Leaders of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) have accused Governor Nasir el-Rufai of promoting hate speech in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

They cautioned the state government against further attacks and killings in their communities, saying they will hold the governor responsible for any crisis in the area, before, during or after the polls.

In a statement yesterday, the group berated the governor for his comments, which it described as offensive.

“For El-Rufai to start hinting at violence when the general elections are around the corner suggests something sinister and we are putting the world on notice should anything untoward happen in Southern Kaduna.

“On our part, we would do everything possible to resist any individuals or groups from instigating crisis in our area under any guise,” the statement reads.

SOKAPU pointed out that the governor had during his visit said: “Southern Kaduna people are a difficult people; have a violent nature; have refused to give peace a chance and that the religious, traditional and political leaders do not like him.”

According to the group, the governor also claimed that as a result of their violent nature, foreign investors would not be attracted to invest in that part of the state.

But in a swift reaction, its National Publicity Officer (PRO), Yakubu Kuzamani, pointed out that El-Rufai’s claims were false, saying the toga of violence belongs to terrorists who were being paid by the state government.

“Is there another violence at the corner that the government knows about? He asked, adding: “We hope the state government is not giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it?

•Sourced from The Guardian report