El Rufai To Critics Of Appointees: Fall Off A Mountain And Die If You’re Unhappy

Nasir el-RufaiGovernor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai yesterday blasted critics of his political appointments, saying they can commit suicide for all he cares.

Gov. El-Rufai, who stated this while answering questions at the 4th Town Hall meeting in Kaduna Central, said he could not give appointments to persons who did not vote for him during the governorship election.

He was apparently responding to allegations that his political appointments were lopsided.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday, a Coalition of 13 groups from Southern Kaduna accused El-Rufai of injustice in political appointments.

Speaking under the aegis of Coalition of Southern Kaduna Groups, its coordinator, Barr. James Kantyip, a former Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna State, flayed the governor for appointing non-indigenes into key political positions in the state.

“For instance, we have today an alleged wanted man has been brought into his government as a Special Adviser and is even regarded as the de facto Governor; Hadiza Bala Usman as Chief of Staff; Muyiwa Adekeye as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity; Peter Ayim as Special Assistant on Entrepreneur; Hafiz Bayero as Special Assistant on Job Creation; Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam as Commisioner for Women Affairs; Hajiya Hadiza Yahuza as Interim Chairman of Chikun Local Government Council, among others”, the group said.

Mr. Kantyip further stated that “as Nigerians, they (people of Southern Kaduna) are pained that the governor has treated the southern Kaduna people with unabashed vendetta because most of southern Kaduna did not vote for him and because of our religion and ethnicity.

“Of the 13 commissioners, only four are from southern Kaduna. This is very unfair and a violation of the constitution”.

Responding to the allegations on Saturday at the town hall meeting, Gov. El-Rufai said: “If you are not happy with appointments made, you can go and climb Kufena Mountain, fall and die”.

Not satisfied, he revealed the reason for his decision on political appointments thus: “It was what you voted for that you got, because we are aware that there are people who did not vote for us, in fact, they worked against us.

“But now they claim to be APC members and loyal to the party. We know such people. And so there is no way they would expect anything from us”.

In addition, the governor warned that his administration would deal ruthlessly with individuals or groups who attempt to breach the security of the state.

“No one, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to cause trouble in the state, will face the full weight of the law”, El-Rufai vowed.

Earlier, Governor El-Rufai unveiled a new logo of Kaduna state saying, henceforth the state will now use its own coat of arms.

“As a reflection of our confidence in the future of Kaduna State, we are today unveiling a new State Logo”, he said.

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