Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has defended the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, against criticism over his comments concerning former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Lawal, in a statement on Saturday, said he had initially refrained from responding to what he described as “fatuous articles” attacking Musa, but decided to speak out after observing that many of the criticisms were coming from platforms associated with the Arewa Consultative Forum and other groups predominantly populated by Northerners.
The former SGF said while he recognised the right of El-Rufai’s supporters to defend him, their arguments could not erase what he described as the experiences of Southern Kaduna people during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
He said, “Whatever Nasiru's defenders might say in his defence, I concede their right to do so being his Fulani/Moslem/‘Arewa’ compatriots and also probably, some beneficiaries of his ignoble actions against the Southern Kaduna ethnic nationalities.”
Lawal, however, alleged that El-Rufai's administration was viewed differently by Southern Kaduna communities, describing their perception of the former governor in extremely strong terms.
“To them, and by extension us (all Northern ethnic Nationalities and Christians), Nasiru El-Rufai was what Adolf Hitler was to the Jews; no more no less,” he said.
According to him, this represented the reality experienced by the people of Southern Kaduna, adding that the situation was now being addressed by the incumbent Kaduna State governor.
Lawal also dismissed attempts by El-Rufai’s supporters to target Musa, whom he described as “one of the best of ours” and “a brilliant patriot and a highly regarded military officer”.
He said the Defence Minister had served his military career with distinction and should not be made a scapegoat in the controversy surrounding El-Rufai.
“So we will resist any attempt by Nasiru's compatriots to lynch one of the best of ours in the person of Gen Musa, a brilliant patriot and a highly regarded military officer who served out his tenure with distinction,” Lawal said.
Rather than attacking Musa, the former SGF urged El-Rufai’s defenders to turn their attention to controversies allegedly involving some northern traditional rulers, religious leaders, federal ministers and senators.
He specifically called on them to address allegations that some individuals from the region had collaborated with bandits and kidnappers responsible for insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria.
“We advise that these so-called Nasiru defenders focus their attention on their Traditional Rulers, Senior Clergy, Federal Ministers and Senators from among their own who are currently mirred in controversies and allegations of being collaborators of bandits and kidnappers that are ravaging the ‘Arewa’ of their dreams,” he said.
Lawal further raised concern over the number of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria, warning that their vulnerability could make them susceptible to recruitment by insurgent and bandit groups.
“We advise that they focus the millions of their out-of-school children roaming the streets with pans in their hands and who are easy pool for recruitment into insurgency and banditry groups,” he said.
He concluded by urging El-Rufai’s supporters to leave Musa out of what he described as the consequences of problems within their own region.
“But they should leave Gen Musa out of the predicaments of their own making,” Lawal said.
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