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Tag: el-Rufai

  • El-Rufai: Atiku could only win Kaduna in his dreams

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Friday said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s claim that he won the presidential election in Kaduna State, could only happen in his dreams.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa to show that he was alive against the rumour of his involvement in car accident.

    Reacting to the PDP’s claims of winning election in his state, he said: “Well, I heard about that. Initially, I thought it was a joke and when I checked I saw clearly that he said he won Kaduna. It must be in his dreams.

    “Let me say this without any fear of contradiction, since President Buhari started contesting for the presidency since 2003, he has never lost Kaduna.

    “So, PDP has never won elections in Kaduna from 2003, even with a sitting governor in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

    “It has never happened. I don’t know what will happen that Atiku will win Kaduna in this election this time.

    “He lost Kaduna, he lost very badly, even though about 100,000 votes he claimed to have got were added because elections conducted without card reader in some parts of the state, that’s how he even got up to the 400,000 that he got.

    “He has lost Kaduna, he will always lose Kaduna. He will lose Kaduna 10 more times because he has never won Kaduna in any presidential elections.”

    When reminded the results were said to have come from the INEC server, he said: “Well, I don’t know about INEC server, it must be Atiku’s server.

    “I don’t know about INEC server, we don’t know how they had access to it. They will tell us during the tribunal proceedings what is this server and how they got access to it and how they got their numbers.

    “You do not go to court in an election petition by quoting INEC server or any other server. Anyone can create a server, I can go and buy it, it is a piece of equipment and call it INEC server.

    “But that does not mean that it amounts to anything, we are guided by the electoral act and the evidence act and other enabling legislation and he has to proof his case.

    “But anyone can make claims, we live in the age of fake news and fake claims. Anyone can make claims but you have to proof it,” he said

  • El-Rufai ‘ends accident rumour’

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday evening ended the rumour that he was involved in a fatal accident, which reportedly claimed the life of his driver on the spot.

    El-Rufai, according his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, wearing a cheerful face.

    Wednesday night last week, rumours were rife that El-Rufai was involved in an accident.

    The rumours, however, became louder last Thursday, as it was alleged that the governor was injured and his driver died instantly.

    But, El-Rufai, who reacted to the rumour,  attributed it to the opposition party members, saying that, neither was he in coma nor his driver dead as being speculated.

    El-Rufai, on his official Facebook page, wrote: “I woke up after a rare eight-hour bout of deep sleep to learn that some bigotry-driven and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-affiliated fake news platform has declared my driver dead and my humble self in coma. Both claims are false.

    “I thank them for reducing the days in their lives and adding them to mine. I remain their permanent nightmare and not about to disappear from their wretched and corrupt lives any time soon by the Grace of Almighty Allah, until they are permanently retired and buried – Nasir @elrufai.”

    But, despite the denial by the governor, another round of rumour spread like wildfire that he was in coma in a hospital in Germany.

    But, the governor’s aide, in a short Facebook post this evening, stated that the governor’s arrival has ended the rumour.

    He asked the rumour mongers to proceed to the next issue.

    According to Aruwan, “The ever-smiling and cheerful Governor El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Next story!”

    His Facebook was also accompanied with two photographs showing the governor smiling, while pulling his luggage himself.

  • Kaduna killings: Catholic bishops ask El-Rufai to convene stakeholders meeting

    The Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province have appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting.

    They said such a parley would help  in addressing the incessant killings in Kajuru Local Government Area and its environs.

    They spoke through a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the province, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Manoso Ndagoso and Secretary, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. John Mamasa Niriing (OSA) of Kano Diocese.

    Also yesterday, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate the remote and immediate causes of incessant killings in southern part of the state.

    Security agencies have been urged  to intensify efforts at stopping  the deadly attacks and ensuring that peace return to the area.

    The House also asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)to urgently  provide the affected communities with relief materials to alleviate their sufferings.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Yakubu Barde (Kaduna), who  regretted that  relevant authorities have failed to  bring the situation under control.

    The bishops lamented that the resumption of “mindless killings in the Kajuru area of Southern Kaduna came to them with a great shock”.

    They noted with dismay that in the last four months alone, the communities have suffered a chain of tragedies which climaxed with the gruesome murder of their paramount chief, the Agwom Adara, Mr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, in October last year.

    “We had hoped that this tragedy would alert the state government of the seriousness of the tragedy and all sides of the urgency of peaceful co-existence. Unfortunately, the situation seems to be growing worse among the communities around Adara land.”

    They stressed that, “while the people of Adara still have no traditional ruler, their other leaders have been rounded up under various allegations and have been in detention for a few weeks now”.

    “Clearly, these developments have exposed the Adara people to physical, cultural and psychological insecurity.

    “Although these killings continue to carry such labels as farmer/herder clashes, ethno-religious and reprisal killings, they do not explain the existential threat that this poses for the faith of our people in a united Nigeria.”

     

     

  • Protesters beg Buhari to intervene in Kaduna killings

    Hundreds of Kaduna indigenes  on Tuesday marched on the streets of Abuja to demand an end to killings in the home state.

    They begged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the killings at the peaceful procession.

    Dressed in black, the protesters displayed various inscriptions like ‘stop the Kajuru massacre now’, ‘why kill children’, ‘Southern Kaduna needs freedom’, ‘end the bloodshed’, ‘Sanga lives matter’, ‘where is your humanity’ and ‘enough of the killings in southern Kaduna’.

    The convener Coalition Against Kajuru Killings, Rev. Fr Williams Abba, said: “The latest death toll of this mindless carnage has already surpassed 130 with several communities reduced to rubbles, and setting the stage for a major humanitarian crisis that has so far displaced no fewer than 10,000 persons now living in four camps.

    “This peaceful procession today reveals our commitment to the restoration of peace in not only Adara communities but other areas of Southern Kaduna and indeed Birnin Gwari now under siege by these criminal elements.

    “We call on fellow Nigerians and the international community to mount pressure on the Nigerian government to come to our aid by ending the genocide that is rippling across Adara communities and other areas of Southern Kaduna where there is a resurgence of violence, such as Gerti and Sanga where no fewer than 12 persons have been killed by these rampaging herdsmen.

    “Most disturbingly is the fact that while Adara Nation mourns, Governor El-Rufai rounded up and put in jail Adara leaders and elder statesmen, including the Waziri Adara who’s next in the line of seniority in Adara chiefdom on phantom charges.”

    He expressed sadness the governor’s allegations over killings of Fulani were still allegations yet to be proven.

    According to him: “The Kaduna State Police commissioner recently debunked the death toll as announced by the governor, insisting that investigation into Fulani killings is still at “embryonic stage.

    READ ALSO: Protesters march on INEC Headquarters in Makurdi

    “The allegation by El-Rufai over killings of our brothers of Fulani extraction set the stage for reprisal killings and weaved the labyrinth of insecurity over the besieged Adara communities such as we are currently witnessing.

    “Within the space of one month, we have been horror-stricken at the barbaric attacks carried out by these merchants of death against children, men, women, including the aged.

    “Communities have been reduced to rubbles and insecurity now stalks these towns and villages unchallenged.”

    He continued: “We cannot remain silent in the face of these gruesome killings and deliberate agenda to annihilate Adara people whose only crime is being natives.

    “The bourgeoning human carnage has the propensity of spreading to other areas of the state if not effectively checkmated.

    “If we must save our shared humanity and salvage what is left of humankind, we need to close ranks and insist on relevant organs of government to perform their obligations without fear or favour.”

    The gathering prayed that government should, as a matter of urgency, deploy more security forces into these hinterlands, including consistent aerial surveillance to track down the terrorists and consequently end the carnage.

    Abba demanded immediate release of Adara elders that have been “unjustly incarcerated. These leaders have committed no crime other than being leaders of an Ethnic group.

    “El-Rufai has taken it upon himself to break the resolve of the Adara and viciously pursue their persecution.”

    They later took to the street of Abuja in company of the police to make their demands known.

  • Catholic Bishops to El-Rufai: convene stakeholders meeting over Kaduna killings

    The Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province have appealed to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to as a matter of urgency convene a stakeholders’ meeting that will help in addressing the incessant killings in Kajuru LGA and its environs.

    The call was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the province, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Manoso Ndagoso of Kaduna Archdiocese and Secretary, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. John Mamasa Niriing (OSA) of Kano Diocese.

    The Bishops lamented the resumption of what they considered as the mindless killings in the Kajuru area of Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State have come to them with a great shock again.

    They noted with dismay that in the last four months alone, the communities have suffered a chain of tragedies, which climaxed with the gruesome murder of their paramount Chief, the Agwom Adara, Mr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima last October.

    “We had hoped that this tragedy would alert the State Government of the seriousness of the tragedy and alert all sides of the urgency of peaceful co-existence.

    “Unfortunately, the situation seems to be growing worse among the communities around Adara land.

    “While the people of Adara still have no traditional ruler, their other leaders have been rounded up under various allegations and have been in detention for a few weeks now.

    “Clearly, these developments have exposed the Adara people to physical, cultural and psychological insecurity.

    “Although these killings continue to carry such labels as farmer herder clashes, ethno-religious and reprisal killings, they do not explain the existential threat that this poses for the faith of our people in a united Nigeria.

    Read Also: Kaduna: PRP guber candidate disowns party, concedes defeat to El-Rufai

    “It is increasingly clear that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are not acting as lone rangers. These killings have shown every sign of being well planned, well-co-ordinated and targeted.”

    They lamented thousands of the communities have lost lives, homes and all their life savings and earnings.

    “Ours are communities of farmers and herders. The rains will soon be here,” the Bishop stated.

    The Catholic Bishops therefore appealed to the state government to convoke a stakeholders meeting and as well commence a judicial process.

    According to them: “We appeal to the Kaduna State Government to consider convening a Stake Holders’ Meeting made up of representatives of a wide segment of the entire state.

    “Such a meeting will include the political and business elite, senior citizens and statesmen and women, civil society groups etc.

    “This meeting will help us work towards putting the history of violence behind us and laying the foundation for the genuine development and integration of the people of the state.

    “Second, we call for the commencement of a judicial process leading to the trial of anyone judged to be involved in the violence while setting free those who are innocent. This will help to build more trust among our people.“

  • Kaduna: PRP guber candidate disowns party, concedes defeat to El-Rufai

    The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Redemption Party, (PRP) in the just concluded election in Kaduna State, Ahmed Tijani Umar has disowned his party and conceded defeat to Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    The PRP gubernatorial Candidate said, going to court to challenge the outcome of the poll is a waste of time.

    However, The Nation recalled that, PRP and its Kaduna Central Senatorial Candidate, Senator Shehu Sani had at different occasions rejected the outcome of both the National Assembly and governorship elections in Kaduna state.

    But, the PRP governorship candidate on Monday took a different turn, congratulating Governor El-Rufai of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over his emergence as winner in the election.

    Umar also urged other contestants to close ranks and accept the outcome of the poll in good faith.

    Umar who spoke with newsmen in Kaduna said, he has no reason for going to court challenge the outcome of the poll since contesting for gubernatorial position is not a do or die affair.

    According to him, “I enjoin others contestants from opposition parties to put hands together to support governor el-Rufai to realize the change we want in education, infrastructure, economy and among others, Umar urged.

    Read Also: El-Rufai reacts to accident rumour, says claims are false

    Reminding him that his decision contravenes that of his party which earlier vowed to challenge the outcome of the elections, Umar maintained that: “Everybody has his/her right to his own opinion. If God decides to say el-Rufai should continue, who am I to say no?

    “My stand is different from that of my party because I am the one contesting and am the one who employed, paid people that assisted in monitoring the governorship election across the 23 councils in the state. All my campaigns were financed alone by me, and not with the party.

    “The reason why it took me some time before breaking silence, was because, I sent about 25 thousand people out across the state to gather reports on the electoral process and I was only able to finish crosschecking their findings Monday.”

  • El-Rufai’s self-importance

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said something that attracted attention on the March 9 governorship election day.  El-Rufai, who was seeking re-election, had said to journalists while waiting to cast his vote: “I have no fears if I win or not because the president has already won his re-election. The worst thing that could happen is for me to lose the election. But since the president has already won his re-election bid, it means I already have a job in Abuja. Only my staff are jittery if I win or not and I usually share this joke with them.”

    It is interesting that El-Rufai sounded so sure about a job waiting for him in the Muhammadu Buhari presidency should he fail to get re-elected as governor. If he wasn’t re-elected after a four-year term, it would have suggested that his administration had failed and the electorate wanted a change.

    But he was re-elected. “Alhamdulillah! We campaigned vigorously on our record and continuously prayed for God to choose the best leader for Kaduna State even if that choice is someone else!! God has decided. We are grateful to over 1 million Kaduna voters through whom He made us the choice,” he tweeted following the announcement of the result.

    El-Rufai, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), got 1,045,427 votes. Alhaji Isah Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 814,168 votes. The APC won in 14 local government areas (LGAs). The PDP won in nine LGAs. There are 23 LGAs in the state.

    By boasting that the Presidency would have given him a job if he had lost the governorship election, El-Rufai unwittingly gave an insight into how some people get jobs in the Presidency. Why was El-Rufai so confident that he would get a job if he had lost the governorship election?

    Had he been promised a job? Was a job reserved for him? On what basis would he deserve a job if he had lost the governorship election? Or was it just an empty boast? Was El-Rufai just trying to show that he had solid connections in the Presidency, and that given Buhari’s re-election there was no way he would be out of the power loop even if he had lost the governorship election?

    This is how some people in power go about promoting their self-defined relevance.  Such people are full of self-importance.

  • ‘El-Rufai wasn’t involved in any accident’

    The Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has debunked the rumour making the rounds of that the Governor was involved in an accident.

    It would be recalled that from Wednesday night, rumours were rife in hush tones that Governor el-Rufai was involved in an accident. The rumours, however, became louder on Thursday, as it was been carried that, the Governor was injured, while his driver died instantly.

    Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye debunked the rumour on his Twitter handle.

    Read Also: PDP alleges fraud as El-Rufai leads in Kaduna

    He described the rumour of the governor involving in an accident as an act of hatred, which according to him moves people to peddle lies.

    According to him, “It is hatred that moves people to peddle lies, concoct rumours of accidents and try to pass off their ill-will as God’s doing is a burden on those who have permitted reason to exit their minds and have given their hearts to a constructing narrowness.”

  • El-Rufai urged to be magnanimous in victory

    The Movement for Islamic Centre Awareness (MICA), Kaduna State chapter, has advised  Governor Nasir El Rufai to ensure even distribution of developmental projects across the 23 local governments.

    El Rufai was re-elected for another four years term after he was announced winner of the Kaduna State Governorship election on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a congratulatory message to the Governor, the organisation through its General Secretary, Abu Ni’inah, described El-Rufai’s victory at the poll as a testament of his administration’s untiring, doggedness and uncommon commitment to good governance, security, economic prosperity and high level of industry.

    MICA urged well-meaning Kaduna State indigenes as well as residents to cooperate with the government to move the state forward.

    Read also: 12 feared killed, nine injured as armed men attack Kaduna community

    The statement reads: “Your resounding victory and re-election as the Governor of Kaduna State for the next four years does not come as a surprise to us who are attentive political watchers in the state.  It is a testament of your administration’s uncommon commitment to good governance, security, economic prosperity and high level of industry.

    “This is not only a victory for your party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), but a victory for all progressive-thinking people of Kaduna State.  MICA Kaduna, is committed to education, social welfare and health-care access for the downtrodden in the society. We welcome the chance of partnering with us to take Kaduna State to greater heights.

  • Breaking: INEC declares El Rufai re-elected in Kaduna

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Governor Nasir El-Rufai as winner of Saturday’s election in Kaduna state.

    The Returning Officer for the governorship poll, Prof. Mohammed Yahuza Bello said El-Rufai polled a total of 1.045,427 to emerge winner.

    Prof. Bello said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru polled a total of 814,168 votes.

    READ ALSO: El Rufai sets to be declared winner in Kaduna

    According to him: “Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress having scored the highest number of votes and met all the requirements of the law, is hereby returned elected”.

    The results of the 23 local government areas of the state show Governor El-Rufai won in 14 local government areas of Makarfi, Soba, Kudan, Ikara, Kauru, Kubau, Kaduna North, Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Sabongari, Lere, Kaduna South, Zaria and Igabi local government areas.

    The opposition candidate, Ashiru, on the other hand, won in nine local government areas Jaba, Kachia, Kaura, Kajuru, Zango Kataf, Sanga, Chikun, Kagarko and Jema’a local government areas.

    The results equally show El-Rufai got 56 percent of the total votes scored while Ashiru of the PDP got 44 percent.

    The results per local government area are as follow:

    Kachia

    APC 30,812

    PDP 51,780

    Kaura

    APC 8,342

    PDP 38,764

    Jaba

    APC 6,278

    PDP 22,976

    Kajuru

    APC 10,229

    PDP 34,658

    Makarfi

    APC 34,956

    PDP 22,301

    Soba

    APC 55,046

    PDP 25,440

    Kudan

    APC 28,624

    PDP 22,022

    Ikara

    APC 41,969

    PDP 22,553

    Kauru

    APC 34,844

    PDP 31,928

    Kubau

    APC 67,182

    PDP 17,074

    Giwa

    APC 51,455

    PDP 19,834

    Zango Kataf

    APC 13,448

    PDP 87,546

    Sanga

    APC 20,806

    PDP 21,226

    Kaduna North

    APC 97,243

    PDP 27,665

    Birnin Gwari

    APC 32,292

    PDP 16,901

    Chikun

    APC 24,262

    PDP 86,261

    Sabon Gari

    APC 57,655

    PDP 25,519

    Lere

    APC 71,056

    PDP 45,215

    Jema’a

    APC 21,265

    PDP 63,129

    Kagarko

    APC 21,982

    PDP 26,643

    Zaria

    APC 111,014

    PDP 35,356

    Igabi

    APC 102,612

    PDP 31,429

    Kaduna South

    APC 102,035

    PDP 37,948

    APC Total Votes:

    1.045,427

    PDP Total Votes:

    814,168