“El-Rufai’s words could ignite nationwide unrest” – Group alerts Ribadu

A pro-democracy group, Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to take immediate action against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over what it describes as inciting statements capable of destabilizing Kaduna and spreading unrest across the country.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, TAN expressed grave concerns over El-Rufai’s recent remarks, warning that they could escalate political tensions beyond Kaduna State if left unchecked.

El-Rufai recently accused his successor, Governor Uba Sani, of secretly receiving billions of naira from the federal government without informing Kaduna residents.

He also likened President Bola Tinubu’s administration to a military dictatorship, saying: “For those of us who lived under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babanriga and suits.”

TAN’s National Coordinator, Michael Briggs, described El-Rufai’s comments as highly dangerous, stressing that they could reignite political discord and plunge Kaduna back into crisis and instability.

“If not nipped in the bud, this issue has the potential to escalate and spread to other parts of the North, and possibly beyond,” Briggs stated.

He accused the former governor of fanning the flames of division and suggested that his recent call for the opposition to mobilize against the ruling APC ahead of 2027 hints at a sinister agenda.

TAN urged the NSA to swiftly investigate El-Rufai’s activities and ensure that his statements do not fuel tensions in Kaduna, a state already recovering from years of violence.

“We cannot afford to stand idly by as shadows of chaos loom on the horizon. The seeds of discord must be uprooted before they spread their toxic vines across the state,” TAN stated.