El- Rufai’s Peace Initiatives And Kaduna State Citizens, By Danjuma Musa

“Diversity is an aspect of human existence that cannot be eradicated by terrorism or war or self-consuming hatred. It can only be conquered by recognizing and claiming the wealth of values it represents for all.” – Aberjhani

                                                                                            
#TrackNigeria – The 2019 general elections as expected lived up to its acrimonious billing, it was predictably violent in some  Southern States like Imo and Rivers States ,the only surprise in the North being the politically sophisticated Kano State that succumbed to violence during the governorship rerun. The two main political parties expectedly failed to get their primaries for the nomination its flag bearers right, just as the campaigns were disappointingly devoid of issues,which religious and ethnic bigots naturally filled with their message of hate. Because the stakes were undoubtedly high,there were lingering doubts about the survival of Nigeria as a country- but as usual the country pulled through,though much more fractured.
 
Accepted the 2019 elections haven’t quite lived up to the expectations of friends of Nigeria and most Nigerians and that the statement of the Carter Center on the 1999 elections that it’s “not possible” to make an accurate judgement about the outcome of the elections remains painfully true today, the only comfort is that  thankfully the politicians haven’t brought the roof collapsing on everyone like their colleagues did in the sixties. Between 1960 when Nigeria attained independence and 1999 it has only succeeded in producing two elected governments,with the military governing the country for over 40 years. So to have managed the 4th Republic 20 years down the line is some achievement worthy of celebration. 
 
In the build up to the 2019 elections the story about  Kaduna State wasn’t any significantly different from the national picture, after all kaduna State is a constituent part of Nigeria , but people were naturally more apprehensive considering the reputation of the state, as a place where at the slightest provocation people resort to violence to settle scores. In 2011 widespread protests by some supporters of Muhammadu Buhari the presidential candidate of the now defunct Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) had degenerated into violence that brought the city down to its knees. Official estimates indicate that at least 200 people lost their lives and properties worth billions of naira destroyed. States like Kano,Borno witnessed a fair share of the violence,but only that of Kaduna State assumed religious or ethnic colourations. 
 
No doubt the forces that wanted Nasir El-Rufai defeated were legion and they were very confident that it was a done deal. The anti Nasir El – Rufai forces can be categorized into two – the first and second generation opponents. And it’s important to stress that they were made in the course of his official assignments. The first category includes those who were affected by the reform policies he introduced during his tour of duty at the Bureau for Public Enterprise(BPE), and as minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). The second category Nasir El- Rufai “opponents” includes , but are not limited to the incompetent teachers, the ghost workers that had held the various local government councils to ransome or the dead woods that suffocated life out of the public service – they were neither useful to themselves or the society they were supposed to serve.
 
Nigerians are notorious complainants  about bad governance –  a day in day out hobby, but are obviously not prepared for the very tough decisions that are essential in addressing the rot they complain about.It’s an irony that Nasir El-Rufai is a victim of performance, which calls to question what Nigerians really want? 
 
Though Nasir El-Rufai lunched his governorship campaign in Kagoma the home town of his friend late Patrick Yakowa who unfortunately died in an helicopter crash and spent days campaigning in Southern Kaduna he was roundly rejected. The crisis – killings and invasion of some Southern Kaduna towns which predates the Nasir El-Rufai administration to a very large extent destroyed whatever chance of any relationship that was badly needed by both sides. El- Rufai  like late Patrick Yakowa before him has been called names and demonized as a result of the break down in communication that hasn’t been  helped by outsiders like Femi Fani Kayode who have used the Southern Kaduna crisis to “fight” El-Rufai,whose only crime is that he is one of the leading lights of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The setting up of the General Martins Agwai Committee to proffer solution to the security nightmare hasn’t drastically changed the narrative. 
 
The March 9th governorship elections which held against this background helped sustain the erroneous impression that El – Rufai would be roundly defeated. And this largely informed the “matter of time” attitude of the average southerner to genuine peace overtures of the Nasir El Rufai government for meaningful dialogue to resolve the issues and in an enlightened self interest work together to address them. Like in 2015 elections the highly educated South out of hate and spite predictably supported Isa Ashiru, the candidate of the PDP …to lead a state as complex as kaduna State,like it had supported Ramallan Yero who as deputy governor undermined Yakowa and on Yakowa’s death refused to complete many of the projects he had embarked on.The South has become notorious in making political decisions,which has seen it reduced in political influence- it has lost out in Kaduna North and South. 
 
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and its Governorship Candidate Isa Ashiru grossly underrated Nasir El – Rufai in spite of the early and clear warning during the Local Government Elections that Nasir El – Rufai would campaign hard on his record,especially as the PDP had made the Local Government election a referendum on the policies of the government. But in spite of the good showing of the APC in that election the PDP made the fatal mistake of making the issues its main campaign issues and offered voters absolutely no options. The question is , if the issues – of incompetent teachers,restructured local councils etc – didn’t fly in 2018,how did the PDP expect it to fly in 2019? 
 
The conclusion by most analysts including The Crisis Group was that the elections in Kaduna State and six other states would  violent. In its Report “Early Warning to Early Action” , it wrote “Kaduna state has a long history of lethal ethnic tensions. It was the state hardest hit by the 2011 post-election violence, accounting for about 500 of the over 800 people killed across twelve states. A number of factors make Kaduna a likely hotspot as the 2019 polls draw near, including increasing communal strife and political feuding.” Thankfully despite the postulations and conclusions the elections successfully held and kaduna State didn’t witness any violence, thus putting the prophets of doom to shame. 
 
To understand how Nasir El Rufai intends to carry on considering that he won largely on his own terms, his interpretations of what the renewed mandate means offers that much needed insight. The governor is absolutely correct that the renewed mandate is a vote of confidence on his policies by the people. “My fellow citizens, you have spoken. You have spoken with a loud voice and voted for the continuity of our reforms. You have voted for equal opportunity. You have voted for genuine development and growth. You have rejected the politics of parochialism. Never again can the few entitled elite pursue their narrow interests using sentiments, and masquerading under the disguise of fighting for our people.” 
 
Moving forward El – Rufai’s masterstroke in his acceptance speech, is his offer of olive branch and readiness to listen more to opposing views which deserves huge commendation as it shows a desire to leave Kaduna State a much more united,just and prosperous state. But will the people accept his offer of a new beginning or will they continue on the path of the last 4 years which has been rejected by the vast majority of kaduna State people. The other compelling reason why the forces that have fought him in the last four years should sheath their swords, is the political reality that Nasir El-Rufai will not be intimidated by political merchants rather he buys them compulsory retirement ticket. Where are the so called political giants,the professors of politics the Shehu Sanis’ the Sule Hunkuyis’ the Tijani Ramallans’ and the Joesph Hayabs’ the man who is determined to lead the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) into irrelevance? They have been sent into compulsory and forced retirement with no benefits. 
 
The next four years being the last that Nasir El-Rufai can ever be governor of Kaduna State promises to be action packed. In his first term Governor Nasír El Rufai has given a credible account of himself, but there is still so much to do and he can’t do them alone,nor in an environment of insecurity. The people of Kaduna State must take the out stretched hands of the governor who has acknowledged that some voters didn’t vote for him but that he has a responsibility to them. The elections are over and so should the campaign of vilification. The people of Kaduna State have spoken in very clear terms and their wishes must be respected. They want a functional educational sector, the over bloated local government system restructured etc. Those asking the Christian Association of Nigeria to buy arms with tithes,are far behind developments. What the average Southern Kaduna youth desires today is access to credit for farming,or mining or any other entrepreneurial ventures and not arms.
 
Post Script: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” JAMES MADISON