Fresh Trouble for El-Rufai as Musa Opens Up on Kaduna Divisions, Hails Uba Sani
Fresh Trouble for El-Rufai as Musa Opens Up on Kaduna Divisions, Hails Uba Sani
By Akin Alade
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has come under fresh scrutiny following explosive allegations by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), who accused the former governor’s administration of worsening divisions within Kaduna State.
Rather than limiting his criticism to the security challenges that confronted Kaduna during El-Rufai’s eight years in office, Musa painted a broader picture of a state that, in his assessment, became deeply divided between its northern and southern communities.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Musa alleged that the situation deteriorated to the point where residents from Southern Kaduna found it difficult to live freely in the northern part of the state, while similar tensions affected movement and coexistence across the divide.
The Defence Minister described the atmosphere under the previous administration as “toxic” and accused El-Rufai of taking actions that contributed to the divisions.
Musa’s intervention is particularly significant because he contrasted the former administration with that of incumbent Governor Uba Sani, whom he credited with making deliberate efforts to reunite Kaduna and rebuild confidence among its diverse communities.
According to Musa, although Kaduna has not completely overcome its challenges, residents now have greater freedom and a stronger sense of inclusion under the current administration.
He argued that Uba Sani had, within a relatively short period, begun dismantling some of the barriers that previously separated communities.
The Defence Minister also revisited the painful history of insecurity and killings in Southern Kaduna, saying many residents of the area remained deeply aggrieved over events recorded during El-Rufai’s tenure.
Musa further alleged that El-Rufai had previously spoken publicly about payments to bandits as part of measures adopted by his government in dealing with insecurity. The comments represent Musa’s allegations and should not be treated as independently established findings against the former governor.
Despite the severity of his criticism, Musa said he did not regard El-Rufai as an enemy, describing the former governor instead as “misguided.”
The Defence Minister also accused El-Rufai of using government power against individuals with whom he had disagreements, including allegations involving the demolition of properties. Again, these claims were presented by Musa during the television interview and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Beyond the personal criticism of El-Rufai, Musa used the controversy to make a broader appeal for a different kind of political leadership in Nigeria.
He urged political actors to promote national unity rather than exploit religious, ethnic or regional differences for political advantage.
The latest intervention could reopen debate over El-Rufai’s legacy in Kaduna, particularly his administration’s handling of security, religious and communal tensions and relations with Southern Kaduna.
For Uba Sani, however, Musa’s assessment presents a contrasting narrative: that of an administration attempting to replace confrontation and division with dialogue, inclusion and reconciliation.
As political conversations intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, the Defence Minister’s remarks could add another dimension to the continuing debate over El-Rufai’s years in power and the political direction of Kaduna State.
