El-Rufai demands ₦10bn, apology from defence minister over Southern Kaduna allegation

The Coalition of Northern Elders has lent its support to Defence Minister Christopher Musa amid controversy surrounding his remarks concerning the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. In a joint statement, the elders representing the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions urged public scrutiny of El-Rufai's past record.

The Northern Elders for Peace and Development coalition criticized those attacking Musa, urging them to address the issues he raised rather than targeting the minister personally. The elders pointed out that El-Rufai's eight-year administration was plagued by governance, community relations, and public policy controversies. They rejected the notion that the dispute should be considered a regional issue, emphasizing that northern leaders should not defend former officials based solely on shared geographical roots.

The coalition warned against protecting individuals at the expense of the truth and called for loyalty to the people, good governance, and regional peace. They rejected attempts to dismiss El-Rufai's accountability simply because he had left office. The elders emphasized that once a person steps down from public service, their record becomes part of the public history, and Nigerians have a right to examine it.

They urged Nigerians to judge the controversy based on evidence rather than political allegiance. The statement concluded by emphasizing that Musa has spoken, and Nigerians should now focus on evaluating the content of his remarks and the facts at hand.