Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to disrupt the coming general election because of its fear of an imminent defeat.
He made the allegation during the weekend at a stakeholders’ meeting at Kudan town in Kaduna.
The governor, while citing unnamed intelligence reports as basis for his allegations, however, said that the security agents were already on the alert to ensure peaceful elections and to apprehend any person that may want to cause a breach of the law.
“As a leader, it is my responsibility to tell you what is being planned because, there are a lot of PDP bigwigs in Kudan local government and they may try to disturb the peace of this area,” El Rufai argued.
The Governor, however, urged the people to resist those who plan to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.
He said; “If any politician approaches any of you to cause violence, ask him to bring his child so that you will execute the plot together. Politicians are fond of using the children of the masses for nefarious activities while their children are either schooling somewhere, or are safe abroad.
“No life is better than the other. The life of a rich man’s son is no more precious than the life of a poor man’s son. Also, the life of an educated person’s son is of equal value as the life of an illiterate’s son,” he said.
While assuring that government will provide adequate security on the election day for people to vote candidates of their choices, the governor said politics is about convincing people to follow their conviction.
“Politics is about conviction. There is no compulsion in politics. Siblings of the same family can vote for different parties or candidates. It is our duty as government to ensure security so that people can exercise their franchise,” he said.
The governor reiterated that his choice of Dr Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate has nothing to do with religion or ethnicity but her competence.
“Ethno-religious considerations have always informed the choice of deputy governors since 1992 but it has not brought peace in Kaduna state.”
The governor said that it is time to discard politics of religion and ethnicity and embrace a merit-based system that will bring progress and development in the country.
Kudan is the hometown of Hon Isa Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate.
Similarly, Hunkuyi which is the headquarters of Kudan local government area, is the hometown of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, El Rufai’s estranged political ally who is the senatorial candidate of the PDP.
