• FG, ONSA fault ex-governor’s claim on banditry

The Kaduna State government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have warned the immediate governor of the state, Nasir el-Rufai, to desist from acts of manipulation and peddling of falsehood against the state governor or risk arrest for disturbing public peace.
 
Alleging that the former governor resorted to wanton acts of provocation and manipulation of public opinion immediately after his minions were thrashed at the August 16 by-election in the state, the Kaduna State government regretted that the former governor has continued to stoke ethno-religious tension.
 
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Suleiman Shauibu, the state government said the good people of Kaduna State have endured enough of the trauma caused by the divisive politics of the former chief executive.
 
Consequently, the statement declared: “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.”
 
Recall that el-Rufai had on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, alleged that the Kaduna State government was allegedly appeasing bandits and criminals with cash hand-outs and creating the false impression of improved security of lives and property in the state.
 
But, pushing back on the claims, the commissioner stated: “These are calculated lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality. They insult the sacrifices of our armed forces and intelligence community.”
 
He further repudiated the former governor’s allegation that the state government sent thugs to disrupt a meeting convened to receive defectors from other parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying el-Rufai was the cause of the confusion because he convened an illegal and chaotic meeting, which degenerated into violence, defined by sporadic gunshots.
 
While urging Nigerians to discountenance the false claims by el-Rufai, Shuaibu disclosed that the former governor relishes fear-mongering and chaos, recalling that the state has gone beyond the pains of his era, which was underpinned by a divisive legacy.

ALSO, the Presidency has berated el-Rufai, accusing him of hypocrisy and plotting against the Nigerian leader.  Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, yesterday, said that the ex-governor’s acknowledgement that four years is not enough for a political office holder to make meaningful changes, yet in a coalition to oust President Tinubu just two years into his tenure.

el-Rufai had advised former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his Anambra counterpart, Peter Obi, to desist from making one-term presidency pledges, saying Nigerians do not believe such promises. On a live programme, he had tackled Obi, who was the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023general elections.

According to Onanuga, this stance is a clear contradiction and a demonstration of el-Rufai’s desperation for power. 
EQUALLY, the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has dismissed claims by the ex-governor that insecurity has worsened in the region under Tinubu’s administration. 
 
Reacting to the former FCT minister’s claim yesterday, the forum, in a statement by its chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, insisted that the current administration has reduced the level of insecurity in the region since it assumed office in 2023.
 
The group noted that while the region is not fully free of attacks by armed herdsmen, the frequency of attacks and level of destruction had reduced due to interventions by the Tinubu government.

RELATEDLY, the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) has described as baseless the claim by el-Rufai that the government coordinates a policy of payments and offers incentives to bandits. 

A statement, yesterday, said: “This claim is baseless. At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals. 
 
“On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are not only false, but also contradict verifiable facts on the ground.”