Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, expressed his concerns yesterday regarding the recent designation by the United States, which classifies Musa Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, as one of the individuals hindering religious freedom in Nigeria. He deemed this labeling as highly unjust.
During an appearance on the Arise News Prime Time program hosted by Charles Aniagolu, El-Rufai reassured Nigerians that the opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), is poised to present a presidential candidate capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Regarding Kwankwaso’s inclusion in the list of individuals accused by the US Congress of promoting violations of religious freedoms in Nigeria, El-Rufai stated that the allegations extend far beyond mere domestic political issues.
He pointed out, "As Nigerians, we must not allow ourselves to be mere instruments in what is primarily American political theatrics. The narrative surrounding 'Christian genocide' and the recent legislation are just tactics used by the Republican Party to appeal to their base - specifically, the Christian evangelical community in the US. This situation is disconnected from Nigeria itself."
El-Rufai further speculated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might have instigated the indictment against Kwankwaso, possibly linked to alleged lobbying efforts amounting to $9 million to US firms due to Kwankwaso’s refusal to switch allegiance to the APC.
He lamented, "This is purely domestic politics in the United States. It saddens me as a Nigerian citizen. The responsibility lies on the government to ensure the safety of all citizens, be they Christians or Muslims. Everyone faces risks."
El-Rufai continued, stating, "It's apparent that the nation's security apparatus has failed. The competence of the personnel is in question, and we must ask tough questions to recalibrate the system to ensure the safety of all Nigerians."
On the issue of Kwankwaso’s labeling, he remarked, "It is profoundly unfair to tag him in this way. I am contemplating whether this tagging is related to the $9 million lobbying funds since he chose not to join the APC. The extent of this government's malfeasance is beyond one's imagination."
He highlighted past instances, noting, "Zamfara was the first state to implement Sharia law, and if blame were to be assigned, I would expect Zamfara to be on that list, not Kwankwaso, who has shown moderation in his enforcement of Sharia in Kano."
When questioned about his potential candidacy for the presidency in 2027, El- Rufai clarified that he is not considering running. He plans on completing his book and pursuing a PhD during his retirement but feels compelled to engage in the national discourse to address prevailing issues.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!