Defence Minister Musa Blasts El-Rufai, Accuses Ex-Governor of Dividing Kaduna

Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of actions he alleged deepened ethnic and regional divisions in the state during his tenure.

Musa made the allegations on Thursday during an interview with Channels Television, claiming that El-Rufai’s administration created an atmosphere in which residents from southern Kaduna could not freely live in the northern part of the state, while some residents from the north moved south.

According to the minister, the situation contributed to deep-seated divisions and grievances across Kaduna State.

Musa, however, praised the current governor, Uba Sani, for what he described as deliberate efforts to rebuild trust and restore freedom of movement among residents across the state.

He acknowledged that the reconciliation process was not yet complete but said there was now a “breath of fresh air” in the state.

The Defence Minister also criticised El-Rufai’s handling of insecurity during his administration, particularly the killings recorded in southern Kaduna.

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Musa alleged that the former governor had openly spoken about payments made to bandits as part of efforts to address insecurity.

He further accused El-Rufai of using the powers of his office to demolish properties belonging to individuals with whom he allegedly had personal disagreements.

Despite his criticism, Musa said he did not consider El-Rufai an enemy, describing him instead as “misguided.”

He maintained that his comments were not driven by his Kaduna origin but by his concern as a Nigerian over developments in the country.

Musa called for political leaders who would prioritise national unity and resist exploiting Nigeria’s ethnic and religious differences for political advantage.

He urged Nigerians to support leaders committed to building a more united country rather than deepening existing divisions.

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