By John Shiklam
Recent comments by the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that Muslims constitute 70 per cent of the population of the state has sparked off another controversy, with the leadership of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) challenging him to produce empirical evidence to such claims.
SOKAPU is the umbrella body for ethnic nationalities in the Christian-dominated part of Kaduna state.
El-Rufai was quoted to have said that Muslims constitute the majority of 70 per cent of the population of the state, when he featured on Channels Television programme “Sunrise Daily” aired on April 6, 2016.
“Here in Kaduna we have a significant Muslim majority – 70 per cent – and 30 per cent Christian minority,” he was quoted to have said during the television programme.
However, SOKAPU said in a statement on Friday that the governor’s claims are baseless and ridiculous.
According to the statement which was signed by the President of the Union, Barrister Solomon Musa, the 2006 population census excluded questions on religion and ethnicity.
He therefore wondered how the governor came to such conclusion that Muslims constitute 70 per cent of the population.
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