Governor El-Rufai urged to stop using thugs to intimidate political opponents as elections approach

KADUNA State's Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been urged to desist from attacking political opponents in the run-up to the 2019 gubernatorial elections by one of his fellow aspirants who accused him of deploying thugs to attack rivals.

Alhaji Isa Ashiru Kudan, who has announced his candidacy for next year's governorship elections in the state. has expressed dismay over attacks on opponents by political thugs suspected to be hired by the governor. Over the weekend, both  Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan escaped death when political thugs stormed the venue of their meeting in Kaduna metropolis, shooting sporadically and injuring many.

Alhaji Kudan said: “As the 2019 general elections preparations and the re-alignment by political actors are on top gear, Kaduna State has once again occupied a pole position on political violence. The attacks and assassination attempt on Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Tijjani Ramalan on Sunday is a clear manifestation of rough roads ahead of 2019 general elections in Kaduna State.

“There is no doubt that events in the political scene in Kaduna State are heading to anarchy and lawlessness and it is indeed sad and shameful that politics has turned into the elimination of any citizen that is perceived to be an enemy of the government of the day in our state. The rights of individuals as guaranteed by our constitution to freely associate and freedoms of speech and assembly is now a taboo in Kaduna State.”

He added that the government of Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai should be held accountable for any bloodshed and destruction of property of perceived political enemies by thugs. Alhaji Kudan lamented the fact that a lot of accusing fingers are being pointed to the government of Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai for its laxity in protecting its citizens.

“Kaduna State is in a state of war with the annexation of its lands by armed bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, political thugs and gangsters. It is a known fact that every day, our dear state of Kaduna will be mentioned in a bad and sad mood of either armed bandits or militia herdsmen that are killing and cruelly injuring many.

“I and my political associates have condemned in strong terms an attempt to assassinate Senator Hunkuyi and Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan. I equally call on the government to apprehend and prosecute those behind this ugly and dastardly act in order to exonerate itself from blame,” Alhaji Kudan added.