suspectedherdsmen have been nipped, such that various communities are experiencing peace now as never before. Th e intervention from the military on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari put matters under control and brought relief to southern Kaduna. Th e culture of bloodshed is now a thing of the past. Th ose who thought that these killings can never be stopped have been put to shame. As an indigene of Southern Kaduna, I am proud of el-Rufai’s achievement in resolving the security challenges in southern Kaduna. Some have alleged that the present APC government in Kaduna State has marginalised southern Kaduna. What is your reaction?
Th ere is no governor in this state that has done much for southern Kaduna than the present governor. In fact, instead of empowering individuals as itwas done by the past PDP government, the present administration is developing the state and adding value to the lives of communities. Th e government is building and equipping primary health centres in all the wards in the state to improve healthcare delivery. Th e Zaria Water Project that had defi ed completion throughout the 16 years of the PDP government has been successfully commissioned, giving hope to an end to water scarcity in ancient city and its environs.
Th e governor has assigned three key ministries to indigenes of southern Kaduna, namely, Education, Health and Agriculture. Th ose commanding these ministries are all reputable indigenes from the southern axis. Presently, the renovations of schools and building of primary health care centres are ongoing in all wards of the state. Plans are on to modernise all primary schools in the state and come next year, we shall see more revolutionary development traits of the governor in all parts of the state.
Th e governor is a man of fairness and equity and nobody or group can deter the governor’s determination to ensure equity for all. I recalled when el-Rufai visited Southern Kaduna and he was ask, what his agenda for the area was. He fl atly said he had no particular agenda for the area. “Th e whole of Kaduna State is my own constituency and I shall treat all zones in the state justly and in equity”, he said.
Two years on, he has lived up to his promise in terms of equal representation and giving all sides a sense of belonging. Are you saying that he has done much for southern Kaduna? Absolutely true! He has done his best based on the lean resources available. Next year, our people will see more infrastructural facilities in various parts of the state, including Southern Kaduna. People should be patient as this government is determined to leave lasting footprints that will be unequalled. Th e governor is a realist and he does not believe in saying things he cannot do. He has established agencies for the employment of youths and we are living witnesses that our people have benefi ted in this direction. Are you saying he has done much to deserve a second term? Governor el-Rufai is only interested in executing the campaigns promises he made to the state electorate.
Th e decision to seek re-election is not his priority for now. However, at the recent Kaduna APC stakeholders’ meeting where President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. El Rufa’i were endorsed for a second term, it became obvious that the teeming members of the APC in the state are happy with him. Some of his political opponents are alleging that there is a plan to foist the governor as the only candidate on the platform of the APC for 2019?
As at today, though el-Rufai is the only popular choice of the people who obviously want him to go for a second term, but he has not really given much attention to it yet. Instead, he is concerned with delivering the dividends of democracy to the people and at the appropriate time, he will make his mind known on his re-election bid. In view of development strides and love for the people, I am sure that Kaduna citizens will beg him to return to Kashim Ibrahim House in 2019.
Beginning from next year, the former FCT Minister would have left no one in doubt that his re-election is the only option left for the electorate. Many people in the state feel that the PDP off ered more for Kaduna State than the APC… (Cuts in) Please do not go there. Even the blind knows that we had our worst of times during the PDP years. What happened during PDP was the promotion of personal enrichment, sharing of money, while infrastructural development was completely neglected. How many of the roads constructed by former Governor Mohammed Makarfi are still in use? In southern Kaduna, we had politicians who were deceiving the people on creation of Gurara State. Where is the state? But during the PDP era, our people were constantly deceived that a new state was in the offi ng. Th ere is no comparison at all between APC and PDP.
