Alhaji Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Reactions have continued to trail the ongoing impasse between the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC as many have called on the opposing sides to use dialogue in solving the problem so that they do not give room for the escalation of insecurity in the State.
It would be recalled that the Northern Governor’s Forum through their Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has appealed for calm and understanding.
Also, the National Coordinator, Prayer Force Network, Amb. John Pofi on Wednesday in Jos noted that the few good strides of Governor El-Rufai may be destroyed by policies which are not in tandem with modern civilization and democracy.
According to Pofi, “I have followed the happenings in Kaduna state keenly since governor Nasir El- Rufai became governor of the unlucky state. A few good developmental strides of the man have been destroyed by a lot of inhuman policies that are not in tandem with the ethos of modern civilisation and democracy.
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“One may think that as a saner leadership, it is supposed to concentrate on how to end the impunity of bandits and kidnappers who have been terrorising the state in recent months, but the insensitive and callous leadership of El-Rufai decided to sack some workers who are not only parents but bread winners of their families and at the same time increase school fees of all state-owned institutions.”
He added that by implication, “These parents who have been sacked can no longer afford to pay the fees of their children and wards. So, these students will automatically become miscreants and will in turn worsen the already terrible situation.
“It is rather laughable that today, Nasir El-Rufai is looking for the heads of labour leaders, calling them unprintable names when all of us know how many protests he actively participated while in the opposition. It is sad, pathetic and barbaric for El-Rufai to be so hardened like Pharaoh in a democracy where he was “elected” by same people that he has sacked and will continue to sack.
“As a comrade, l will like to use this medium to register my support to the NLC and its affiliates, but my plea is that they must ensure that the protest is absolutely peaceful and must not be hijacked by hoodlums because I will never be party to any violence of any type.”
The activist further lamented the silence of the Presidency saying, “It is demonic, and a monumental tragedy, although I will not be surprised if Baba Muhammadu Buhari says he is not aware of what is happening in Kaduna.
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This can also be a confirmation of the insinuations in many quarters that El-Rufai is one of the few cabals that are holding this country at the jogular.
“Now that a union like NUPENG and the Coalition of Northern Groups and more are throwing their weight behind NLC, if El-Rufai is not called to order, the impasse will not only crush the economy of Kaduna state but that of the nation and Nigerians will never forgive the Kaduna state governor and posterity will be fair but certainly harsh on him.
“If the governor does not fear anyone, he should fear God and the judgement of history and call NLC to the negotiating table immediately. Wars are not usually settled in the battlefield but on a round table. It is time Nasir swallows his pride, ego and the demonically motivated unbendable spirit and come to the table for settlement, if not, I will not pre-empt what will happen to him but it is only time that shall tell.”
