The Kaduna State Government has accused former governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, of orchestrating moves to destabilise the state and undermine ongoing peace efforts under Governor Uba Sani.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, the government warned that it would not allow El-Rufai “plunge the state back into ethno-religious tension, insecurity and economic stagnation.”

According to the statement, the former governor became more desperate after his political allies suffered heavy defeats in the August 16 by-elections.

“Rather than accept the verdict of the people with dignity, El-Rufai responded with sabotage, convening an illegal meeting on August 30 that ended in violence and gunfire,” it said.

The government dismissed El-Rufai’s claim that thugs were sent to disrupt the meeting as a “deliberate lie meant to provoke unrest.” It added that no administration with recent electoral victories “needed to disrupt a gathering of losers.”

The statement also condemned El-Rufai’s remarks on Channels Television on August 31, where he alleged that the federal and state governments were “bribing bandits.”

The Commissioner described the allegation as “baseless, malicious and an insult to the sacrifices of security forces,” noting that the Office of the National Security Adviser had already debunked the claim.

Highlighting what it called verifiable progress, the Kaduna government pointed to restored calm in once-volatile areas like Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru, and Kachia, as well as the elimination of notorious bandit leaders. It stressed that Governor Uba Sani’s peace-building initiatives and inclusive governance had brought stability and development to the state.

“Under Uba Sani, children are back in school, farmers have returned to their land, and over 2.5 million citizens have been integrated into the financial system,” the statement noted, listing achievements in healthcare, education, infrastructure and security.

In contrast, it accused El-Rufai of leaving behind a legacy of division, exclusion and fear.

“His time in office was marked by ethno-religious strife and disregard for human life. Now rejected by the people, he seeks to exploit old wounds,” it said.

The government vowed to resist any attempts to destabilise the state: “Kaduna has moved on, and it will not return to the dark days of El-Rufai’s tyranny. Anyone who threatens the peace, no matter how highly placed, will be held accountable.”

The statement urged residents to reject El-Rufai’s “message of hate” and instead embrace peace and unity.

“Kaduna belongs to the future, not to the ruins of the past,” it concluded.