El-Rufai: God will ask me what I did about Southern Kaduna killings
Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna state governor, says God will ask him the role he played in ending the crisis in Southern Kaduna.
Alleging that some politicians had been exploiting the situation, he explained that his administration inherited the crisis.
El-Rufai said his government had been working very hard to tackle the problem.
He spoke in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA).
“We inherited the problem and we are working day and night to solve it,” he said.
“We are worried by this sad development because as the governor, God will ask me what I have done over the killings. We are doing all we can but we realised that there are politicians and few mischief makers that are profiting from the crisis.
“They are the ones instigating people and encouraging the cycle of violence. They sow the seed of division by discriminating among people through various means. So, if people are committing crimes and breaking law and order, we should not give it ethnic or tribal interpretations.
“The criminals need to be apprehended and made to face the law period. But some are also using religion and ethnic differences to exploit these attacks.
“They want to portray this government as one that is failing in protecting people and not doing what is expected of her because of the killings and destructions, they want to gain politically.”
The governor said the state and federal governments were watching and studying those fueling the crisis.
He said such people will be arrested and prosecuted whenever there is enough evidence against them.
He appealed to the people of the state to be tolerant of one another, saying “if God had wanted all of us to practice one religion He would have made us so.”
“He created us to be diverse so that we will learn to tolerate and understand one another and live in peace by treating everyone fairly,” he said.
“So I am appealing to the people of Kaduna state to stop listening to those causing divisions. We should learn to show respect and live in peace. If someone offends you, approach your community leaders and traditional rulers and report them. If they are unable to resolve it, we have the law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to report to.
“Anyone that decides to take the law into his hand and carry out revenge will be arrested and prosecuted. We will not fold our hands and allow people to be resorting to attacking others in the name of vengeance.”
What else rufai are saying is true, some politicians they are hiding under politics, they are fueling crisis so that they achieve their political problems. But my problem with southern kaduna people is that, if Fulani herdsmen attack them they will block federal road and stat killing travellers for reason or anything justification. please and please let them stop this illiteracy, they know where Fulani people are hiding: it is inside bush let them enter bush to go and mit them there. Not to come and blocking road and killing innocent people in the name of revenge, i recommend kaduna state government to take a legal action about that. So that they will no continue killing people without any reasons or justification.
Many factors responsible for all this – remote and immediate. Injustice & discrimination by govt. Check Kafanchan and see that all the streets only those by Moslems(Hausas/Fulanis) live are tarred while Christians'(indigenes’) left out. Same replicated at KD city. Fulanis who attack in d nights go back hidingg their weapons in d bush. Any indigenes that tries that your hse is searched. Security men keep blind eyes on attackers always Mistrust amongst the people is growing daily.
My suggestions:
Govt should b just by treating all eqially.
Stop turning blind eyes on herdsmen attackers.
Govt shld mobilize enough security personel with impartial mandate to bring lasting peace b4 Southern KD becomes Southern Borno(under Boko Haram)
Most of the Fulanis are settlers and therefore shld respect indigenous people and vice-versa
Govt shld compensate those affected as confidence building mechanism
Herdsmen stop grazing on crops of the people being their source of living.
I am not in support of innocent killings in the name of vengeance, Christianity and our core values teaches us tolerance and forgiveness. However, the comments of his Excellency that “Anyone that decides to take the law into his hand and carry out revenge will be arrested and prosecuted. We will not fold our hands and allow people to be resorting to attacking others in the name of vengeance” is wrong in the sense that the attackers action supposed to be condemned first before the avengers, the government should try and balance up issues to feelings of injustice and partiality by some. I strongly believe that if the government is able to curtail the evil activities of the herdsmen, peace will be restored. May God assist the government,we are praying for you.
Your comment..It very ridiculous to call herds men evil. They provide over 90% of our protein intake ; they do not compete with u educationally , economically or socially They are on there on in the bush. What happen to there butali (path ) designed all over the north and even part of south since colonial era and each LG have office safeguarding it now ?; So call indigenes are farming on it. In southern zaria and plateau fulanis had existed for hundreds of yrs ; define indigene. The crux of the they so used to attacking and killing much more economically and even educationally successful Hausa en mass and after few months everything nomalizes. They of recent extend it to fulanis. All atrocities perpetrated on innocent fulanis never saw the light off day on media. There mistake ; fulani hardly forget or forgive even if it take 50 yrs