I Won’t Share State Resources During Festivals, Says El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai said yesterday that his government cannot continue with the structure of sharing the state resources like it inherited from the PDP government.

The decision to put an end to sharing cash and other gifts items during Moslem and Christian festivals was handed over during the visits of the leaders of the Jama’at Nasir Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who paid him courtesy visits in his office.

El-Rufai told the religious leaders that if his government continues to provide the resources of the state as gifts, the administration would only exist to pay salaries and allowances to workers.

The Governor, who was responding to the CAN Chairman, Bishop George Dodo’s speech when he told him not to forget his campaign promises, said he has not forgotten his promises to the people of the State, but insisted that government has inherited a structure which they are striving to change.

He said: “This beautiful office complex we are in, cost the government about N10billion. I and my partner, the Deputy Governor, would not have built this when there are many masses-oriented projects yet to be executed.

But it has been built, we have to use. “I have also been made to understand that during this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that.

One, the government is not supposed to be involved in religious activities. “Two, the government is broke. So, we solicit your prayers to be able to stabilise the situation and we hope that things will improve”, he said.

Besides, responding to the earlier call for the return of missionary schools to the churches, El-Rufai said the government cannot return the schools and still continue funding them.

While promising to set up a committee to look into the matter, the governor pointed out that ownership is not what matters most, but quality education and equal opportunity to every child. Earlier, the JNI delegation led by Alhaji Ibrahim Kufena offered a special prayer for the success of El-Rufai’s administration and assured the government of JNI’s readiness to assist government in maintenance of peace at all times.