TheCable

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has denied the rumour making rounds that he slapped Barnabas Bala, his deputy, saying he uses his mouth to fight people.

Speaking with reporters in Kaduna, the governor, who said he had never been involved in an argument with Bala, traced their relationship to 1976.

El-Rufai, said those behind the reports do not have evidence to substantiate their claim, explaining that whenever he travels out of the country, he allows Bala to take over the reins of governance.

“I have never slapped anyone in my life. I have never argued with Bala; I don’t slap people, I fight people with mouth,” he said.

“I have known Bala Bantex since 1976; I’ve never had an argument with him. I respect his opinions, and each time I travell out of the country, I make him an acting governor;  he signs documents on my behalf.

“We chair executive council meetings together, we operate like partners, and now people want to create enmity between us.  I am of age, I can’t descend so low. This rumour is completely false, it is created to cause division.”

Commenting on the controversy trailing the bill regulating preaching in the state, el-Rufai said most of those speaking against it were doing so out of ignorance.

He urged them to get a copy and read it before taking a position.

“For us, the reaction was just disproportionate and many of the people that are talking about the Bill have never even read it,” he said.

“If you read that bill, it is very short, it is 16 sections. Read it; tell me what you don’t like. Don’t say you don’t like the entire law because we know we have a problem and I am the governor and I need a solution.

“So don’t say the solution is not to have the law. Tell me what you don’t like and we can discuss it. Tell me what is against your religion, we can discuss it.

“Honestly, we do not have any ulterior motive other than to put a framework that will ensure Kaduna state citizens live in peace with every one practising his religion, but disallowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to come and say he can preach.”