The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has condemned former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent comments on the population strength of Southern Kaduna, describing them as “dangerous, divisive and a show of disdain” for the people of the region.
El-Rufai, while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, had argued that Southern Kaduna accounts for less than 25 per cent of the state’s population.
He insisted he had “no regrets” over his policies and actions toward the region during his eight years in office, saying leadership was about taking tough decisions rather than appeasing everyone.
“I don’t care. The people that think I am a fundamentalist don’t know me,” the former Governor declared. “I don’t tolerate nonsense; governance is not a joke.
When you are governing 10 million people as I did in Kaduna, you must discriminate between A and B. Nobody can blackmail me that because he is a Christian, the law doesn’t apply to him –some of the closest people I worked with in government are from Southern Kaduna. They know that this is not true.”
But Hayab, in a statement on Monday, faulted El-Rufai’s claims, arguing that they were consistent with his history of pursuing policies that undermined peace and unity in the state.
He said attempts to downplay the population of Southern Kaduna were both insulting and misleading.
“El-Rufai’s population remarks showed disdain for Southern Kaduna,” Hayab stated. “Such a position only exposed the depth of the former governor’s contempt for the people he once governed. No responsible leader should make comments that cast aspersions on the worth and dignity of an entire community.
”The cleric recalled that during a past census exercise, the figures from Southern Kaduna were so significant that a State Shariah Committee contemplated dragging the National Population Commission to court.”
According to him, that incident alone exposed the demographic weight of the region.
Hayab also highlighted the vibrancy of family life in Southern Kaduna, noting that while many Christian families in the area are led by pastors who do not take multiple wives, it is common to find households with 15 to 23 children , a reflection of the region’s robust population base.
“The reality is that population distortions in Kaduna have not been about a deficit in Southern Kaduna, but rather the inflation of figures in other parts of the state,” he said.
The CAN leader further accused El-Rufai of thriving on division during his time as Governor, contrasting it with the relative calm and coexistence enjoyed in Kaduna under the present administration.
“This peace explains why the former Governor appears bitter and angry, as harmony among the people weakens the divisive agenda he once thrived on,” Hayab added.
He also used the opportunity to call for greater transparency in the conduct of future census exercises, urging the Federal Government and the National Population Commission to include both religion and ethnicity in the enumeration process.
According to him, this will prevent political actors from manipulating figures to suit their interests.
“Our nation’s unity can only be strengthened when all citizens are treated with dignity and truth is not sacrificed for political convenience,” Hayab said.
The clash of perspectives between El-Rufai and Hayab once again underscores the enduring sensitivity of population debates in Kaduna State, where historical grievances, ethno-religious divisions, and contestations over political representation continue to shape public discourse.
DAILY INDEPENDENT
