El-Rufai, Kwankwaso Meet Amid Speculations of Anti-Tinubu Coalition

The meeting between former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Thursday sparked fresh speculations that some northern political bigwigs are plotting a coalition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

While it wasn’t unusual to see El-Rufai and Kwankwaso together, preceding events, which had seen many northern political heavyweights turn the Daura home of former President Muhammadu Buhari into a sort of Mecca, have raised eyebrows among political observers.

It would be recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accompanied by former governors of Sokoto and Adamawa states, Senator Aminu Tambuwal and Jibrilla Bindow, paid a visit to Buhari, which was tagged a Sallah homage. Twenty-four hours after Atiku’s visit, El-Rufai also visited the former president, while a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, visited a few hours later.

Reacting to this, Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, criticised it as an attempt to revive Buhari’s political influence and mobilise support for the 2027 presidential election, cautioning against stirring Arewa sentiment without regard for the potential chaos it could cause.

Analysts believe that with both El-Rufai and Kwankwaso currently having grievances with the President Tinubu-led government, their meeting may be part of a strategic scheme to rally around a formidable candidate to unseat the president in 2027.

While President Tinubu has reportedly made overtures to woo Kwankwaso to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the former Kano governor’s political enmity with his successor and current national chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is said to be among the obstacles.

It’s believed that Kwankwaso still harbours some misgivings towards President Tinubu over what those close to him called a betrayal of trust. After the 2023 presidential election, it was widely reported that Tinubu had offered Kwankwaso a ministerial position, but this did not materialise when the list was announced.

His recent ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involving an alleged N2.5 billion pension fraud and campaign finances, has further complicated their relationship.

The situation is similar with El-Rufai, who many believe was dealt a more embarrassing blow after he was nominated by the president for a cabinet position, but a last-minute security report led to his non-clearance by the National Assembly. His loyalists believe the president might have orchestrated the “embarrassment” to diminish the former Kaduna governor’s political clout.

EL-Rufai’s recent ordeal with his anointed successor, Governor Uba Sani, which has seen the state Assembly indict him in an alleged N432 billion misappropriation of state funds during his tenure from 2015 to 2023, adds to his troubles.

Before his meeting with Kwankwaso on Thursday, El-Rufai had been in the news over 2027 speculations recently. His meeting with some political leaders across different parties in March had fuelled speculations about his future political plans. He had earlier met with the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Musa Gabam, and had another meeting at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, a chieftain of the SDP, and other party leaders.

Also present were Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, and Senator Nazif Suleiman, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Bauchi State, as well as Alhaji Aminu DanAgundi, a political heavyweight and kingmaker in Kano State. The meeting at Senator Gada’s home came a few days after El-Rufai hosted a gathering at his Abuja residence, which included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam (a chieftain of the APC), Shehu Musa Gabam, and others, for a Ramadan iftar (the breaking of fast).

Some analysts believe that with President Tinubu’s desire to consolidate power before 2027, some aggrieved politicians may be using these meetings to stir the hornet’s nest, while others suggest the president may be wary of taking them lightly, considering how similar meetings led to the formation of the APC in 2014, ending the PDP’s 16-year uninterrupted rule.

Those in the latter category believe that the moves by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lead a charge for a coalition ahead of the 2027 polls may serve as a launch pad for a major political upset.

Naira Swap Policy: El-Rufai, Abiodun, Sanwo-Olu, Others Drag Federal Government To Supreme Court

 

The Governors of Kaduna, Ogun, and Lagos alongside seven other states have approached the Supreme Court to abrogate the insistence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Government on continuing the implementation of the cash swap policy against the existing court pronouncement.

 

 This action of the governors becomes the latest in efforts to salvage the country’s constitutional order and respect for the rule of law as it continues to dwindle under the highhanded Muhammadu Buhari regime.

In the suit marked SC/CV/162/2023, the plaintiffs through their counsel, A.J. Owonikoko, are praying the apex court to declare that Mr Buhari’s state address, which aired last Thursday, is unconstitutional.

In the face of brewing anarchy which has rocked different cities across the country and untold economic hardship for many Nigerians, Mr Buhari disclosed in his address that his regime and the CBN will not rescind its position to take old N1,000 and N500 notes out of circulation.

The president’s statement, according to analysts, was an insult to the country’s highest court and a disregard for the nation’s democratic order.

In a suit brought by state governors against the regime, the Supreme Court earlier ruled that all parties should maintain the status quo until the suit is resolved and that the old N1,000, N500, and N200 notes should remain legal tender.

The suing governors described Mr Buhari’s pronouncement as an “unconstitutional overreach and usurpation of the judicial power.”

“Contrary to the order of the Honourable Court, the substantive 1st defendant through the President of the Federation, and its agent, the Central Bank of Nigeria, have repeatedly released statements that the old Naira Notes are no longer legal tender, hence resulting in misleading the general public on what the status quo to be complied with, pendente lite, should be,” the suit read.

 

Terrorists Attack Presidential Guards Days After Threat To Abduct Buhari, El-Rufai

 

Resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja has been thrown into panic after terrorist attacked the presidential Guard Brigade leaving three soldiers and eight personnel dead.

 This is coming barely 24 hours after the terrorists threatened to abduct President, Buhari and Kaduna Governor Nasir el’Rufai in a viral video.

Three soldiers were however wounded during the attack, although, some reports says they are now dead.

The bandits were headed to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari when they ran into the troops.

There were Intelligence reports, according to military sources, the terrorists have laid siege to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the intention to attack the Law School in Bwari and other government facilities.

It was aslo reported that the attack was a confirmation of the terrorists’ siege to the city but authorities said they were on the trail of the assailants.

According to one of the sources, troops of 7 Guards Battalion on routine patrol along Kubwa – Bwari road were ambushed by the suspected terrorists.

He added three soldiers were injured during the attack and have been evacuated to THE hospital for medical attention, but further report says they are now dead

“The ambush happening within the general area of Bwari shows that the terrorists are actually within the location and possibly to carry out their plans of attacking the Law School in Bwari as earlier reported,” the source stated.

 

We Will Abduct President Buhari, El-Rufai”- Terrorists Who Kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna Train Passengers Threaten

The terrorist who abducted passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28 have threatened to abduct President Buhari, Governor El-Rufai, and others.

 The terrorists made the threat in the new now viral video they released showing how the abducted passengers are being flogged.

Recall that few weeks ago, the convoy of an advance team of the president was attacked on its way to President Buhari’s hometown of Daura ahead of Sallah.

Two persons sustained injuries in the attack. The attack on the convoy happened on the day when the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded Kuje Prison in Abuja and freed over 800 inmates, including all the terrorists in detention.

In the new video released, the terrorists threatened that unless the government comply with their demands, they would turn the area into an abattoir.

“This is our message to the government of Nigeria and just as you have seen these people here, by God’s grace, you will see your leaders; your senators and governors will come before us. These ones you are seeing here, we will keep some as our slaves and sell them off just as our Imam told you in the past.

Just like the Chibok girls that were sold off, we will equally sell these ones as slaves. If you don’t adhere to our demands, we will kill the ones we need to kill and sell the remaining. By God’s grace, El-Rufai, Buhari, we will bring you here.”one of the terrorists who spoke in Hausa sai

 

El-Rufai: Best Way To Tackle Banditry In Kaduna, Zamfara, Other States

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir  El-Rufai, has called for establishment of a Theatre Command similar to that of the North East to tackle the security situation in the five states of the North West and Niger State bedeviled by banditry.

The Governor made this known on Tuesday, while receiving the 2021 annual security report at the Government House.

The report was presented by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.

El-Rufai stated categorically that insurgency has clearly emerged in the six states with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.

In the report, Aruwan said that a total of 1,192 persons were killed by banditry and other violent attacks across the state in 2021, while 3,348 people were kidnapped and 891 others injured within the year.

The Governor, in his response to the report, said: “The Kaduna State Government appeals to the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has clearly emerged in five states of the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.

“The creation of such a Theatre Command will enable holistic approach to counter insurgent operations across the six affected states and the enhanced coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the Police, the State Security Service (SSS), our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents.

“The report presented today shows that in 2021, an average of nine persons were kidnapped daily across Kaduna State, mostly in the Kaduna Central senatorial district. There is also an escalation in the number of persons killed by a whopping 255 compared to those sadly killed by banditry and criminality in 2020 in spite of our best efforts in supporting the Federal security agencies to bring an end to this phenomenon.

“As we digest these sad statistics, we pray for the repose of the souls of those killed, pay tribute to the victims of various crimes, reiterate our solidarity with them, and reaffirm our resolve to continue to protect our people, and stop the criminals. The victims of these outlaws cut across our state, though we note the persistence of certain narratives that try to coat sheer criminality in ethno-religious or regional hues, depending on the identity of the victims.

“As a subnational, the Kaduna State Government has always used the limited tools available to it to address these dire times. Since 2015, we have supported the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics. Security incidents in the 2016-2019 period ranged from communal clashes to cattle-rustling, kidnappings, robberies and murders. Lessons learned from managing these incidents during our first-term informed our decision to establish the first sub-national Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the beginning of our second-term in 2019.

“The mandate of the Ministry is to manage the state government’s relationship with the federal security agencies deployed in

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir  El-Rufai, has called for establishment of a Theatre Command similar to that of the North East to tackle the security situation in the five states of the North West and Niger State bedeviled by banditry.

The Governor made this known on Tuesday, while receiving the 2021 annual security report at the Government House.

The report was presented by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.

El-Rufai stated categorically that insurgency has clearly emerged in the six states with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.

In the report, Aruwan said that a total of 1,192 persons were killed by banditry and other violent attacks across the state in 2021, while 3,348 people were kidnapped and 891 others injured within the year.

The Governor, in his response to the report, said: “The Kaduna State Government appeals to the Federal Government to create a Theatre Command similar to the situation in the North-East to confront the insurgency that has clearly emerged in five states of the North-West and Niger State with continuous and contiguous forest ranges.

“The creation of such a Theatre Command will enable holistic approach to counter insurgent operations across the six affected states and the enhanced coordination of the resources of the Armed Forces, the Police, the State Security Service (SSS), our respective State Vigilance Services, hunters and other local volunteers to fight the insurgents.

“The report presented today shows that in 2021, an average of nine persons were kidnapped daily across Kaduna State, mostly in the Kaduna Central senatorial district. There is also an escalation in the number of persons killed by a whopping 255 compared to those sadly killed by banditry and criminality in 2020 in spite of our best efforts in supporting the Federal security agencies to bring an end to this phenomenon.

“As we digest these sad statistics, we pray for the repose of the souls of those killed, pay tribute to the victims of various crimes, reiterate our solidarity with them, and reaffirm our resolve to continue to protect our people, and stop the criminals. The victims of these outlaws cut across our state, though we note the persistence of certain narratives that try to coat sheer criminality in ethno-religious or regional hues, depending on the identity of the victims.

“As a subnational, the Kaduna State Government has always used the limited tools available to it to address these dire times. Since 2015, we have supported the federal security agencies deployed in our state with vehicles and other logistics. Security incidents in the 2016-2019 period ranged from communal clashes to cattle-rustling, kidnappings, robberies and murders. Lessons learned from managing these incidents during our first-term informed our decision to establish the first sub-national Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the beginning of our second-term in 2019.

“The mandate of the Ministry is to manage the state government’s relationship with the federal security agencies deployed in the state and to coordinate their activities towards securing our people in an atmosphere of unprecedented challenges. This entails building strong relationships with these agencies. Through the Ministry, the state is deepening intelligence gathering from communities. It also runs the 24-hour Security Operations Room.

“The tragic events of 2021 reported today reinforce the importance of collaboration as a security tool. Governors of five frontline states in the North-West zone and Niger State continue to share information and press for the security agencies for a sustained campaign of continuous and simultaneous operations against the terrorists across our vast region.

“The states implemented several measures, including the telecoms shutdown as recommended by the security agencies to enable kinetic operations. We commend our people for the sacrifices they made during the shutdown. I want to reiterate that some of the measures like prohibition of (a) the sale of petroleum products, (b) operation of weekly markets in selected areas, and (c) use of motorcycles remain in place until we see clear progress in the fight against the terrorists.

“We are in no doubt that there must be an urgent national effort to strengthen our security forces. The military and police need modern technology, advanced armaments, equipment and more boots on the ground.”

El-Rufai noted that the security of the  communities depends on the robust projection of state power, and that can only be done with sufficient security personnel to overawe and deter criminals.

He said: “The prerogatives of the state need to be asserted, not merely proclaimed. The people we put in uniform must never be placed in avoidable danger, outgunned or outnumbered by non-state actors.

“It is when the terrorists are decimated that ‘soft’, non-kinetic peace building will gain traction. Part of the soft tools we have developed in Kaduna State is the Peace Commission, empowered to engage our communities and incline them towards a peaceful resolution of differences. We are also supporting the House of Kaduna Family as a vital platform for religious leaders to promote a common humanity across our diversity.

“We note with sadness once again, the escalation of violence in Zangon-Kataf Chiefdom, which appears to be rapidly spilling into the Chawai part of Kauru Local Government.

“We condemn the disregard for human life and the violations of law that are fuelling the crisis. We sympathise with the affected communities. This outbreak of violence is a serious challenge to the community level peace process initiated by His Highness, the Agwam of Zangon Kataf, and community leaders in the area. While the security agencies keep trying their best, the peacemakers on the ground should not be discouraged. Peace is worth every effort, despite the setbacks encountered.

“We continue to emphasise that as a state government, we do not believe that there is any phenomenon like ‘repentant bandits’.

“Any person that makes a conscious decision to secure arms, challenge the authority of the Nigerian state, and threatens the lives and property of Nigerians does not deserve to live, or be granted any concession by the society. There are no immediate or remote causes to justify terrorist conduct.

“Those that hide behind these are either ethnic jingoists, religious apologists or fail to recognise that no legitimate government can survive by tolerating terrorists or negotiating with those that menace law-abiding citizens.

“Acknowledging their efforts and sacrifices of lives and limb, we therefore urge our military, police and other security agencies to ensure coordinated actions and intensify simultaneous kinetic operations against these terrorists until they are decimated to the point of surrender.”

Governor El-Rufai Reveals Why Population In North Is A Blessing And A Curse

 

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai governor of Kaduna says the North-West geopolitical zone of the country has human development indices that are closer to those of the Afghanistan.

El-Rufai disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at the Human Capital Development Communication Strategy meeting organised by the National Economic Council under the chairmanship of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

The governor said the North-West region has the highest number of out-of-school children and the highest poverty rates in Nigeria.

He described the region as one that is troubled and in crisis.

El-Rufai further said that the population of the zone which is the highest in the country is a blessing as well as a curse.

According to him, the North West population is a blessing if the population is kept healthy with the children educated and given skills for the future and a curse if the children are not educated, they are not healthy and they feel hopeless.

Similarly, speaking at the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit in April, El-Rufai spoke about the backwardness of some northern states.

“Yesterday, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, made certain observations about the state of northern Nigeria within the larger Nigeria context,” he said.

“Because the truth of the matter is when you look at human development in the indices of Nigeria, they hide a lot of information. They saw us as middle income country, they saw that we are making progress in terms of education and health care.

“But when you disaggregate this number and look at them from zone to zone, from state to state, it is very revealing. It shows for, instance, that some states in Nigeria are as backward as Afghanistan in terms of education, health care and opportunities. And many of the states in the Northwest are afflicted with these challenges.”

Crooner Amadi Joel,Calls Out Gov. El-Rufai: His Father Was Short Dead By Fulani Herdsmen In Southern Kaduna

Nigerian singer, Joel Amadi has confirmed that his father was shot dead by Fulani herdsmen amid the incessant killings in Southern Kaduna.

Some Christians Won’t Vote For Me Even If Pope Is My Running Mate -El-Rufai

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says some Christians will not vote for him even if he picks the pope as  running mate.
El-Rufai’s choice of Hadiza Balarabe, a Muslim, as his running mate in the forthcoming governorship election, had sparked a controversy.

Pay Us Our Benefits - Kaduna Retired Civil Servants Tells El-Rufai

Retired civil servants in Kaduna South Senatorial District have cried out over non-payment of their retirement benefits, saying the ill-treatment by the state government has thrown thousands of families into misery.

New Minimum Wage: You Cannot Impose A Wage level On States – El-rufai Tells NLC

Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state has said the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC cannot impose wage level on state governors.

El-rufai said this in an interview on Channels Television’s Roadmap 2019 over the insistence of labour union on N30,000 minimum wage across all states.