El-Rufai’s remarks on Southern Kaduna proof of hatred for region -Hayab, CAN Chairman
El-Rufai’s remarks on Southern Kaduna proof of hatred for region -Hayab, CAN Chairman
By Ndukaku Ihe
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, has condemned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for his recent comments on the population of Southern Kaduna.
El-Rufai, in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, claimed that the people of Southern Kaduna make up less than 25 percent of the state’s population, adding that he had no regrets over his policies toward the region during his eight years in office.
Reacting on Monday in Kaduna, Rev. Hayab — who was the CAN chairman in Kaduna State during El-Rufai’s administration — described the remarks as “dangerous, divisive, and a reflection of deep-seated hatred for the people of Southern Kaduna.”
He accused the former governor of pursuing policies that undermined peace and unity in the state, recalling that during a previous national census, the population of Southern Kaduna was so significant that the Kaduna State Shariah Committee threatened legal action against the National Population Commission.
“Such an episode clearly showed the population of Southern Kaduna was significant and could not be dismissed,” Hayab said.
The cleric argued that families in the region often have large numbers of children, with some households raising as many as 15 or 23. He stressed that the demographic strength of Southern Kaduna has never been in doubt.
“What has often skewed demographic statistics in Kaduna is not a shortage of people in Southern Kaduna but rather the deliberate inflation of figures in other parts of the state to create an illusion of dominance,” he alleged.
Rev. Hayab expressed disappointment that El-Rufai openly declared he had no regrets about his actions toward Southern Kaduna communities, describing it as evidence of “the depth of the former governor’s disdain for the people he once governed.”
He also dismissed El-Rufai’s claim that only those who do not know him view him as a fundamentalist. “That is another attempt to twist the truth,” Hayab stated. “I personally knew the former governor and speak from the painful experiences endured under his administration.”
According to him, the peace currently being enjoyed in Kaduna stands in contrast to the hostility that marked El-Rufai’s tenure. “This reality explains why the former governor appears bitter and angry, as harmony among the people weakens the divisive agenda he once thrived on,” he added.
Hayab further called for religion and ethnicity to be included in future census exercises to prevent “manipulative leaders from distorting population figures and inflicting demographic imbalances that do not exist in reality.”
He urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and embrace fairness, justice, and inclusivity in political representation and demographic planning.
“The unity of our nation can only be strengthened when all citizens are treated with dignity and when truth is not sacrificed for political convenience,” the CAN chairman said.
