Northern Elders Rally Behind Musa, Take Fresh Aim at El-Rufai’s Kaduna Legacy

By David Okpashi Odama

The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) has strongly defended the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), over his recent criticism of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, saying the minister only highlighted what it described as the “true picture” of the former governor’s administration.

In a strongly worded statement, the elders accused the El-Rufai administration of leaving behind a legacy of division, controversial policies and alleged maladministration. They maintained that the former governor’s eight-year tenure should be subjected to public scrutiny rather than shielded from criticism.

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

The statement was jointly signed by CNEEPD representatives Engr. Zana Goni for the North-East, Dr. Mohammed Suleman for the North-West and Prof. John Anaho for the North-Central.

The elders declared their readiness to defend Musa’s position, arguing that attempts to portray his comments as partisan or personal amounted to avoiding the substantive issues 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 should be assessed based on its impact on ordinary citizens rather than political loyalty.

The elders accused the former administration of contributing to divisions within Kaduna, alleging that its style of governance generated controversy over the treatment of communities and competing political interests.

They argued that government performance should not be judged only by physical projects or official claims of achievement, but also by its ability to promote social cohesion, protect citizens’ interests and establish 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 deserved a comprehensive assessment, particularly amid continuing political disagreements over his legacy.

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

They rejected suggestions that the minister’s comments were driven by regional or political considerations, insisting that the matter should instead be viewed through the lens of governance and accountability.

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

It added that leadership did not provide immunity from criticism, stressing that former public officials must be prepared to have their records examined, questioned and debated by Nigerians.
CNEEPD also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to turn the controversy surrounding Musa’s remarks into a regional confrontation.

According to the group, the North would be doing itself a disservice by defending 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 surrounding Musa’s comments had provided an opportunity for Nigerians to revisit the record of the former Kaduna administration.

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

The elders particularly pointed to allegations of divisive governance and maladministration, saying such concerns should not be dismissed because El-Rufai remains politically influential.

They said the former administration should also answer questions concerning the effects of its policies on communities, workers, public institutions and the wider political environment.

CNEEPD maintained that controversial government decisions could not be separated from their consequences for the people.

“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 intended to deny any achievements recorded by the former administration, 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 reacted 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 reportedly said 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 Defence Minister’s office to represent patriotism and national unity, adding that Musa’s comments during an interview on Channels Television appeared unnecessarily divisive.

However, CNEEPD dismissed the criticism, arguing that disappointment with Musa should not prevent the former Kaduna governor from being subjected to scrutiny.

The elders acknowledged the right of those who disagreed with Musa to criticise him, but insisted that the debate should also accommodate those who believe 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 who criticised the minister to concentrate 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 former governors 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 a growing culture of political hero-worship, where former public officials were defended regardless of their records.

It argued that such a culture could weaken democratic accountability and prevent the North from learning from the mistakes of previous administrations.

“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 focus on Kaduna and its people rather than become 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 stop weaponising ethnicity, religion and regional identity whenever the record of a former public office holder is questioned.

“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 consequently reaffirmed its support for General Musa, saying his position should be regarded as part of the wider 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 deserved serious consideration.

It said Musa’s previous service as Chief of Defence Staff had exposed him 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 objectively examine the competing claims surrounding El-Rufai’s tenure and resist attempts by political actors to manipulate the controversy for partisan purposes.

It said the debate should focus on evidence, the experiences of Kaduna residents and the wider 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 instead of personal attacks.

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

CNEEPD said it would continue supporting 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.