A pro-democracy non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to personally intervene in the current crisis in Kaduna State chapter of All Progressives Alliance (APC), and call Governor Nasir-el Rufai to order, because “it strongly suspects that the governor masterminded the illegal ‘suspension’ – from the factionalised state chapter of APC – of the pro-masses’ Senator Shehu Sani, in order to have unhindered implementation of anti-poor policies of his administration. Such policies, according to the group, include the mass demolition of houses of less-privileged residents.”

HURIWA, which disclosed this in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Media Affairs Director Zainab Yusuf, noted that the plots by the Kaduna State governor to establish absolute monarchy, as against democracy as a constitutional means of running the state, was behind his government's sponsored subterranean attacks, through political surrogates, on Senator Sani. It also described the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District as one of the very few legislators whose mandates were unquestionably popular and people-oriented.

HURIWA regretted el-Rufai has a notoriety for waging visible and invisible political wars against strong-willed and independent-minded stakeholders who can muster the courage to suggest policies that are diametrically opposed to his unpopular ones, which are largely and substantially elitist and targeted against the poor.

The pro-democracy group averred: “We are totally non-partisan, but being non- partisan doesn’t stop us from speaking out when political office-holders, especially those holding sway in the executive arm of government, are misapplying and abusing their powers to muzzle dissenting voices. The case of high-handed victimisation of the senator representing Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani, by the Kaduna State governor, is absolutely condemnable and reprehensible. We are convinced that the Kaduna State helmsman moved against Senator Sani because of his (Sani’s) consistent opposition to some anti-poor policies of the current Kaduna State government. HURIWA hereby advise the national leadership of APC and President Buhari to call Mr Nasir el-Rufai to order, so peace will continue to reign in Kaduna State that had in the recent past witnessed violent civil unrest with bloody consequences.

“Governor Nassir el-Rufai and Senator Shehu Sani are constitutionally obliged to work in harmony; so peace, progress and economic advancement can be achieved in no time for the benefit of the good people of Kaduna State. A governor is neither an absolute monarch or is he an emperor and, therefore, the Kaduna State governor must accommodate voices of dissent and stop deploying public fund to engage in underground political battles against his perceived enemies. Those who speak truth to power shouldn’t be treated as outcasts, but their views must be welcomed and used for public good.”

•Photo shows Governor el-Rufai.

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