Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has explained why he picked Dr Hadiza Balarabe, a fellow Muslim, as his running mate.

According to him, the choice of Balarabe is based on competency and capacity to deliver as against her religious background or any other sentiments.

Governor El-Rufai gave the explanation on Tuesday while receiving some indigenes of Sanga Local Government Area where his running mate hails from.

The Sanga people were at the Government House in Kaduna to thank the governor for the choice of their daughter.

El-Rufai stressed that his administration would never choose or deny anyone appointment because of religion or ethnicity.

He said the choice of a woman as his running mate was to give women more opportunities in governance, and to break the yoke of women marginalisation in Nigeria, especially in the northern part of the country.

The governor added that the people criticising him on the choice of a fellow Muslim as his running mate were those who never voted for him in 2015 and those who were strange with the workings of government.

He further highlighted some of the successes recorded by Dr Balarabe in her previous assignments.

El-Rufai said she has repositioned the Primary Healthcare Development Agency where she served as the Executive Secretary, as well as other duties assigned to her.

Earlier, the Paramount Ruler of Gwantu Chiefdom, Aliyu Yamma, who led the Sanga people to the Government House commended the governor for his decision.

He told Governor El-Rufai that the choice of their daughter has given the people a hope of being part and parcel of the state.

Yamma also pledged the support of the people to the governor in the general elections in2019.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report