Group Slams El-Rufai's Hypocrisy Over Yero Visit, Failure on Zaria Water Project

Group Slams El-Rufai's Hypocrisy Over Yero Visit, Failure on Zaria Water Project

Kaduna, Nigeria – A Civic Advocacy group, the Kaduna Citizens for Justice and Accountability (KCJA), has condemned what it described as the “height of political hypocrisy” by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following his recent visit to the residence of ex-Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has drawn sharp rebuke from citizens who recalled El-Rufai’s aggressive persecution of Yero during his tenure.

In a scathing statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, KCJA described the visit as “an insult to the collective memories of Kaduna people,” citing El-Rufai’s alleged orchestration of trumped-up corruption charges that saw Yero dragged before the EFCC and paraded in the media without trial or conviction.

"El-Rufai sought to bury the legacy of Ramalan Yero by weaponizing state power to humiliate him. To now turn around and walk into the same man’s house pretending camaraderie is not statesmanship — it is shameless opportunism,” said Comrade Aliyu Makarfi, spokesperson for KCJA.

The group also slammed El-Rufai for his serial unfulfilled promises, particularly regarding the Zaria water project. According to KCJA, El-Rufai had in 2016 secured a public endorsement from then-President Muhammadu Buhari to fix Zaria’s chronic water shortage. The former governor followed up with elaborate budgetary allocations and fanfare, including what the group called “superfluous budget padding,” only to abandon the people of Zaria to continued suffering.

"After eight years in power and repeated budgetary provisions, El-Rufai left office without delivering clean water to the people of Zaria — a betrayal of trust of monumental proportions," Makarfi said.

 He then explained: "Contrary to El-Rufai’s spurious claims of progress, Governor Uba Sani met the Zaria water production rate had already collapsed to less than 5% due to badly dilapidated machinery rusty equipment and vandalised pipelines. However, Governor Uba Sani has since accelerated the rate of water production to 32%, after replacement of the vandalised pipelines and  equipment and recalibration of all relevant drivers of the production process. In addition, works is still in progress for all forms of upgrade. The massive repairs have now exposed the falsehood of El-Rufai's narrative."

The group accused El-Rufai of using media optics and political theatre to mask failed promises and persecute perceived opponents. They urged current leaders to “learn from the consequences of prideful governance and manipulative leadership.”

Kaduna residents, especially in Zaria, have continued to bear the brunt of water scarcity despite billions reportedly earmarked for the so-called “Zaria Water Project,” raising questions about the sincerity and financial integrity of the previous administration.

The KCJA called on relevant anti-corruption bodies to revisit the El-Rufai-era contracts and alleged diversions tied to the Zaria project, warning that "those who deceived the people and looted in the name of development must not escape accountability."