The Democracy Watch Initiative has accused ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai of making divisive remarks.
The group warned his claims on insecurity could fuel tension and erode public trust in governance.
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The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) has criticized former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of making remarks that stir tension and destabilize the state’s political atmosphere.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s Director of Strategic Communication, Dr. Tunji Bamidele, argued that El-Rufai’s recent comments validate earlier assessments by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo about his character.
According to Bamidele, Obasanjo’s past warnings about El-Rufai’s “unreliable tendencies” appear to be proving true. He stressed that Nigeria’s fragile democracy requires leaders whose words and actions inspire trust, not deepen divisions.
The group referenced El-Rufai’s recent claims regarding insecurity in Kaduna and parts of the North-Central, noting that they had sparked unnecessary controversy.
It also cited the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, which rejected El-Rufai’s assertions that bandits were being paid off. The group described such claims as an effort to undermine peace initiatives that had restored some calm to troubled communities.
DWI further emphasized that national conversations must be anchored on honesty and responsibility. “When leaders share information, it must reflect the truth,” the statement noted, warning that misleading narratives only weaken public confidence in governance.
The organization urged Nigerians to carefully weigh the credibility of political figures before accepting their claims. It also advised media outlets to uphold accuracy and fairness in reporting, stressing that misinformation could inflame tensions and erode democratic values.
