‘God Before Politics’ – Fani-Kayode Accuses El-Rufai Of Persecuting Kaduna Christians

Former Minister of Aviation and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused embattled former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of persecuting Christians during his eight-year tenure.

Speaking while addressing northern Christian leaders, Fani-Kayode accused the former Kaduna State governor of marginalising Christian communities in Kaduna.

He said during the administration of El-Rufai Christians were killed, communities denied development and allocations.

He said Christian leaders were subjected to insults, adding that they repeatedly opposed the former governor’s alleged policies but chose prayer and non-violence.

Speaking about the incumbent Governor, Uba Sani, Fani-Kayode said he shares a close relationship with Sani, who served as a special adviser to El-Rufai before becoming governor.

He described the incumbent governor as fair-minded and free of discriminatory tendencies.

Recalling a conversation with Sani, he said the former special Adviser expressed concern about the treatment of Christians in Kaduna under the El-Rufai administration.

According to him, Uba Sani told him that he had been aware of what he described as plans by El-Rufai against both Christians and Muslims in the state.

Fani-Kayode alleged that El-Rufai’s former deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex, was insulted over his faith during cabinet meetings.

“There are so many things that he told me, but I’ll just leave it at that,” Fani-Kayode said.

The former minister said Sani’s emergence as governor represented an opportunity to correct what he described as injustices under the previous administration.

Fani-Kayode also claimed that El-Rufai faced significant opposition from Muslims over some of his controversial statements, adding that he had previously spoken out against El-Rufai despite being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“There’s something that comes before politics, comes before anything, and that is God, because it is God that gives you everything else,” he said.