Kaduna Youths Urge Peace, Unity

The youth wing of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has urged all leaders, past and present, to weigh their words carefully and act to foster peace, unity, and mutual respect among all Nigerians.

Therefore, the youths called on former Kaduna State governor Malami Nasir El-Rufai to retract his offensive statements on Channels TV and apologise to the people of Southern Kaduna.

Briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday, Comrade Solomon Simon, the organisation’s National Coordinator, said the people of Southern Kaduna will not be distracted by this attempt to cast them in a negative light.

“We remain focused on building bridges of understanding and contributing positively to the development of our society,” he said.

Speaking on El-Rufai’s recent statement, Simon explained that his words may stir controversy, but added that they cannot hide the truth.

He said that Kaduna State belongs equally to all its citizens, Christians and Muslims, Hausa and non-Hausa.

Simon noted, “It is disappointing that El-Rufai chose the path of division and prejudice instead of promoting harmony and mutual respect. Leadership and public engagement demand responsibility; words carry weight and must be used to heal, not to wound; to unite, not to divide.

“We wish to state categorically that people of Southern Kaduna are known for their resilience, hospitality, and commitment to nation-building. No amount of reckless speech can erase our history of sacrifice, patriotism, and development.”

He further explained that they feel obliged to set the record straight, not because his falsehoods carry weight, but for the sake of some people that may not understand him too well, and above all, to defend the dignity of their people, alleging that the reason behind El-Rufai’s renewed hatred against Southern is that when his name surfaced for ministerial nomination, they petitioned the National Assembly and duly copied all relevant agencies.

“In that petition, we detailed why he was unfit to hold public office, citing his undemocratic style of governance, serial violations of human rights, persistent disregard for court orders, abuse of civil service rules and procedures, and suppression of press freedom during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State. The National coordinator explained that this weight of evidence guided the National Assembly’s decision to withhold his confirmation, and it remains the root of his deep-seated hostility toward our region,” the National coordinator explained.

Simon opined that progress in Kaduna State and the unity enjoyed have fueled the bitterness behind El-Rufai’s latest tirade.

The SOKAPU youths said that his anger is not about truth or justice but the frustration of a man whose narrative has been defeated by the reality of Southern Kaduna’s growing relevance in the Nigerian project.