The Nasiriyya of Nigeria (TNN) has disclaimed a report in the social and conventional media that Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state supported rotational presidency and zoning, noting that the story was concocted to distract the Governor.
According to the report published Monday, the governor reportedly expressed his support for rotational presidency, saying that there is no justification for a northerner to be president after President Buhari’s eight years, but The Nasiriyya of Nigeria said the story lacks basis, as it never said when and at what forum did el-Rufai said so.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Kaduna, National Coordinator of TNN, Dr Modibbo Yakubu Farakwai said that Governor el-Rufai has clearly indicated his support for merit and competence and would not change overnight for whatever reason, to jettison such support and encourage incompetence.
Dr Modibbo said that unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who inserted the rotational presidency in its constitution, the All Progressives Congress (APC) did no such thing and el-Rufai, who is a staunch party loyalist will never sacrifice loyalty to the party on the altar of incompetence.
“Our attention has been called to a widespread story, mischievously peddled on the social media and some hitherto irresponsible and fictitious media organizations, that Malam Nasir El-Rufai has endorsed rotational presidency (zoning); essentially supporting a southern presidency in 2023.
“This report is false. El-Rufai has on several occasion made his position on rotational presidency known. Members of the Nasiriyya are hereby enjoined to discountenance the misleading report,” Dr Modibbo said.
Speaking further, the Nasiriyya of Nigeria said mischief makers, who floated the report should channel their attention to another direction, noting that Governor el-Rufai is quite busy on the urban renewal programme of his administration and would not want to be distracted.
“We hereby urge the general public to ignore and discountenance such report. It should be noted that anything that has to do with the 2023 presidency is not an immediate agenda. Governor el-Rufai is continuing with his promise of making Kaduna great again.
“We urge our leader, Governor Nasir el-Rufai not to allow the detractors distract him but to continue with his giant strides in education, health, infrastructure, security, potable water and setting standards in governance,” TNN said.
