TheCable

Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, has been criticised on Twitter for boasting about Muslims leading the affairs of the country.

A Twitter user, Will. E, had posted a video where the former governor, flanked by Uba Sani, his successor, is seen addressing a group of Muslims in Hausa after Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the election.

Will. E translated the video and accused el-Rufai and the APC of using religion to win the election.

Let me translate this open conspiracy word-for-word to Nigerian Christians, especially the ones supporting the Islamic Brotherhood Party of Nigeria, aka APC

Advertisement

"Because religion was used that's why Allah gave Tinubu victory. What we successfully did in Kaduna (Mu-Mu)… pic.twitter.com/YJ14b1lw0E

— Will E. (@PEC_Concepts) June 5, 2023

“Because religion was used that’s why Allah gave Tinubu victory. What we successfully did in Kaduna (Mu-Mu) has now been replicated all over the country. No liar will ever contest as a Christian and win election ever again. Peter Obi tried and you can see where he is today, we’ve done the medicine for that one. Since Asiwaju won the election, CAN has been silent,” Will.E tweeted.

However, TheCable team watched the video and had a different version of the translation below.

“Religion was used, God made Asiwaju victorious. What we did in Kaduna has now been done in the country. No liar who is going to contest using politics of christianity will ever win any election again. Peter Obi tried and see how he ended. We’ve tackled it.”

“Since Asiwaju won the election CAN has been quiet. That is how there will be peace in the country. If this is done again and again and again everything will….. wallahi (swearing) that was what we did. And myself and others, we think we have done our part, Asiwaju has won the election, so our job is done. Our appeal to you is to pray for him to find good people to work with him.”

The post, which has been retweeted more than 2000 and viewed over 500,000 times, has continued to generate reactions on the social media platform.

Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last elections, also joined in condemning the statement made by the former governor.

“I condemn the provocative and divisive bigotry inherent in the statements of Governor @elrufai on Islamic dominance of politics in Kaduna and Nigeria. A political agenda founded on ethnicity and religion is anathema to a diverse and plural Nigeria. No to Yes Daddies on all sides,” he tweeted.

In the build-up to the general election, Tinubu, a Muslim from the south-west, had picked Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim from the north-east as his running mate. The decision generated controversy.

Both men were declared as the winners of the election.

Below are more reactions.

I condemn the provocative and divisive bigotry inherent in the statements of Governor @elrufai on Islamic dominance of politics in Kaduna and Nigeria. A political agenda founded on ethnicity and religion is anathema to a diverse and plural Nigeria. No to Yes Daddies on all sides.

— Adewole Adebayo ESQ (@Pres_Adebayo) June 6, 2023

Advertisement

I don't understand why you people are shocked by the El- Rufai video Sha.

Advertisement

The man has never hidden his hatred for Christians.

What exactly is shocking una?

— William (@_SirWilliam_) June 6, 2023

Demola somehow found a way to make the El-Rufai controversy to be about Peter Obi. While, Reno is busy explaining on Rufai’s behalf saying he said “Christians won’t be cheated”.

There can be no cheating worse than what went on in Southern Kaduna under his watch.

— Roy Biakpara (Emir of Clan of Diasporans) (@RBiakpara) June 6, 2023

I understand the game that El-rufai thinks he's playing

He wants to be seen as some sort of Islamic Messiah up North as Buhari is.

He also knows that no matter how provocative his views are, the so-called educated South would always be willing to embrace him when the time comes

— Malachy Odo II (@MalachyOdo1) June 6, 2023

As a Christian, if that El-Rufai video didn't send shiver down your spine. No lele. I'm just here to remind you that he literally meant that no Christian will ever rule this country again. You see that persecution inside Bible, kekere ni. Oju yin ma ri mabo.

— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) June 6, 2023

This thing Elrufai is doing is to ensure he becomes the Next Buhari from the North so when Power comes back to them, he'd be in Pole Position to grab it with the help of Southern Slaves like Mark Essien and Iyin aboyeji.

What a shame

— Niger Delta (@Franeb) June 6, 2023

I gave up on NG Christians when I saw them defending a Muslim-Muslim Ticket & their Pastors lashing at Youths to support the same Ticket.

El Rufai can spit as much Religious Bigotry as he likes cos he knows Southern Christians & 90% of their Leaders are Slaves 👍

— Chief Nomso 👑 (@Odogwu_Nomso) June 6, 2023

Do we still have CAN ? By now CAN in Nigeria and Kaduna should be protesting this Islamization agenda spilled by El Rufai or r they compromised as he openly indicted CAN as gone mute. Remember after they hv finished killing Northern Christians they will come South. Act now CAN pic.twitter.com/MuRFxwr108

— BBCNaija (@getmotivatedng) June 6, 2023

El Rufai planned, strategized and implement the waging of war against the Christians in Kaduna State while he was Governor and now they are championing the Islamization agenda with Tinubu Muslim Muslim presidency.

IT IS Now clear that the wantom killing of Christians in Southern… pic.twitter.com/DE8WLDAqBK

— Tobi Akinbo J. (@realTobiAkinbo) June 6, 2023

Odd! Very occasionally, secular and non-Muslim Nigerians wake up briefly and are shocked by how Islam exclusively underpins the power structures and statecraft of their country. There is a brief period of nystagmus & panic in disbelief, and then they doze off again. https://t.co/wa4mUi3lcf

— Onye Ajuju (@OnyeAjuju) June 6, 2023

This is the religious supremacy I speak of. The likes of El Rufai are many, not a minority. The fact that majority of those who share same faith with him are not calling him out for his incessant divisive rhetorics and boastful utterances should tell you something. https://t.co/kD6XFLQWi3

— Atogrates (@At0grates) June 6, 2023

El-Rufai is finally saying publicly what APC has always had in mind right from day one. https://t.co/xNlCIfenKO

— afrispheric (@afrispheric) June 6, 2023

By this video, if Peter Obi actually said it was a religious war, he has a legit Intel and he knows what exactly he is talking about. https://t.co/95y7an8o7s

— Dr. Steena 🦋 (@Doc_steena) June 6, 2023

Pastor Paul Adefarasin and co are still preaching Saul and David…lol. I give him two years, he will climb that pulpit and lament again.
These guys are not joking, and they are taking their crusade seriously. https://t.co/UbDfzd0rSh

— AYODEJI (@KLAZEMATICS) June 6, 2023

Honestly, I like Rufai's bigotry… He doesn't hide it, he never did. Even as FCT Minister, he was a proud one.

I only detest the people who support this blatant display of ignorance by someone who had a solid taste of Western Education.

Very shameful https://t.co/opkvTnNxyw

— Ernie (@ErnieFemiOwen) June 6, 2023

The biggest mistake was voting out Jonathan in 2015. That singular move set back Christianity in Nigerian politics for years. https://t.co/8kH4riDM8X

— Mr. Akegbejo (@timiakegbejo) June 6, 2023

The confidence someone will use to look down on another religion and you will expect Christian’s to vote for you tomorrow. History does not forget we shall remind you of this statement . For those who understand religious tolerance.this man has gone too far https://t.co/aTem8sHRBb

— Pzonex 🌹🎩🇮🇹 (@Pzonex2) June 6, 2023