Northern Elders Back Defence Minister Musa, Insist El-Rufai Ruined Kaduna

Says “They’re prepared to defend General Musa’s position, they declared

By David Okpashi Odama

The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) has launched a blistering defence of the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), over his recent criticism of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, declaring that the minister merely exposed what it described as the “true picture” of the former governor’s administration.

The elders, in a strongly worded statement, accused the El-Rufai administration of leaving a legacy of division, controversial policies, and alleged maladministration, insisting that the former governor’s eight-year stewardship of Kaduna State should face rigorous public scrutiny rather than be protected from criticism.

The coalition said General Musa should not be vilified for speaking about the state’s experience under the former governor, stressing that the Defence Minister’s comments touched on issues that, according to the group, had affected the political stability, social cohesion and development of Kaduna.

Engr jointly signed CNEEPD. Zana Goni, representing the North-East; Dr Mohammed Suleman, North-West; and Prof. John Anaho, North-Central.

The elders declared that Musa’s remarks represented a position they were prepared to defend, arguing that attempts to portray the minister’s comments as merely partisan or personal amounted to avoiding the substantive questions raised about El-Rufai’s administration.

“General Christopher Musa did not invent the history of Kaduna State. He spoke about a reality that Nigerians must have the courage to confront,” the coalition said.

According to the group, “the statement of the Defence Minister is a true picture of the El-Rufai government in Kaduna,” adding that the former governor’s record must be examined based on its consequences for ordinary citizens rather than political loyalty.

The elders accused the former administration of contributing to divisions within the state. They alleged that its style of governance generated considerable controversy over the treatment of communities and competing political interests.

They argued that a government’s performance should not be measured solely by physical projects or official claims of achievement, but also by whether it strengthens social cohesion, protects citizens’ interests and leaves behind institutions capable of sustaining development.

“Development cannot be reduced to buildings, roads and statistics when the people are divided, and public confidence in government is weakened,” CNEEPD said.

The group insisted that Kaduna’s experience under El-Rufai warranted a comprehensive assessment, especially given ongoing political disagreements over his legacy.

The northern elders said Musa’s position deserved support because, in their view, he had demonstrated the courage to raise uncomfortable questions about the former governor’s record.

They rejected suggestions that the minister’s comments were motivated by regional or political considerations, insisting that the issue should be approached from the perspective of governance and accountability.

“Those attacking General Musa should answer the issues he raised instead of attacking the messenger,” the coalition declared.

The group added that “Leadership does not confer immunity from criticism. Former public office holders must be prepared to have their records examined, questioned and debated by Nigerians.”

CNEEPD said it was particularly concerned by what it described as attempts to turn criticism of El-Rufai into a regional confrontation.

According to the group, the North would be doing itself a disservice if it defended every former political office holder simply because of regional affiliation.

“The North must stop protecting individuals at the expense of the truth. Our loyalty must first be to the people, to good governance and to the peace of the region,” the elders said.

The coalition said the controversy around Musa’s remarks gave Nigerians an opportunity to revisit the record of the former Kaduna administration.

It alleged that the El-Rufai government was characterised by policies and actions that generated resentment among sections of the population and contributed to political and social tensions in the state.

The elders particularly pointed to the allegations of divisive governance and maladministration, saying these should not be brushed aside merely because El-Rufai remained politically influential.

They said the former governor’s administration must also answer questions about the effects of its policies on communities, workers, public institutions and the wider political environment.

CNEEPD argued that controversial government decisions could not be separated from their human consequences.

“A government is ultimately judged by what its policies do to the people. Where policies create hardship, resentment or division, those consequences must be part of the historical record,” the group said.

The elders stressed that their intervention was not an attempt to deny whatever achievements the former administration might have recorded, but to insist that positive claims should not be used to erase criticisms and controversies surrounding its tenure.

“We are not asking Nigerians to accept propaganda from either side. We are asking them to look at the facts and judge the administration objectively,” CNEEPD stated.

The coalition also took exception to comments attributed to Yakubu Sani Wudi, a Nigerian lecturer and researcher at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, who reportedly criticised Musa and expressed disappointment over the minister’s remarks.

Wudi had said that he initially welcomed Musa’s appointment as Defence Minister with high expectations, particularly because of his previous position as Chief of Defence Staff.

“Many of us who initially welcomed his appointment with great hope are now deeply disappointed,” Wudi was quoted as saying.

He reportedly argued that Nigerians expected the office to embody strong patriotism and national unity, and said the minister’s comments during an interview on Channels Television appeared unnecessarily divisive.

But CNEEPD dismissed the criticism, arguing that disappointment with Musa should not shield the former Kaduna governor from scrutiny.

The elders said those who disagreed with the Defence Minister had the right to criticise him. Still, they insisted that the debate must equally accommodate those who believed his assessment of El-Rufai’s administration was justified.

“Those who disagree with General Musa are entitled to their opinion, but they cannot rewrite the history of Kaduna simply because they dislike what he said,” the coalition declared.

The group challenged Wudi and others critical of the minister to focus on the substance of the allegations against the former governor.

“Instead of condemning General Musa for speaking, let those defending El-Rufai tell Nigerians whether the allegations of division and maladministration are false and, if so, provide the facts,” the elders said.

CNEEPD further maintained that leaving public office did not place any former governor beyond scrutiny.

It said democratic accountability required public officials to accept questions about their records even after leaving office.

“The office of governor is not a shield against accountability. Once a person leaves office, his record becomes part of the public history of the state and Nigerians have every right to interrogate it,” the elders said.

The group warned against what it described as the growing culture of political hero-worship in which former public officials were defended regardless of their records.

It argued that such a culture could undermine democratic accountability and prevent the North from learning from past administrations’ mistakes.

“The North cannot develop by turning former governors into untouchable political icons. We must be able to say when our leaders got it wrong and demand explanations,” CNEEPD stated.

The elders said the controversy should ultimately be about Kaduna and its people rather than a personality contest between Musa and El-Rufai.

According to them, Kaduna residents deserved an honest assessment of the policies, decisions and consequences of the former administration.

“Kaduna does not need political mythology. Kaduna needs truth, accountability and reconciliation,” the group said.

It added that the state could not build a peaceful and prosperous future if political leaders continued to exploit old divisions or suppress legitimate criticism.

The coalition also urged political actors in the North to desist from weaponising ethnicity, religion and regional identity whenever the record of a former office holder came under scrutiny.

“Whenever a northern leader is criticised, the response should not be to hide behind the North. The question should be: was the criticism justified?” the elders said.

CNEEPD therefore reaffirmed its support for General Musa, saying his position should be treated as part of the broader national conversation on governance, leadership and accountability.

The group described the Defence Minister as a senior national figure whose views on security, governance and developments affecting the North should receive serious consideration.

It said Musa’s previous service as Chief of Defence Staff gave him considerable exposure to the security and socio-political realities of the country, and maintained that his comments should not be casually dismissed.

“We stand with General Christopher Musa because speaking about the failures and divisions that affected Kaduna is not an act of betrayal against the North. It is an act of responsibility,” the elders declared.

They added: “The North must have the courage to confront its own failures. We cannot demand accountability from other regions while defending our own leaders from scrutiny.”

The coalition called on Nigerians to examine the competing claims surrounding El-Rufai’s tenure objectively and resist attempts by political actors to manipulate the controversy for partisan advantage.

It said the debate should focus on the evidence, the experiences of Kaduna residents and the broader consequences of policies implemented during the former governor’s tenure.

CNEEPD further warned that political loyalty must never outweigh citizens’ interests.

“The interest of Kaduna people is greater than the political interest of any former governor. The interest of Nigeria is greater than the ambition of any individual,” it said.

The elders consequently urged supporters of El-Rufai and those backing Musa to engage in a fact-based debate rather than personal attacks.

They said the controversy offered an opportunity for Kaduna and the wider North to learn from past leadership and build a stronger culture of accountability.

 CNEEPD said it would continue to support public officials who speak against policies and practices it believes threaten unity, good governance and development in the region.

“General Musa has spoken. Let Nigerians examine what he said. Let the facts speak. If the allegations are wrong, they should be disproved with evidence. But nobody should be silenced simply because the truth is uncomfortable,” the northern elders said.