Kaduna Group Backs Musa, Faults El-Rufai's Critics

.... "Accuses El-Rufai of using religion for political purposes and pursuing policies it claimed marginalised sections of Kaduna State.

.... Says, "criticisms of Musa's comments were characterised by “selective amnesia and ethno-religious rhetoric”.

A group, under the aegis of the Kaduna State Muslim-Christian Network for Good Governance has backed the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, over his recent comments on former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The group, in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna, the political capital of Nigeria, accused those attacking Musa over his remarks during a recent Channels Television interview of attempting to distort the history of El-Rufai's administration.

In the statement, the group said many Kaduna residents were witnesses to what it described as the divisive and arbitrary nature of El-Rufai's administration between 2015 and 2023.

It alleged that the former governor's tenure was marked by controversial mass sackings, demolitions, insecurity, and the suppression of dissent, among other actions it said deepened divisions in the state.

The group also accused El-Rufai of using religion for political purposes and pursuing policies it claimed marginalised sections of Kaduna State.

According to the network, criticisms of Musa's comments were characterised by “selective amnesia and ethno-religious rhetoric”.

It said the Defence Minister's assessment reflected the experiences of many residents and should not be reduced to the concerns of any particular ethnic, religious or geographical section of the state.

The group particularly rejected attempts to interpret Musa's comments as referring only to Southern Kaduna.

“General Musa's remarks on that ugly past are a true reflection of what we experienced in the state during those toxic years,” the statement said.

It challenged those disputing the Minister's position to present facts to the contrary rather than resort to ethnic or religious arguments.

The network declared its total support for Musa and urged him to continue collaborating with other stakeholders in the security sector to improve national security.

It also called on Kaduna residents to support the state government in its efforts to promote unity, inclusiveness and fairness.

The statement was signed by the group's Chairman, Tahir Tanko; Secretary, Steven Kefas; Publicity Secretary, Adamu Abdullahi; and members Yakubu Adamu, Joyce Michael, Kevin Bahago and Zariyi Yusuf.