Politicians Using Religion As Campaign Tool Must Be Punished -El-Rufai

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, has emphasized the importance of punishing politicians who use religion as a political tool.

At the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development’s main office’s opening event yesterday in Kaduna, the governor gave a speech.

He voiced worry about how certain politicians were dividing their constituencies along racial and religious lines.

He asserted that Nigerians have a special opportunity to remove religion from politics at the elections in 2023.

El-Rufai also called on royal fathers and scholars to pray to God to choose the best leader that will unite and move the country forward in the forthcoming general elections in February, 2023.

He further called on the royal fathers and scholars to communicate to the people the absolute need to ensure that future elections did not centre on religion but on what a person could do to improve the lot of the ordinary.

“People are united in their poverty, in their need for education, in decent healthcare and to put food on their table, that is what we should focus on but some people are holding meetings to promote religious and ethnic division. That is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the whole world is facing challenges of ultra-nationalism and global supply chain disruption.”

He then asked for forgiveness, saying, “We try to do what is right but only God is right, my apologies to anyone that I have offended, we have five months to go and I will like to leave and sleep in peace.”

The Sultan of Sokoto and grand patron of the foundation, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar said the foundation has been engaging with various stakeholders and working towards uplifting the standard of living of the ummah.

The coordinator of the foundation and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mere commended the governor of Kaduna State for allocating the land for the construction of the foundation’s head office and also donating N25 million to support the building.