Women and youths under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress Unity Forum in the south of Kaduna State have held a rally in support of the ongoing investigation of the embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai is being investigated over his alleged involvement in the wire tapping of the National Security Adviser’s phone lines, as well as financial infractions allegedly committed during his tenure as governor.

Some of the youths and women carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Tapping NSA phone is criminal’, ‘ICPC, EFCC save our treasury’, ‘Southern Kaduna people do not support evil’ and ‘ICPC, DSS carry on’, among others.

Speaking at the rally in Kafanchan, Mr. Edward Auta, convener of the forum, said the ongoing legal processes against El-Rufai will further strengthen transparency and, if convicted, enable the recovery of public resources for the benefit of the people of the state.

“Without a doubt, holding El-Rufa’i accountable will demonstrate clearly that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there are no sacred cows and no one is above the law.

“This principle is essential for sustainable peace, justice, and development in our country,” he stated.
Auta urged authorities to go a step further by investigating El-Rufai’s repeated resort to divisive rhetoric along religious and ethnic lines.

“Such tendencies pose risks to public peace, safety, and national cohesion.

“We therefore urge the security agencies to thoroughly examine both past and recent statements attributed to him and to take appropriate lawful steps where necessary.

“Accountability strengthens democracy, reinforces the rule of law, and deters divisive politics.

“In this regard, Mr El-Rufa’i’s case should not be an exception,” he noted.
He distanced the forum from a pro-El-Rufai rally held last Wednesday by a group in Southern Kaduna claiming solidarity with the former governor.

“No fair-minded person from Southern Kaduna who witnessed the pervasive insecurity, wanton acts of corruption, and deepening polarisation under Elrufa’i’s administration will question the courage of our nation’s anti-graft and security agencies to investigate and interrogate him.

“These agencies are carrying out their constitutional mandate to ensure accountability and to recover public funds allegedly diverted during his tenure as governor,” he said.

According to him, the truth is that Mr Darius Kurah and his associates, who gathered in Kafanchan on Wednesday February 25,, neither possess the authority to speak “on behalf of our people nor reflect the genuine sentiments of the zone.

“Contrary to their claims, the overwhelming majority of our people support the efforts of the ICPC, EFCC, DSS, and all relevant institutions working to ensure that due process is followed and accountability is achieved.

“Indeed, many believe these actions could have come sooner. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, “better late than never.”

Auta noted with satisfaction that Southern Kaduna had entered a new era of inclusion and purposeful governance under Gov. Uba Sani and President Bola Tinubu.

“Today, we are witnessing tangible progress; the establishment of a new Federal University and a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), and numerous completed and ongoing infrastructure projects that are transforming our state and region.

“We sincerely commend the administrations of Gov. Sani and President Tinubu for their collaborative efforts in improving the lives of our citizens and reaffirm our unwavering support for their continued leadership.

“Southern Kaduna remains firmly aligned with the APC, and our people are committed to delivering an unprecedented 1.5 million votes for Tinubu and Uba Sani, respectively, in 2027,” he added. (NAN)