By Muhammad Mamman
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State chapter, has strongly refuted former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent comments on the demographic and political composition of Southern Kaduna, describing them as misleading and contrary to verifiable facts.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday, the Forum’s chairman, Air Commodore John Bako Ajeye (Rtd), said the organisation felt obliged to “set the record straight” after El-Rufai’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Ajeye stressed that Southern Kaduna, historically and culturally part of the Middle Belt, comprises 12 local government areas — including the eight within Kaduna South Senatorial District as well as Chikun, Kajuru, Kaduna South and Lere. The zone, he noted, spans approximately 26,000 square kilometres and has a projected population exceeding five million, “almost half of Kaduna State’s population.”
Contrary to El-Rufai’s claims, Ajeye maintained, Kaduna is not dominated by any single religion or ethnic group but is “a near-balanced state where Southern Kaduna plays a pivotal demographic and political role.”
The Forum highlighted the region’s historic contributions in education, public service, and leadership, citing distinguished figures such as Dr Barau Dikko and Prof Ishaya Audu. On the political front, Ajeye recalled that Southern Kaduna votes were crucial in determining the outcome of the 2023 governorship election, where Senator Uba Sani secured victory by a narrow margin.
The MBF dismissed El-Rufai’s comparisons as “inappropriate and divisive,” warning that such rhetoric could undermine peace and cohesion. Ajeye urged Kaduna’s political leaders to prioritise unity and reconciliation over polarising narratives.
“We admonish Mallam El-Rufai and other political actors to desist from spreading claims that may jeopardise peace. What Kaduna needs is healing, truth, and inclusive governance,” he said.
The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to equity, transparent governance and peaceful coexistence across all ethnic and religious divides, while calling on the media and civil society to resist narratives that “diminish Southern Kaduna” and instead promote initiatives that foster trust and harmony.
