John Shiklam in Kaduna
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday shunned Government House, Kaduna, during a condolence visit to the victims of the drone attack in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The governor’s action is said to have fuelled speculations of a rift between him and his successor, Governor Uba Sani.
It was gathered that El-Rufai visited Tudun Biri community, alongside his friend and former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; his former appointee, Hafiz Bayero and his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, among others.
He was also at the 44, Nigerian Army Referral Hospital where some victims of the incident where they are being treated of injuries.
Sources at the Government House, said Governor Sani was at the Government House, receiving northern senators on a condolence visit when El-Rufai visited the hospital, which was a stone’s throw away.
According to the source, “El- Rufai visited 44 Nigerian Army Referral Hospitals and the Tudun Biri community, but he did not visit Government House.
“We were expecting that he will come, being a leader in the state. The army hospital is very close to Government House; it is just a stone’s throw away.”
The source further alleged that El-Rufai had earlier exhibited a similar attitude when he visited Zaria to condole with the Emir of Zazzau over the death of his brother without visiting Government House.
He added that some people are already giving it different interpretations and insinuating that there is a rift between him and the governor.
“I don’t know his reason for his action, but whatever his reasons maybe, it is creating room for speculation that all is not well,” the source said.
Since Sani assumed office, he has reversed some policies of the El-Rufai government and taken steps to unite the state, which was divided along ethno- religious lines.
One of such policy reversals, was the slashing of high tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions introduced by the El-Rufai administration, by 50 per cent.
Also in a move to unite the people across ethnic and religious divides, the governor constituted the Kaduna Elders Committee, made up of prominent citizens from both Northern and Southern Kaduna.
The governor also constituted an Inter-Religious Council Committee with Muslim and Christian leaders as members.
Efforts to reach Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson of El-Rufai were unsuccessful.
