‘El-Rufai’s purported comments on Islam controlling politics regrettable, divisive’ 2023

Barr Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the February elections, has condemned a statement attributed to the immediate past governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, regarding the continued dominance of Islam in Kaduna and Nigerian politics.

During his handover to his successor, El-Rufai allegedly stated that the Islamic dominance in Kaduna has been effectively replicated in Nigeria and will continue.

In the video that went viral on social media, the former governor claimed that the victory of President Bola Tinubu had silenced the Christian Association of Nigeria, adding that this action will sustain an Islamic-dominated government in Kaduna State and the rest of Nigeria for 20 years and forever.

Adebayo conveyed his disappointment and characterized it as divisive intolerance.

Adebayo stated that a political agenda founded on tribe and religion is intolerant of Nigeria’s diversity and pluralism.

“I condemn the provocative and divisive bigotry implicit in Governor @elrufai’s remarks about Islamic political dominance in Kaduna and Nigeria. A political agenda based on ethnicity and religion is incompatible with Nigeria’s diversity and pluralism. On all parties, no to Yes Daddies”.

Samuel Kwamkur, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former national director of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has warned the former governor not to set Nigeria ablaze with his comments.

El-Rufai’s categorization of his state’s citizenry as ‘them’ as opposed to ‘us’ displeased him. Therefore, the former governor cannot be exonerated for “the indiscriminate killings, destruction of Christian homes and places of worship in Kaduna.”