The Southern Kaduna Leadership Council (SKLC) has called for a judicial inquiry into the actions of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, citing allegations of human rights violations and governance misconduct during his tenure.
At a press conference themed “Dispelling Lies and Hate Against a People: El-Rufai’s Reign of Terror Against Southern Kaduna”, SKLC leaders outlined a series of grievances, including alleged ethnic and religious discrimination, arbitrary changes to traditional institutions, and policies that marginalized Southern Kaduna communities.
Timothy B. Gandu, SKLC Secretary, refuted claims that chiefdoms voluntarily requested changes to their names and structures, stating that El-Rufai’s administration initiated the process through a government committee in 2017. He presented official documents as evidence that the state government—not traditional institutions—originated the controversial reforms.
The Council further accused El-Rufai of fostering division through discriminatory policies, including the reduction of districts from 390 to 77, the deposition of traditional rulers, and the alleged suppression of Southern Kaduna youth. Additionally, they cited concerns over the expansion of grazing reserves without due process and the absence of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps despite widespread attacks and displacements.