From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Hundreds of protesters, comprising youths and women, took to the streets of Kaduna on Thursday, demanding a public audit of the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, amid allegations of involvement in the disappearance of a lecturer and social media commentator, Dadiyata.
The protesters, who converged at the UTC roundabout and marched to the Government House, carried placards with inscriptions such as “We demand public scrutiny, audit now”, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai, where is Dadiyata”, and “Sponsoring protest cannot protect El-Rufai, he must still face prosecution”.
Leaders of the protest, Anas Yusuf and Comrade Joseph Chori, stated that they were not there for politics, but for accountability. “Kaduna bled, communities were attacked, Birnin Gwari faced isolation, banditry escalated, citizens were kidnapped, families buried loved ones, and fear became normal during the last administration,” they said.
The protesters demanded an independent public security audit of El-Rufai’s administration and full disclosure of the $350 million World Bank loan. “Publish the agreement. Publish the breakdown. Publish the records. Citizens will repay that debt; they deserve transparency,” they said.
The protesters noted that Kaduna was experiencing relative calm under Governor Uba Sani and would not allow destabilization to shield anyone from scrutiny. “This is not revenge, this is justice, and this is democracy,” they said.
Dadiyata was abducted by unknown gunmen from his Kaduna residence in 2019 and has not been seen since. El-Rufai had denied involvement in the disappearance, saying Dadiyata was a critic of the Kano state government, not of Kaduna.
The protesters vowed not to forget the victims, saying, “Kaduna deserves better, and Kaduna will demand it”.
