Nasir el-Rufai, governor of
Kaduna state, has vowed not to reconcile with some politicians he described as
“traitors”.
He said this in a statement
issued on his behalf by Samuel Aruwan, his spokesman.
The governor said he is aware of
the efforts of the new leadership of the party in Kaduna to promote peace but
insisted not having anything to do with the “enemies of the people”.
“El-Rufai is aware that the new
state executive of the APC led by Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada is making
efforts to reconcile aggrieved party members,” the statement read.
“While supportive of this party
effort, the government is clear that there will be no reconciliation with
traitors and enemies of the people in the political class.”
Among those the governors have
scores to settle with are the three senators from the state.
The governor also distanced
himself from the comments of Saidu Adamu, one his aides, who apolgised to
journalists in the state over the “frosty relationship” with the government.
The statement said Adamu has no
mandate to speak for the governor or the government.
During a recent visit to the
Kaduna state secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamu
apologised to reporters and assured them of a cordial working relationship with
the government.
“Governor El-Rufai is learning,
he is bound to make mistakes and through that we make amendment. It is normal
to have issues among ourselves especially in a state and when amendment is
made, that is the only way the state will grow,” he had said.
“It is very important that we
collaborate with you journalists and that is why l have come to interact with
you and also appeal to you that l want you to be part of us. What has happened
has happened.”
But Aruwan maintained that
Adamu’s decision to address journalists was purely personal.
“Samuel Aruwan is the official
designated to speak for the governor and the government of Malam Nasir
el-Rufai,” he said.
“It is only statements from the
official spokesperson that can be attributed to the governor, except in
circumstances where designated senior officials have been mandated to represent
the governor at events, and the speeches they will read at such places will
have been suitably vetted and approved.
“Malam El-Rufai will not brook
individuals trying to pass off their personal opinions as his.
“He is well-known for the frank
expression of his views, and, as a leader, does not do proxies in taking
responsibility for his actions, or those of the government he heads.
“On several platforms, especially
his live radio chats, he has taken responsibility for the actions of his
government, giving credit to officials when success comes, and taking the flak
for low moments.
“As the man on whose table the
buck stops, he has never abdicated nor delegated the duty of accountability.
“It is important to reiterate
that the government has nothing to apologise to journalists for. The government
pursues an open and transparent policy. The government maintains valuable
partnerships with several credible media platforms.
“And it has never deformed its
state-owned broadcaster into a propaganda outfit. Neither has it obliged that
coterie of individuals who try to use journalism for purposes of extortion and
blackmail.
“No journalist has faced any
consequence for criticising Malam Nasir El-Rufai because criticism and abuse
are part of the package for a leader.
“And in matters involving attacks
on his reputation, Malam El-Rufai is pursuing civil proceedings in the courts.
“The NUJ may choose to confer
awards on persons undergoing trial for fabricating stories, but the Kaduna
State Government has no such luxury. There is no apology for curing people of
the illusion that press freedom implies license to blackmail or incite
religious and ethnic violence.”
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