From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

A group, the Kaduna Peace and Unity Forum (KPUF), has urged former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to stop distracting the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, from providing good governance by working closely with the policies and programmes of President Bola Tinubu.

The forum, which passed a vote of confidence in Uba Sani, said El-Rufai has no moral right to accuse the governor of working closely with the president to secure federal government support for providing adequate security and development in the state.

El-Rufai had launched a scathing attack on his successor, accusing him of sycophancy and pandering to President Tinubu for self-aggrandisement.

The criticism followed Governor Uba Sani’s remarks during a national television interview on Monday, where he expressed surprise at the growing criticism of Tinubu’s administration from some founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a swift reaction, the Kaduna Peace and Unity Forum, in a statement, defended the governor, citing his civil approach to governance and his cordial, visionary leadership style, which has fostered peace and relative security in Kaduna.

According to the group, “The huge debt left by El-Rufai’s administration is part of the reason the governor is facing difficulties in efforts to raise funds for development, and he is working round the clock to close the gaps created by the harsh economy.”

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The statement, signed by the chairman of the forum, Dr David Bege Abraham, added, “There is nowhere in the world where frictions with superior leaders such as a president can yield growth and development. This is part of the reason Governor Uba Sani’s support is apt and right in our view.

“El-Rufai’s recent comments on Uba Sani are unwarranted, especially since the governor didn’t abuse or tarnish his image on the live TV programme.

“We can all testify to the governor’s commitment to providing security, which has created an enabling environment for citizens, residents, and businesspeople.

“We cannot deny the fact that he supported the governor to win, but he should allow him to govern the state without interference and distractions.

“When El-Rufai accused the APC of poor leadership and encouraged opposition parties to form a united front ahead of the 2027 election, what Governor Uba Sani did was only to provide insight into why they are aggrieved, and nothing else.

“What we want in Kaduna now is peace and unity, not political fights. Anything short of this will be resisted by the good citizens of the state,” the forum stated.