The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has faulted recent remarks by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that during his eight years in office, no group was prevented from holding meetings.
In a statement released by its national coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG described El-Rufai’s assertion as “misleading and a blatant distortion of the truth.”
He accused the former governor of repeatedly undermining democratic freedoms during his administration.
Charanchi said: “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) finds it imperative to address recent statements made by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, wherein he asserted that during his eight-year tenure as governor, he had never obstructed any group from convening meetings.
“This claim is not only misleading but also a blatant distortion of the truth, reflective of the former governor’s characteristic propensity for falsehoods. We, the CNG, our mandate includes the promotion of dialogue, peacebuilding, and the enhancement of democratic values across the region. In this spirit, we convened a crucial summit on December 14, 2022, at the historic Arewa House.
“This gathering brought together esteemed elders, retired security personnel, and religious leaders from both Islamic and Christian communities throughout the North. The objective was to engage in a constructive discourse regarding the pressing security challenges that have beset our region and devise practical solutions.
“However, our efforts to foster dialogue were met with hostility and aggression. El-Rufai, rather than supporting a peaceful exchange of ideas, chose to unleash armed thugs to disrupt our summit. The thugs invaded the venue, broke chairs and tables, slashed at participants, wounding many, while several elderly men had to escape through windows and sustained degrees of injuries.
“Amidst the mayhem, our people were able to arrest one of the assailants, a notorious thug who affiliation with the government is well known, handed him over to the police, only to be released the following day.
“This act of intimidation not only violated our fundamental rights to assembly and free speech but also underscored the governor’s intolerance for dissenting voices. The actions taken against the CNG on that day were emblematic of a broader pattern of suppression that has characterised El-Rufai’s administration,” he said.
“It is disheartening to witness a leader who, instead of uniting the people of Kaduna State, resorted to tactics of fear and violence to silence legitimate discourse. The governor’s claims of never having blocked any group from holding meetings are not merely false; they are a denial of the lived experiences of many who have faced similar intimidation under his regime. The CNG stands as a testament to the resilience of the people who refuse to be silenced,” the group added.
