Last December Governor Nasir El-Rufai the Governor of Kaduna State working on credible intelligence reports of plots by people believed to be “opposition elements” to precipitate crisis in at least four local government areas of Kaduna State had aggressively embarked on an interactive session with the various communities to alert them of the plot and to avert it. The plot is believed to be part of the larger strategy of the opposition to achieve the defeat of Muhammadu Buhari, and of Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, one of the leading lights of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections. The other strategy includes the outright “purchase” of voters’ cards by Isa Ashiru, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The project is being undertaken in the guise of a financial empowerment programme by the Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru Voters Mobilization Volunteers.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, had equally alerted Nigerians of the plot. According to Alhaji Mohammed, mercenaries were being mobilised to cause mayhem during the next elections in order to instigate constitutional crisis with a view to installing an interim national government. According to Mohammed, “desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government”.

Before the alarm by the Minister of Information the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Buhari, Babagana Monguno, in a disquieting address, had informed the 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in a crucial meeting that the forthcoming elections face the risk of being marred by violence. The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Garba, also attended the meeting.

The events in Kajuru Local Government Area were at least 66 Fulanis were killed seem to have vindicated the government. But for the swift intervention of Governor Nasir El-Rufai the country would have been engulfed in a crisis. At least 135 persons are still missing after the attack, which was intended to precipitate a reprisal attack by Muslims against Christians. The plotters are working on the hope that the crisis would spread to other parts of the country.

According to security sources, the scale of the mayhem the Kajuru crisis would have precipitated would have made the riots of 2,000 following moves to introduce the Sharia legal system in Kaduna State a child’s play. By coincidence Isa Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate, was the Majority Leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly when the bill for the introduction of the Sharia legal system in the state was moved. More than 2,000 people reportedly died in the crisis and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in the conflict.

The five local government areas being targeted by the opposition elements are Kargarko, Sanga, Kachia, Kauru and Kajuru – political strongholds of the APC. The security sources confirmed that the plot was to have been implemented towards end of January 2019 just days to the presidential elections and that of the National Assembly which were scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019, and that of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections which were to hold on March 2, 2019.

“The information is credible and as security agencies we are happy we brought the twin events to the attention of the state security council and the governor acted with admirable dispatch on the security threats, because in 2011 the state had witnessed violent protests after the presidential elections in which several people were killed and properties destroyed,” said the source.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai had in December and January abandoned his campaign for reelection and focused attention to thwart the plot. The visible measure being the extensive Consultative Town Hall meetings in Kaswan Maigani in Kajuru Local Government Area, where the crisis between some traders last year had led to killings which later spilled over to some parts of the state. The governor had also visited Kargarko, Sanga, Kauru and Kachia local government areas on peace mission.

The governor’s message to the various communities was the need to ensure peaceful coexistence. He had further assured the communities that the government on its part will continue to be fair and just to all parts of the state. While urging the people to be extra vigilant, he had charged them not to take laws into their hands. “Report any threat to peace to the law enforcement agencies and the traditional rulers, who will take appropriate actions,” he said.

On the purchase of voters cards by the Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru Voters Mobilization Volunteers in the guise of financial empowerment, the security agencies are treating it as an electoral crime. “It amounts to disenfranchisement of Nigerian citizens. They don’t understand that the issues go beyond attempting to defeat the president or the governor. It's treason. We want to deal with the larger threat to peace before going after those buying up voters cards” security sources confirmed.

Forces opposed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, including the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senate President Bukola Saraki, want him defeated in the elections, but the indications are that he will defeat the PDP candidate, in spite of picking a Muslim as his deputy.

•Danjuma Musa wrote in from Kaduna.

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