Citing official correspondences and committee terms of reference, the SKLC stated that El-Rufai’s administration in 2017 set up a 13-member committee under the guise of reforming the chieftaincy system, which effectively forced changes to traditional titles and boundaries.
The Southern Kaduna Leadership Council (SKLC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate a judicial probe into former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over what it describes as “criminal actions, systemic abuse of office, and orchestrated marginalisation” against the people of Southern Kaduna during his tenure.
At a world press conference eld Wednesday in Kaduna, the Council categorically rejected what it termed “false and misleading claims” by Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s former media adviser, accusing him of spreading untruths in defence of the former governor’s controversial policies.
The statement, titled “Dispelling Lies and Hate Against a People: El-Rufai’s Reign of Terror Against Southern Kaduna,” signed by Timothy B. Gandu, SKLC Secretary, rebuffed claims that several ethnic groups in Southern Kaduna had requested the balkanisation and renaming of their chiefdoms, describing the process as unilateral, coercive, and deceitful.
Citing official correspondences and committee terms of reference, the SKLC stated that El-Rufai’s administration in 2017 set up a 13-member committee under the guise of reforming the chieftaincy system, which effectively forced changes to traditional titles and boundaries.
According to the SKLC, out of the 25 indigenous chiefdoms whose names were changed, 17 wrote letters of opposition, while seven others explicitly stated they never requested any changes. “El-Rufai ignored their objections and implemented his divisive policies regardless,” the Council stated.
The leaders further accused the former governor of deliberately fostering religious and ethnic divisions, citing a now-viral video in which El-Rufai allegedly admitted to deceiving Southern Kaduna members of his political party while secretly promoting a Muslim–Muslim governance agenda.
Most damningly, the Council accused El-Rufai of aiding and abetting what they described as “genocide” in Southern Kaduna, claiming he used state funds to make payments to individuals as incentives not to carry out killings—an action they say must be investigated by security agencies.
The SKLC urged the current Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, to repeal the 2021 Traditional Institution Law enacted under El-Rufai and restore the pre-2015 traditional structures.
The SKLC noted that in Lere Local Government, with nine ethnic groups, only one group requested a name change. The same was true for Kauru and Kagarko LGAs. “We have it on good authority that El-Rufai orchestrated these requests behind the scenes,” the statement read.
“Out of 25 affected chiefdoms, 17 wrote explicitly rejecting the name changes. Another seven made clear they never made such requests. Yet El-Rufai implemented these changes regardless. This shows his clear disregard for due process and the will of the people.”
The Council also listed a number of actions it believes amounted to systematic marginalisation, repression, and human rights violations. These include: Religious and ethnic manipulation: El-Rufai’s admission in a viral video of pitching Christians against Muslims, and ethnic group against ethnic group.
“Unilateral creation of emirates: In multi-religious and multi-ethnic areas, under the guise of chieftaincy reform; Suspicious murders and depositions of traditional rulers; Arbitrary redistricting: Reduction of districts from 390 to 77, weakening traditional institutions’ role in community security; 2021 Traditional Institution Law: Used to demote and re-grade chiefs, instilling fear among traditional rulers; Profiling and marginalization of Southern Kaduna youth: Including selective closure of tertiary institutions in the region.
“Mass retrenchment of Southern Kaduna civil servants and exclusion from governance; Inflammatory and divisive rhetoric: Including repeated insults and denigration of Southern Kaduna elders and leaders; Punitive curfews: That economically crippled the region; Failure to provide IDP camps: Despite persistent banditry and displacement of residents.
“Illegal boundary alterations: Such as the movement of Ladduga from Ikulu Chiefdom to Adara Chiefdom and expansion of the Kachia Grazing Reserve without consent; Arbitrary detention of community leaders: Including Adara and SOKAPU leaders.”
Their demands include: A judicial probe into El-Rufai’s tenure; Enforcement of a Federal High Court ruling that found El-Rufai guilty of gross abuse of office; A lifetime ban from holding public office.
Full investigation by security agencies into payments allegedly made to stop killings; Repeal of the 2021 Traditional Institution Law and restoration of the 2015 traditional structure; A statewide review of exclusionary laws and policies.
The SKLC commended the administration of Governor Uba Sani for its inclusive approach and support for developmental initiatives in Southern Kaduna, such as the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Science in Kachia and the Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan.
“We believe that His Excellency will achieve much more in transforming Kaduna into an enviable haven for all if he continues to run an inclusive government,” the statement added.
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