However, since assumption of office Elrufai have been embarking on some actions that is affecting the gains of development he want the state to achieve under his watch ,the Governor have Pre-occupied himself with things that could make him the worst Governor Kaduna ever had in recent years and that will cast a blithe on his shinning Curriculum Vitae. Kaduna as a state have been volatile and divided over the years with no sign of it been abated in recent years. From the Kaduna riot of 2000 that claimed over 3000 souls and displaced thousands to the 2012 riots now to the recent Shites- Army clash of December 2015. It’s all Pointer to the Volatility of Kaduna. These riots and clashes are unforeseen circumstances that any Leader is expected to confront but the ability to manage it well is what distinguish the leader from someone prepared for Governance and someone not prepared.
The Army- Shites clash is one of the occurrences that have put Elrufai in the news for the wrong reasons recently, this unfortunate incidence accounts for casualties on the side of the Shites. The casualty was so much that some shites members were given Mass burial, immediately this event happened the leader of shites Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky was arrested alongside his wife and detained by the DSS till this moment, a court of competent jurisdiction just granted them Bail but they are yet to enjoy the Bail, the Government of Kaduna state after the incident embarked on mass destruction of some properties belonging to the Shites from mosques to schools to houses on the basis of not having certificate of occupancy. As if that was not enough the Governor set up a panel of enquiry to look into the issue, the shites refused to appear but rather send their lawyer to the panel on the basis that they won’t appear before any panel until their leader is released , after sitting for over five weeks the Panel in its report indicted the Nigerian Army for complicity in the clash , the Governor also placed a ban on the activities of the shites which to me is commendable to forestall further breakdown of law and order .
However, the recent pronouncement of Kaduna State Government in which it labelled the shites group as insurgents calls for attention from well meaning, deep thinking Nigerians. The Shites Group according to reports has been in Kaduna for over 30 years and they have members across the country and across all Professions, they have schools, mosques, farms which show their seriousness about their religious dealings. I think Governor Elrufai should be Pragmatic in his approach towards curbing the excesses of these People. In the Build up to the 2015 elections Governor Elrufai and President Buhari visited Sheikh Elzakzaky Separately to seek for his support, so when did shites become Terrorist? Is anything happening behind the scene we are not privy to? cos this issue needs to be well monitored, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has already condemned the Governor on that decision labeling Shites as Insurgents and also the Borno Elders Forum alerted the President about the Veracity of Governor Elrufai decision Labelling them as Terrorist in relation to how the Boko Haram Crisis Started in Borno too. The Boko Haram sect also started like an Islamic movement but due to the mis-handling of their issues by Borno state Government it has become our worst Nightmare since 2009 till date killing over 20,000 Nigerians with attacks in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and other locations, we can’t afford to have the second Boko Haram from Kaduna state.
The Kaduna Preaching Regulations bill introduced by the Governor too have been another source of controversy in the state, the Governor have not been able to manage the issue successfully despite all his defence that it’s not targeted at any particular Organization it has been condemned by all religious bodies in the state both Christians and Muslims . the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have dragged the Governor and some individuals before justice Hajara Gwadah of Kaduna state High court, urging the Court to declare the Bill Null and Void. This Bill has divided Kaduna more than it has ever been.
In the same vein, the Kaduna state Governor ongoing battle with senator Sheu Sanni which has led to the expulsion of the Senator from Kaduna APC is another endless battle the Governor have embarked on and the two sides have been throwing accusations at each other, just few days ago Senator Sheu Sanni office was attacked by Hoodlums and the Senator accuse the Governor that is expected to be the Chief Security Officer of the State as brain behind the attack
That Governor Elrufai is doing lots of wrongs and making himself unpopular by the day is not far- fetched as he hasn’t been able to promote the peace required in a volatile state like Kaduna. All this actions of his has beclouded other achievement he might be making in other sector of the state, it’s high time the Governor face the business of Governance and promote peace as expected of a Chief Executive Officer of a State, lots of Young Nigerian Youth are looking Up to him and he needs to make more friends than enemies, He was elected to work, He should work!
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth, He writes from Ikorodu Lagos
For more of his writings visit http://www.donteewrites.wordpress.com
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