The Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union has declared its support for the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over allegations made by the minister concerning insecurity in Southern Kaduna.
In a statement signed by its National President, Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, SOKAPU expressed concern over what it described as criticisms, veiled blackmail and threats directed at Musa by members and associates of the former governor’s family.
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The association said attempts to silence public discussion about events in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023 would neither promote genuine reconciliation nor produce lasting peace.
The controversy followed Musa’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, during which he criticised El-Rufai’s handling of Kaduna State and reportedly accused the former governor of deliberately deepening divisions in the state and planning against communities in Southern Kaduna.
El-Rufai’s family subsequently issued the defence minister a seven-day ultimatum to produce evidence supporting the allegations or retract them and publicly apologise through the same television platform.
The family, in a statement signed on its behalf by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, described Musa’s allegations as grave and unsubstantiated.
Although it acknowledged the minister’s right to express an opinion, the family maintained that allegations of such seriousness must be supported by credible evidence.
Reacting, SOKAPU said Musa’s observations reflected what it described as the experiences, pain and grievances of communities that suffered insecurity and displacement during El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor.
“General Musa’s observations on Channels Television reflect the lived experiences, deep-seated pain and documented grievances of the people of Southern Kaduna who bore the brunt of intense insecurity, displacement and divisive policies during the former governor’s tenure,” the association said.
SOKAPU argued that demanding a retraction or threatening legal proceedings over accounts relating to that period amounted to an attempt to suppress public discussion and avoid accountability.
“To demand a retraction or threaten legal action over factual accounts of the said turbulent era is an attempt to suppress and silence the truth, as well as downplay public accountability,” it stated.
The group maintained that communities affected by killings, insecurity and displacement have the right to recount their experiences and demand answers from those who occupied public office at the time.
It warned that suppressing discussions about the past would not advance reconciliation or produce lasting peace in Kaduna State.
SOKAPU also cautioned the El-Rufai family and its associates against what it described as intimidation, harassment and threats against public officials willing to address the state’s security and governance challenges.
“We stand in solidarity with General Christopher Musa and hereby caution the El-Rufai family and their associates to desist from intimidation, harassment or vile threats against public officials who have the courage to address our collective challenges in order to assuage and put the state on a progressive path,” the statement added.
The association said sustainable peace in Kaduna State would require transparency, accountability and an honest examination of the experiences of communities affected by insecurity.
“True reconciliation and peace in Kaduna State require transparency and an acknowledgment of history, not threats of litigation against those who speak truth to power,” SOKAPU said.
The allegations against El-Rufai remain disputed, and no court has determined their truth or otherwise. The former governor’s family has demanded evidence and threatened legal action if Musa fails to retract the claims within the stipulated period.
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