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Tag: Nasir el-Rufai

  • Why my husband picked a muslim running mate – Mrs. El-Rufai

    …says, El-Rufai will win guber poll

     

    Wife of Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Hajiya Aisha (UMMI) Garba El-Rufai on Wednesday justified the choice of her husband’s Muslim running mate, saying that, contrary to insinuations, the Governor’s choice was based on competence and ability of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe to deliver.

    Mrs. El-Rufai stated categorically that, insinuation that the governor picked a female Muslim running mate to spite people of other faith is incorrect, but purely because the running mate has proven to be a woman with capacity to contribute meaningfully to growth and development of the state.

    The Governor’s wife who expressed confidence that, her husband can go and sleep, he will win the governorship election, said people of Kaduna state now understand that Governor El-Rufai’s programmes and policies are people-centered.

    The wife of the governor who is the Coordinator of the ‘APC GIDA-GIDA’ (APC HOUSE-HOUSE) campaign in Kaduna State stated this during a parley with journalists in Kaduna. She further said, the need to again clarify the matter on the choice of her husband’s running mate was important particularly for those who think the governor picked a woman and a Muslim as his running mate to spite Christians.

    According to her, “I appeal to the good people of Nigeria and Kaduna State in particular to take a closer look at the choice of the running mate of Malam Nasir El-Rufai with open heart.

    Read Also: El Rufai: we’ll investigate alleged electoral malpractices

    “The governor that I know works with people based on competence and on the basis of what they can deliver and bring to the table and not on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

    “The governor should not be accused of bias because he is not moved by religious affiliation. In any case, our diversity should strengthen us rather than divide us”.

    While urging all and sundry to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor El-Rufai and all other All Progresive Congress (APC) candidates across the board, she called on the good people of Kaduna State to remain calm and shun all forms and acts of violence, election malpractices, votes buying and hooliganism.

    “One of the core objectives of our great party APC and the ‘Gida-Gida’project is to foster peace and unity in Kaduna State and the nation at large.

    “Our main goal and objective is to engage the electorate on issue-based campaign as peace ambassadors, we believe Kaduna State is a great state that has the potential to promote peace and unity among its diverse populace. I, therefore, urge us all to come out en-mass to vote all APC candidates in order to ensure victory at all polls slated for 23rd February and 9th March 2019.” She emphasised.

  • Kajuru killings: El-Rufai says death toll now 130

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai yesterday berated those questioning the veracity of his allegation that 66 people were killed in the recent attack in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    According to him, the death toll has risen to 130.

    He had last Friday raised the alarm that unknown gunmen killed 66 persons in the area, while some Nigerians had faulted the claims.

    Briefing reporters after a security meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, El-Rufai said that he has applied for the deployment of military personnel in flashpoint areas in the state to ensure adequate security during the forthcoming elections.

    The latest figure, he said, was contained in a report provided through an on-going investigation by the Police.

    He said: “Now, what we are hearing, the last report we got is that over 130 people were killed not even 66.”

    El-Rufai, who was joined by governors Mohammed Bindow (Adamawa) and Kashim Shettima (Borno); as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Fulani leaders have already indicated interest to provide the full list of those killed in the attack to the government.

    He also assured that his government was ready to make public, the pictures of the victims and footages of how the army had to be there to help bury the dead two days after they were killed because their bodies were decomposing.

    The governor described those trying to dispute his position as chief security officer of the state on the killings as grossly irresponsible people.

    He said: “Now, what we are hearing, the last report we got is that, over 130 people were killed not even 66. And the Fulani leaders are providing the names of all these people, we have the list and we will release it to the press.

    “And I don’t want to be groused but we can release pictures of the people killed and how the army had to be there to help bury them two days after they were killed because the bodies were decomposing, but some people are being irresponsible. They are pretending this has not happened because it does not fit their ethnic or partisan narrative. It is totally irresponsible because this can happen to anyone of us.”

    He also explained that the reason behind his appeal to the affected people for calm was because he knew that those that lost their relations could take the laws into their own hands for revenge unless they believe to have seen that the government was doing something to secure justice.

    El-Rufai said that during the meeting with President Buhari, he requested for enhanced military presence during the forthcoming election on February 23 and March 9 in the state.

    The governor said: “In Kaduna State, we requested for enhanced military presence in particular locations that are either affected by rural banditry; these are the local government of Birnin-Gwari/Giwa Angchukwu and areas where there has been a history of either electoral violence or ethno-religious intolerance.

    “We have already mapped out local arrangements with the garrison commander and the commissioner of police and we have made adequate arrangements to ensure that every citizen of Kaduna State will be free to vote in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    “We got assurances from Mr. President that whatever security assets we need in addition to what is already on ground to ensure peaceful abs hitch-free elections on Saturday, those assets will be provided. All we need to do is ask.”

    He also explained that yesterday’s meeting between the President and the heads of security agencies was primarily focused on the states that have higher than average security challenges, adding that four state governors (Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Kaduna) were invited.

    He said that the northeast states were discussed because of the history of Boko Haram insurgency, while Kaduna state was as a result of the recent crisis affecting parts of the state.

    He said: “The governor of Borno State submitted a comprehensive brief on the situation in Borno and Yobe states for which he is very familiar having been on the seat for eight years.

    “The governor of Adamawa State presented a situation report regarding Adamawa and I submitted a briefing based on what has been happening in Kaduna State in the last few weeks and months.

    “We noted the significant improvement in the security situation across our states in spite of the challenges and thank the Federal Government for making available the security assets to the states any time we needed them which has led to some level of stability of the situation.

    “Across the states, we are ready for elections; we do not believe that the level of challenges will preclude elections not taking place all over our states. Of course, in the case of Borno State other than one or two local governments that may vote outside of their immediate domain, every voter in Borno State will vote in his or her local government, compared to the situation in 2015 that some voters in Borno State had to vote in Maiduguri. This is not the case this time.

    “In Adamawa State, apart from Madagali that is close to Sambisa, there had been no major challenges. Even there, with enhanced security presence, we are confident that there will be no problems at all conducting elections.”

     

  • Kajuru Carnage: Death toll rises to 130 – El-Rufai

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state says the death toll as a result of the communal clash in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state has risen to 130 as against the previous figure of 66.

    El-Rufai stated this when he spoke to State House correspondents after briefing a security meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    The governor had on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that 66 people were killed by unknown attackers in Kajuru Local Government Area.

    El-Rufai, who alongside the governors of Borno and Adamawa briefed members of the security committee on security situations in their respective states, frowned at those who questioned the initial casualties’ figures of 66.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that several individuals and organisations including the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) and Human Rights Lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu had expressed doubt over the occurrence of the killings of the 66 persons.

    He said: “The last report we got is that over 130 people were killed not even 66 and the Fulani leaders have provided the names of all these people.

    ”We have the list, we can release it to the Press and I don’t want to be gross but we can release pictures of the people killed and how soldiers have to be there to help bury them, two days after they were killed because the bodies were decomposing.

    ”Whoever still doubts that this did not happen is being grossly irresponsible.’’

    The Ag. Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who also spoke to the correspondents, said the police were ready to protect eligible Nigerians following resolution at the meeting that adequate security be provided within the country.

    Adamu said: ”Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr President on the security situation in the country.

    “We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorate will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation.

    “Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the Election Day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation,” he said.

    Read Also: Buhari, El Rufai ‘ll return to office – Kaduna deputy gov

    According to him, security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody.

    He further warned that, “anybody that feels that he can come out and disrupt process should have a rethink because that situation will not be allowed.

    “If you plan and allow yourself to be used as touts, whatever happens to you, you will take it.

    “Ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed, anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have his or herself to blame on the Election Day. So you better don’t allow yourself to be used.”

  • Buhari, govs, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and some governors from the northern part of the country.

    The meeting started around 11am at the President’s office.

    Governors at the meeting included Adamawa State, Jibrilla Bindow, Borno State, Kashim Shettima, Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai.

    Also at the meeting were Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau.

    Read Also: Buhari didn’t order Nigerians to be shot summarily, says Tinubu

    The meeting was not unconnected with the security situations in the country.

    The recent killings before the postponed presidential election at the weekend resulted in the death of some Nigerians in Kajuru, Kaduna State.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari’s last minute campaign full of fabrications, false claims, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on Thursday as a last gasp of a drowning administration.

    In a statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s speech was laced with fabrications and false performances claims, “characteristic of a failed leader, who has been rejected by the people”.

    The statement said, “It rather too late in the day for President Buhari to redeem himself with an academic speech as Nigerians, having moved ahead with the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are no longer ready to listen to his list of false promises and a  long claim of non-existent achievements.

    “It is ludicrous that at a time President Buhari should be remorseful and apologize for his failures that led to the biting economic hardship, hunger, job losses, killings and escalated bloodletting in our country, under his watch, he chose to engage in a last-minute attempt to sway Nigerians with falsehood.

    “Nigerians watched a President Buhari, who, having seen the handwriting on the wall, struggled with false economic growth figures and sought to blackmail the people with claims of non-existent food security and false assurances of safety in a nation heavily plagued by unemployment, loss of jobs, poverty as well as escalated insurgency and banditry.

    Read also: Election: Police deploy 55 CPs to States

    “Nigerians watched as President Buhari claimed a rise in foreign reserves but failed to accept responsibility for the huge rise in our nation’s debt and the fact that our nation has become the poverty capital of the world.

    “Furthermore, how would President Buhari want anybody to take his assurance of safety of members of global democratic institutions working for peaceful elections in our country after his presidency threatened the international community and endorsed the threats by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, that such foreigners will return to their country in body bags.

    “The PDP counsels President Buhari to note that he has come to the end of the road and that Nigerians are no longer with him. He should, therefore, end all his rigging plots and allow Nigerians to rebuild our nation under the leadership of Atiku Abubakar, whom they have reached a consensus to vote in as the next President of our country.

    “After all, he will not be the first President to lose in an election”

  • Group promises 45 million votes for Buhari

    ….as Southern Kaduna youths endorse El-Rufai

     

    The national body of Buhari Mass Movement has promised to deliver 45 million votes for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16 out of the total votes declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The final registered voters as declared by INEC for the 2019 general election stands at 84, 004,084 registered voters.

    This was even as southern Kaduna youths forum have endorsed governor Nasir El-rufai for the March 2nd governorship election.

    Speaking on Monday at one day sensitization workshop in Kaduna for grassroots mobilizers/canvassers for the projected 45 million votes, the national Coordinator of the Movement, Basheer Garba Umar urged all registered members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to ensure that they exercise their civic responsibility on the D-day.

    Umar noted that it is risky to lazy about canvassing for votes for Buhari because the total figures of voters in 2015 is far less than in 2019, and urged every member of the party to work hard for victory.

    “We must canvass for votes from local government to local government, house to house, door to door, market to market, and all places that we may find people.

    “If we must gather 45 million votes for President Buhari, there is no going back from campaigning door to door because in 2015 the total registered voters was around 60 million, but this year we are having over 84 million registered voters.

    “But our worry is that people have registered, and they don’t want to go out on election day to vote.

    “However, we have sensitised all the canvassers to go to all local government areas in the country, house to house to tell those who may not be willing to vote on that day to go out enmass to vote for Buhari”.

    Meanwhile, youths under the umbrella of Southern Kaduna Youth Forum have endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State, Governor Nasir El-rufai for the forthcoming election.

    The youths took the decision to support El-rufai after due deliberations in a meeting they held in Kagarko local government Area of the State at the weekend.

    Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the APC Director, Youth Mobilization for Buhari/El-rufai 2019, Malam Aminu Anty noted that governor El-rufai is a man of integrity who is sincerely determined to take Kaduna State to the next level of developments.

    He also pointed out that the governor’s achievements in healthcare centres; education sector, water supply, agricultural activities as well as youth empowerment are some of the factors that prompted them to drum support for the APC candidate.

    Mallam Anty said, “These and many other factors too numerous to mention propelled us to take this resolution to appreciate and push for the governor’s second term bid.

    “The good aspect of this resolution does not lie only on the support, but it also helps in reshaping the political norm of supporting leaders based on their ability and good track records of performance.

    “We have come to the realisation that the era of playing politics with the future of the youths is over, and we also believe that no politician can deceive electorate any longer based sentiments.

    “To this end, we have adequately sensitised and made contacts with political stakeholders, youth and women groups from that zone to support Governor Nasir El-rufai for the second term”.

  • PDP kicks as DSS arrests Kaduna PDP campaign spokesman

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked over the arrest of its Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity in Kaduna State, Ben Bako, by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Nation gathered the campaign’s spokesman was arrested Saturday night and whisked to Abuja after honouring an invitation by the DSS office in Kaduna.

    His arrest, it was gathered, was informed by video clips that have gone viral on social media, showing Ben Bako making inciting comments during the PDP campaign rally in Kafanchan last week.

    However, reacting to the development in Kaduna Sunday afternoon at a press conference  Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Danjuma Sarki called for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ben Bako, arguing that, he has been harassed and illegally detained without trial for over 24 hours.

    Sarki also alleged the arrest of Ben Bako was part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) goverment’s plan to intimidate and silence the opposition in the state.

    He alleged a number of party leaders including himself two former governors, former minister and former party chairman had been penciled down for arrest ahead of the elections.

    According to him: “We are very much aware that long before now,  the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has penned down a long list of influential PDP members in the state for intimidation, arrest and detention over spurious charges few days to the general elections. The list includes the following:

    “We also aware that several youth leaders of the PDP in the state, women leaders and  staunch supporters of the PDP, including some public commentators are also to be locked up shortly before the elections.

    “The plan is to lock away 150 leaders of the PDP at the State and Local Government Areas on trumped up charges of “hate speech” during campaign rallies. The intention is to send fears and weaken the spirit of the campaign or to stir crisis in the state.

    “But, unknown to governor El-Rufai and the DSS, the more he arrests us, the stronger the PDP gets.

    “It is too late to reverse the determination of the traumatised people of Kaduna state. They have been fleeced by a narrow group of friends and family under a government of tyranny, propaganda, bigotry, disunity and backwardness.

    “The world today is still outraged by the murderous threat of governor Nasir el-Rufai to International Election Observers, when he vowed that should any of them intervene contrary to the designs and expectation of the APC during and after elections, they would return home in body bags.

    “Curiously the Presidency, came out in full support of that crude, barbaric bravado which carries a costly diplomatic price, should any harm befall any International Election Observer in the course of their legitimate duty in Nigeria during the polls.

    “The PDP in Kaduna state will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation. Let us reiterate for the records: The PDP in Kaduna state is determined and totally committed to a violent free polls.

    “No member or supporter of the PDP must be involved in breaking the law. In the same manner, the PDP is solid serious about ensuring that every vote cast in the state counts.”

    He called for the immediate redeployment of Kaduna State Director of the DSS, alleging he won’t be neutral.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked over the arrest of its Campaign Council’s Director of Media and Publicity in Kaduna State, Ben Bako, by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Nation gathered the campaign’s spokesman was arrested Saturday night and whisked to Abuja after honouring an invitation by the DSS office in Kaduna.

    His arrest, it was gathered, was informed by video clips that have gone viral on social media, showing Ben Bako making inciting comments during the PDP campaign rally in Kafanchan last week.

    However, reacting to the development in Kaduna Sunday afternoon at a press conference  Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Danjuma Sarki called for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ben Bako, arguing that, he has been harassed and illegally detained without trial for over 24 hours.

    Sarki also alleged the arrest of Ben Bako was part of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) goverment’s plan to intimidate and silence the opposition in the state.

    He alleged a number of party leaders including himself two former governors, former minister and former party chairman had been penciled down for arrest ahead of the elections.

    According to him: “We are very much aware that long before now,  the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, under the leadership of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has penned down a long list of influential PDP members in the state for intimidation, arrest and detention over spurious charges few days to the general elections. The list includes the following:

    “We also aware that several youth leaders of the PDP in the state, women leaders and  staunch supporters of the PDP, including some public commentators are also to be locked up shortly before the elections.

    “The plan is to lock away 150 leaders of the PDP at the State and Local Government Areas on trumped up charges of “hate speech” during campaign rallies. The intention is to send fears and weaken the spirit of the campaign or to stir crisis in the state.

    “But, unknown to governor El-Rufai and the DSS, the more he arrests us, the stronger the PDP gets.

    “It is too late to reverse the determination of the traumatised people of Kaduna state. They have been fleeced by a narrow group of friends and family under a government of tyranny, propaganda, bigotry, disunity and backwardness.

    “The world today is still outraged by the murderous threat of governor Nasir el-Rufai to International Election Observers, when he vowed that should any of them intervene contrary to the designs and expectation of the APC during and after elections, they would return home in body bags.

    “Curiously the Presidency, came out in full support of that crude, barbaric bravado which carries a costly diplomatic price, should any harm befall any International Election Observer in the course of their legitimate duty in Nigeria during the polls.

    “The PDP in Kaduna state will not be drawn into any violent conflict no matter the provocation. Let us reiterate for the records: The PDP in Kaduna state is determined and totally committed to a violent free polls.

    “No member or supporter of the PDP must be involved in breaking the law. In the same manner, the PDP is solid serious about ensuring that every vote cast in the state counts.”

    He called for the immediate redeployment of Kaduna State Director of the DSS, alleging he won’t be neutral.

  • El-Rufai meets Kaduna Pastors, says his decisions based on merit

    Kaduna state governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai at the weekend met with a group of pastors, saying his administration’s decisions are not based on religion and ethnicity.

    The governor said he has been working with people around him based on competency to get results, not minding their tribe, religion, as he called on residents to unite for progress of the state.

    Speaking during a Town Hall Meeting with a group of pastors under the auspices of ‘Pastors United For Change Association’ held in Kaduna, El-Rufai explained that he has nothing against Christians in the state, adding that his choice of running mate, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, from Sanga local government area of Southern Kaduna was purely on her capacity to deliver and not religious sentiment.

    The governor while urging the pastors to check his records of selfless service to the people, maintained that his target is to end the religious,ethnic division and unite the people of the state.

    El-rufai said, “In my life I have never worked with people based on religious and ethnic consideration.

    “Don’t look at what people said but what I have done in the past. Go through my records and see what I have done. On the issue of my running mate, we are encouraging women participation in politics,she is a competent woman.”

    Read Also: El-Rufai clarifies his comments

    The governor added: “Only Kaduna state has male/female governorship ticket in the northern Nigeria. Late Prof. Andrew Nok, our late commissioner for education brought Dr. Hadiza Balarabe when were looking for someone that can revive our primary health in the state and she performed excellently well. I don’t know her before. Her choice as running mate has nothing to do with religion”

    “I am confidence that my running mate will run the state effectively and will be fair to all in the state even if I am not around. When you get into office politics stop. You must be fair to all. Check our records in the last three years and six months,we have worked. We built, repaired primary, secondary schools.

    “We fixed our primary health centres. I am human and I can make mistakes like any other person. I will be fair to everybody. We must unite our people for progress. I want Kaduna state to interact on the basis of humanity not religion and ethnicity.”

    “There are some shifts in some local government areas in Southern Kaduna, which favoured us, which we will win this election,” El-Rufai said.

    Chairman of Pastors United for Change Association, Apostle David Adeniran, said with the governor’s explanation on issues, they now understand that he wanted a united Kaduna without religious, ethnic consideration.

    Adeniran said: “Our sincere clergymen and women, thank you for honouring the invitation. I believe many of you will go home with a new thinking that something good is happening in Kaduna. This is a new Kaduna state. We are here to interact on the next level in Kaduna state. Kaduna state will be better for all of us.”

     

  • ‘Body bag’: PDP calls for El-Rufai’s arrest

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Prince Uche Secondus, has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest the Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.

    The call was made in response to the governor’s threat to foreign election observers and members of the international community that they would be sent back to their countries in body bags if they get involved in the upcoming general elections.

    The governor had, during a live programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Tuesday, threatened that foreign election observers planning to interfere with the polls will leave in Nigeria in body bags.

    But speaking at the party’s presidential campaign ally in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Friday, the PDP chairman, said that an Atiku Abubakar presidency would put an end to mindless killings in Benue and other states.

    Secondus said, “Yesterday, we went to Katsina, they were killing in eight local governments. That is the President’s home state. The killing is so much in Nigeria.  Poverty and hunger is too much in the land. We will shift the headquarters of poverty to another country. Atiku Abubakar will create jobs for our teeming youths. He has done it before, he will do it again”.

    “We were told that Senator George Akume was inviting military. This is not a military regime, this is democracy. Anyone that sends soldiers to Akume is against democracy. And we will reject such rigged results either in Benue or at the national level. We will never accept any rigged results.

    “You are aware that the Governor of Kaduna State has said that people will be killed and carried in body bags. And we must stand because they cannot kill us. The international community is aware.

    “We call on the Federal Government, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an inquiry. If he refuses, then the International Criminal Court should arrest El-Rufai immediately for saying that the international community and PDP will be carried in body bags. They are not ready for election. They know that Atiku is winning”.

    The PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, assured the people that he would end the security challenges in the state.

     

  • PDP to El-Rufai: direct your attacks at Buhari

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to direct his verbal attacks at President Muhammadu Buhari instead of issuing threats to members of the international community and election observers.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party recalled how El-Rufai, had, in 2010, described Buhari as incompetent, old fashioned, corrupt, insensitive, parochial and a tyrannical leader, who should not be voted into office.

    The statement reads, “Governor el-Rufai’s venom should therefore be directed towards President Buhari, who has brought so much pain to Nigerians and of course himself, for his own insensitivity to Nigerians and his support for anti-democratic tendencies of the Buhari administration”.

    According to the PDP, the governor’s recent threat to members of the international community has raised new questions regarding those behind the killing of expatriates and aid workers in various troubled parts of the country.

    “It is quite revealing that el-Rufai, who exposed Gen. Buhari in 2010 as ‘unelectable’ is now prancing about in defence of Buhari’s incompetent and anti-democratic administration, to the extent of issuing death threats to others, just to secure his place under a dictatorial administration.

    “Governor el-Rufai had in 2010 described Gen. Buhari as ill- equipped for modern day governance. He berated Gen. Buhari of lacking capacity to comprehend current trends, to the extent that he would think that a ‘blackberry was a fruit’..

    The PDP quoted copiously from the Kaduna governor’s past attacks against President Buhari thus: “In his reply to Gen. Buhari’s response to his earlier criticisms, el-Rufai has stated: ‘Mallam El-Rufai wishes to remind General Buhari that he has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded. His insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity and his parochial focus are already well-known.

    Read Also: PDP members join APC in Akwa Ibom

    “In 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new…..

    “Buhari was so high- handed that he gave himself and his officials immunity even from truthful reporting. That obnoxious Decree 4, against which truth was no defence, was used to jail journalists and attempt to cow the media as a whole.

    “That tyrannical legislation shows the essence of his intolerance. These are facts of recent history. The story of counter-trade and import licensing, the cornerstone of Buhari’s stone-age economic strategy and those whose interests it served, is a tale for another day”

    The PDP described the Buhari administration as inept and colossally corrupt, which has wrecked a once robust economy, divided the nation and instituted executive high-handedness.

    It also accused the administration of violation of human rights, incessant breach of the constitution, disobedience to court order, assaults on democratic institutions, clamp down on the media and dissenting voices. The party added that these have brought so much pain and anguish to Nigerians.