The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) has thrown its weight behind the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retired), over his recent criticism of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that the minister merely presented what it described as the “true picture” of the former governor’s administration.

In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by Engr. Zana Goni, representing the North-East; Dr Mohammed Suleman (North-West) and Prof. John Anaho (North-Central), the group accused the eight-year El-Rufai administration of leaving behind a legacy of division, controversial policies and alleged maladministration.

It argued that the former governor’s record should be subjected to rigorous public scrutiny rather than shielded from criticism because of his political influence or regional identity.

CNEEPD said Musa should not be vilified for speaking about Kaduna’s experience under El-Rufai, maintaining that the minister’s remarks touched on issues that affected the state’s political stability, social cohesion and development. The elders rejected attempts to portray his comments as merely partisan or personal, arguing that doing so would divert attention from the substantive questions raised about the former administration.

“General Christopher Musa did not invent the history of Kaduna State. He spoke about a reality that Nigerians must have the courage to confront,” the coalition said, describing the Defence Minister’s assessment as “a true picture of the El-Rufai government in Kaduna.”

According to the group, the former governor’s record should be judged not only by infrastructure projects or official claims of achievement but also by the consequences of his policies for ordinary citizens, communities and public institutions. It argued that a government’s performance must equally be measured by its ability to promote social cohesion, protect citizens’ interests and leave behind institutions capable of sustaining development.

“Development cannot be reduced to buildings, roads and statistics when the people are divided, and public confidence in government is weakened,” CNEEPD said.

The elders alleged that the El-Rufai administration adopted policies and a style of governance that generated resentment among sections of the population and contributed to political and social tensions in Kaduna. They said questions surrounding the treatment of communities, workers, public institutions and competing political interests should form part of any objective assessment of the former governor’s tenure.

The coalition stressed that its intervention was not intended to suggest that the administration recorded no achievements. Rather, it said positive claims should not be used to erase controversies or prevent legitimate criticism of policies and decisions taken during the eight-year tenure.

“We are not asking Nigerians to accept propaganda from either side. We are asking them to look at the facts and judge the administration objectively,” it said.

CNEEPD also rejected what it described as attempts to turn criticism of El-Rufai into a regional confrontation. The elders warned that the North would be doing itself a disservice by automatically defending former political office holders simply because they belonged to the region.

“The North must stop protecting individuals at the expense of the truth. Our loyalty must first be to the people, to good governance and to the peace of the region,” the group said.

The coalition’s position followed criticism of Musa by Yakubu Sani Wudi, a Nigerian lecturer and researcher at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, who reportedly expressed disappointment over the Defence Minister’s comments.

Wudi was quoted as saying that he had initially welcomed Musa’s appointment as Defence Minister with high expectations, particularly because of his previous position as Chief of Defence Staff. He reportedly argued that Nigerians expected the office to represent patriotism and national unity and that Musa’s comments during an interview on Channels Television appeared unnecessarily divisive.

CNEEPD, however, said disagreement with Musa was legitimate but should not be used to shield El-Rufai from scrutiny. It maintained that critics of the Defence Minister were entitled to their views, just as Nigerians were entitled to examine and debate his assessment of the former Kaduna administration.

“Those who disagree with General Musa are entitled to their opinion, but they cannot rewrite the history of Kaduna simply because they dislike what he said,” the coalition declared.

The elders challenged those defending El-Rufai to address the substance of the allegations rather than attack the minister personally.

According to CNEEPD, leaving public office does not place a former governor beyond accountability. It said the record of any public official automatically becomes part of the history of the state and should remain open to scrutiny, debate and criticism after the individual has left office.