The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, has strongly criticised the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent comments dismissing the population strength of Southern Kaduna. During an interview, El-Rufai claimed the region accounted for less than 25 per cent of the state’s population and expressed no regrets about his policies towards the area throughout his tenure.
In a sharp response, Hayab described the former governor’s remarks as “dangerous, divisive, and evidence of deep-seated hatred” for the people of Southern Kaduna. He stated that El-Rufai’s comments were consistent with a history of promoting policies that undermined peace and unity. “Everything El-Rufai promotes is evil,” Hayab asserted, accusing him of deliberately marginalising the region.
The cleric, who served as Kaduna CAN chairman during El-Rufai’s administration, refuted the population claim by pointing to demographic realities. He recalled that during a national census, Southern Kaduna’s numbers once prompted the state’s Shariah Committee to threaten legal action against the National Population Commission. Hayab emphasised that large families are common in the area, with many households having “15 to 23 children,” proving the population is “robust and can never be written off.”
He expressed disappointment that El-Rufai showed no remorse, saying it revealed his “disdain for the people he once governed.” Hayab also dismissed the former governor’s denial of being a religious fundamentalist, stating, “I knew him personally and I speak from the painful experiences endured under his government.” He noted that the current peace in Kaduna contrasts with the hostility during El-Rufai’s rule, suggesting the ex-governor is “bitter and angry, because harmony among the people weakens the divisive agenda he thrived on.”
Calling for transparency, Hayab urged that future censuses include religion and ethnicity to prevent political manipulation of figures. He emphasised the need for fairness and truth, adding that “our nation’s unity can only be strengthened when all citizens are treated with dignity and truth is not sacrificed for political convenience.”