Defence Minister Criticizes Ex-Kaduna Governor el-Rufai

Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has publicly condemned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, accusing him of fostering division and being responsible for violence during his administration from 2015 to 2023. Musa characterized el-Rufai's tenure as "toxic," asserting that it split the state into two and left deep wounds that his successor, Governor Uba Sani, has been working to heal since taking office in May 2023.

Musa alleged that el-Rufai had deliberately planned for the killing of citizens, reflecting on the persistent communal conflicts between farming and herding communities that marked el-Rufai's time in office. In contrast, Musa commended Governor Uba Sani for successfully dismantling the divisions created by el-Rufai, suggesting that the current administration has made significant progress in restoring peace and unity in Kaduna State, which has faced years of instability due to intercommunal clashes.