El-Rufai Divided Kaduna, Paid Bandits and Abused Power, Defence Minister Christopher Musa Alleges

Beyond the accusations of fueling ethno-religious divisions, the Defence Minister levvied severe allegations of high-handedness and power abuse against El-Rufai. He claimed that the former governor routinely utilized state machinery, specifically bulldozers, to demolish properties belonging to political opponents and personal associates over private disagreements. According to Musa, these actions were not matters of urban planning but rather calculated exercises of political vindictiveness that are well-documented in the public domain.

Comparing the security situation of the past with the present, General Musa noted that the sheer scale of killings and banditry recorded in southern Kaduna under the previous administration was catastrophic. He alleged that El-Rufai's hardline and polarizing stance actively impeded collaborative security initiatives, making it nearly impossible for military and security agencies to deploy holistic, community-backed operations to stem the tide of violence.

Addressing potential insinuations of personal bias, the Defence Chief clarified that his public criticism of the former governor was not motivated by ethnic sentiments or regional politics, despite his own roots in Kaduna State. Instead, he maintained that his intervention was born out of a patriotic duty to speak truth to power and ensure that future political leaders do not exploit Nigeria's fragile religious and ethnic fault lines for personal or partisan advantages.