By; FUNMI OROYE ADERINTO, Kaduna.
The Kaduna State Government, led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai on Thursday, said that it is sending political traders into retirement, and will not be swayed by their drowning antics.
A government statement said that no one will pay heed to the attention-seeking gambits of desperate politicians who have steadily been demystified.
It also warned that rascally actions being undertaken by these traders in the hope of getting a lifeline from reconciliation moves will not be rewarded.
“The APC Government of Kaduna State has boldly lived up to the its manifesto commitments and principles to the people.
In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm support of the APC State Executive which is united, and committed to the hard work of bringing sustainable change.
“The government appreciates the support it has received from the party in executing policies that stand up for the right of ordinary people to equal opportunity”.
That support was vividly demonstrated as the government took drastic action to ensure that only qualified teachers teach the children of the poor.
“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is proud of his record in achieving unprecedented levels of capital spending in the state, direct job creation, doubling school enrollment and doubling internally-generated revenue.
The governor has no doubt that the people of Kaduna State have seen who was committed to building schools, roads and hospitals, and bringing investors and will make the right choice in their own interest.
The political traders are also aware that the people know who is standing up for them.
“The government had been made aware of the boastful and pompous claims of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, that he will change the leadership of Kaduna State in 2019 by installing himself as Governor.
The desperate Senator is seeking a lifeline, in the vain belief that ratcheting up rascally actions will bring him attention and relief from the mooted national reconciliation efforts.
Senator Hunkuyi has further illegally created a faction, headquartered in his house, as a bargaining chip. This Senator has failed to understand that you cannot create party executives at your whim.
It is the party’s prerogative to consider appropriate responses to this breach of discipline. But as a government, we view these actions as the needless drama of political traders.
“Hunkuyi has on three previous elections failed to get himself elected as governor. Yet he flaunts false claims that it was him that got Malam Nasir El-Rufai elected in 2015.
“In 2015, it was God Almighty and the good people of Kaduna State that made Malam El-Rufai Governor and Hunkuyi a Senator.
It appears that Hunkuyi has forgotten how his previous attempts to be Governor in 2003, 2007 and 2011 failed miserably. With the Almighty’s gracious help, his association with the El-Rufai brand helped get him elected as senator in 2015.
“It is clear that he can’t be cured of his obsession to be governor of Kaduna State at all cost, whether through betrayal of trust, treachery, or deceit. But should know by now that Kaduna State is not for sale.
Ordinary people, including in Hunkuyi’s Kudan Local Government Area, now know that governance can work for them. The era of political traders is over.”
