El-Rufai Attacks Saraki Over APC Senators’ Defection

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has lampooned President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, over the massive defection of 14 senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor El-Rufai, who spoke during a radio interview in Kaduna State on Friday, said the Senate under Saraki’s watch is the worst in Nigeria’s history.

The governor equally accused the Senate President of including the names of lawmakers who didn’t authorize their defections in the list of the defectors he announced on the floor of the Red Chamber on Tuesday.

“We have never had a bad Senate leadership like this one by Bukola Saraki. Some people whose names were mentioned among those who decamped said they never authorised it,” said Governor El-Rufai.

“We know those who cannot win elections in their homes. Many of them found themselves in the national assembly by riding on the back of Buhari. Some of them won the election because presidential and parliamentary elections held on the same day,” he said.

Speaking on his failure to finish some projects he embarked upon in the state, the governor blamed Senators Shehu Sani (Kaduna central), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna north) and Danjuma Laah (southern Kaduna) for allegedly frustrating his efforts to get a $350 million World Bank loan needed to complete the projects.

“We initiated many projects this year because the World Bank approved a loan of $350 million to us and we were sure that we will get some part of the money this year.

“We included it in our budget to be able execute our projects – schools, hospitals and the roads that we are constructing in the town. Well, you know what happened. The house of representatives approved the loan but the senate rejected it. When it was presented to the senate, our senators from Kaduna kicked against it.

“They said the loan should not be granted. I was told that they ( the three senators) held a meeting and they said if Kaduna state government is given the loan, one of them will not realise the ambition of becoming governor.

“The betrayal of Kaduna people by Shehu Sani, Suleiman Hunkuyi and Danjuma Laah is the reason why many projects have stopped. So I want the people to understand this. Anywhere you see that a road project has stopped, ask them. Anywhere you see that a hospital project has stopped, ask them. Anywhere you see that the construction of a school has stopped, ask them.

“Anywhere you see that a project that is meant to benefit the people has stopped, ask these three people that betrayed the state. Whichever part they go, use your votes against them,” said Governor El-Rufai.