A group, Secure Nation Group Under Initiative For Conciliation and Rights Protection, on Monday, urged the Senate not to confirm former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as minister.
Members of the group, who staged a protest at the entrance gate of the National Assembly in Abuja, described El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination as “evil.”
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “No To Murder: El-Rufai Murdered Citizens,” “Our Home Is Sacred. No To Unreasonable Demolitions,” to press home their demand.
The Convener of the group, Comrade Ahmad Lawal, while addressing the newsmen, said it was quite unfortunate that El-Rufai was among the ministerial nomination list despite his crimes against the people of Nigeria.
He said the ex-governor was supposed to be arrested immediately, investigated and prosecuted over alleged genocidal attacks on predominantly Shia Muslims communities in Kaduna State.
“It is on record that many Nigerians have demanded the investigation and prosecution of the ex-Governor at the International Criminal Court, ICC, if found culpable in the genocidal murder of many Nigerians as well as destruction of properties in Kaduna State.
“Surely, the nomination of the ex governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, among the ministerial nominees by President Bola Tinubu is a disaster to Nigeria.
“Nigerians haven’t forgotten the atrocities he committed when he was DG BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises) and as FCT minister.
“As the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), about 800,000 residents were evicted from their homes due to demolition exercises ordered by el-Rufai between 2003 and 2007.
“We still do not forget how he revoked land and re-awarded the same to his family members and claimed defensively that they were Nigerians too.
“Nasir El-Rufai flagrantly disobeyed Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the Code of Conduct provisions of the Constitution, which says that :
“A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.
“In 2021, hundreds of houses were demolished in Zaria as the Kaduna State authorities began a major demolition exercise.
“On Monday, May 22, 2023 some buildings in the state were demolished by operatives of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA).
“The demolished buildings included schools, a hospital and private buildings in which many have lost their lives and their means of survival.
“This action attracted severe criticisms from many Nigerians.
“Another group of people affected by the last-minute demolition exercise are residents of the Gbagyi village community in Kaduna.
“Reports show that protesting youths seeking to resist the demolition were shot at by security agencies attached to the demolition team, with many sustaining injuries, around 8 dead,” he alleged.
Lawal said that El-Rufai had attempted to demolish the Gbagyi Village in the past, but he was restricted by a court order.
He called on the Senate to reject his nomination as minister.
