el-Rufai Left Kaduna In Bloodshed, State Peaceful Without Him – Gankon

By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna

Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Kaduna State, Amb. Polycarp Gankon, has taken a swipe at former Governor Nasir el-Rufai over his recent appearance on Channels Television, accusing him of leaving behind a legacy of division, bloodshed and bitterness.

Reacting in a press release Wednesday to el-Rufai’s claim that people of Southern Kaduna do not like him, Gankon described the remarks as “a desperate search for relevance” and “a self-indictment of failed leadership.”

According to him, el-Rufai’s tenure was notorious for policies and utterances that deepened mistrust, fueled crises, and alienated entire communities across the state.

“For eight long years, el-Rufai presided over Kaduna State with a fist of iron, leaving behind a legacy of mistrust, bloodshed, and bitterness. His government was known for promoting ethno-religious fault lines while branding whole communities as political enemies,” Gankon said.

He noted that it seems el-Rufai is unhappy with the peace Southern Kaduna has begun to enjoy in recent years, adding that perhaps he wished the people are still experiencing the hardship during his eight years in office.

“It is obvious he is not pleased that today kidnapping, banditry, ethnic attacks, and the wanton killings of innocent children, women, and the elderly have drastically reduced. In the last two years, there has not been a single major ethnic or religious conflict in Kaduna. That is the loudest verdict against his divisive style of governance,” the former APGA candidate added.

Gankon maintained that Kaduna people have moved on from el-Rufai’s “toxic brand of politics,” insisting that the state is “gradually rediscovering unity and peaceful coexistence.”

He added that el-Rufai should stop “seeking cheap publicity” through inflammatory comments and accept responsibility for the “wounds he inflicted on Kaduna State.”

Gankon who is the Coordinator of Southern Kaduna Unity Initiative said the peace people enjoy today is a confirmation of the inclusiveness of the government at federal and state levels.

According to him, by attacking religious leaders, elders, and the people of Southern Kaduna, el-Rufai plans to sow fresh seeds of discord to destabilise the zone. He however, said that Kaduna people are wiser now, and they will no longer be dragged back into the darkness of conflict by a man whose time has passed.

Gankon said unfortunately, el-Rufai will remain stuck in the shadows of his own failures while Kaduna State and Nigeria move on.