The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has issued a strong rebuke of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai following his recent interview on Channels Television on August 31, 2025.
Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, SOKAPU’s National President, described El-Rufai’s statements as “rude, misleading, and divisive,” accusing the ex-governor of a pattern of lies and propaganda.
In a detailed press release, SOKAPU traced El-Rufai’s notoriety back to his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Bulldozer” for aggressively demolishing properties, often defying court orders. The release referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s remark that he appointed El-Rufai because he was “a mad man filled with annoyance,” underscoring concerns over El-Rufai’s temperament and governance style.
The group challenged El-Rufai’s claims about the population demographics of Southern Kaduna, citing data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Population Commission that put Southern Kaduna’s registered voters at 43.7% of the state’s total. “When we compare these data with what El-Rufai likes churning out, we have no hesitation accepting Pa Obasanjo’s conclusion that Nasiru is a pathological liar,” the release said.
Highlighting continued resistance to El-Rufai’s alleged attempts to seize indigenous lands, SOKAPU emphasized that “there is no land without owners anywhere in the world, especially in Southern Kaduna.” The release warned that efforts to appropriate indigenous lands for non-indigene settlers would be vigorously opposed.
Finally, SOKAPU urged Nigerian media outlets to exercise caution in giving El-Rufai public platforms, warning that “lies from a disturbed brain do not add value to society.” The release suggested that the former governor “needs help,” echoing Obasanjo’s earlier characterization.
Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato signed off the release on September 1, 2025, and was made available to news men in Kaduna by the Publicity Secretary of the Union Mr. Josiah, reaffirming SOKAPU’s commitment to defending the rights and dignity of the Southern Kaduna people.