PDP plans to disrupt elections – El Rufai

Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state has alleged that intelligence reports suggest that, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to disrupt the  coming election because of the imminent defeat in the coming election.

The governor who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting at Kudan town on Sunday, however assured the people of Kaduna state that security agents are already on the alert to ensure peaceful elections.

According to him, the reports didn’t suggest that the opposition party will forment trouble in Kaduna state but government is not taking chances.

In his words: “As a leader, it is my responsibility to tell you what is being planned because there are alot of PDP bigwigs in Kudan local government and they may try to disturb the peace of this area,” El Rufai argued

The governor who said that any reasonable person will not want to cause trouble in his locality, however said that PDP chieftains are not always reasonable.

Kudan is the hometown of Hon. Isa  Ashiru, the PDP governorship candidate. Similarly, Hunkuyi which is the headquarters of Kudan local government, is the hometown of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, El Rufai’s estranged political ally who is the senatorial candidate of PDP.

Speaking further, Governor El Rufai advised the people of Kudan local government to shun any politician who approaches them with a plot to cause crisis in the run up to the polls or during elections.

“If any politician approaches any of you  to cause violence, ask him to bring his child so that you will execute the plot together. Politicians are fond of using the children of the masses for nefarious activities while their children are either schooling somewhere,  or are safe abroad,” he advised.

According to the governor, “no life is better than the other. The life of a rich man’s son is no more precious than the life of a poor man’s son. Also, the life of an educated person’s son is of equal value as the life of an illiterate’s son”.

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El Rufai however assured that government will provide adequate security on election day for people to vote candidates of their choice.

“Politics is about conviction. There is no compulsion in politics. Sibblings of the same family can vote for different parties or candidates. It is our duty as a government to ensure security so that people can exercise their franchise,” he pointed out.

The governor also explained why he chose Dr Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate, arguing that his choice has nothing to do with religion or ethnicity but her competence.

El Rufai said that, “ethno-religious considerations have always informed the choice of deputy governors since 1992 but it has not brought peace in Kaduna state.”

The governor said that it is time to discard politics of religion and ethnicity and embrace a merit based system that will bring progress and development in the country.

All the stakeholders who spoke at the meeting promised to vote all APC candidates in next election.