Bandits targeting my son, says El-Rufai

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has revealed why he ‘secretly’ withdrew his seven-year-old son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq El-Rufai, from Kaduna Capital school.

Last year, the governor dramatically enrolled him in one of northern Nigeria’s oldest public schools.

• How El-Rufai ‘secretly’ withdrew son from public school
• Triple heritage: The appointment and coronation of Kano emirs since 1807

But Daily Trust had reported how El-Rufai quietly withdrew his son.

Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the governor, had remained mum when Daily Trust sought explanation on the governor’s action.

However, in an interview with BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai said his son had been targeted by bandits because of the governor’s public stand against the payment of ransom.

In the interview, El-Rufai said it was the first time that he would address the issue.

He added that his daughter, Nesrin, was also enrolled in the school when she turned six.

He said even though there was no threat to Nesrin, both children were removed from the school on the advice of security agencies.

“My son and my daughter are registered in the school because his sister became six and we had to register her.

“But we have had to temporarily withdraw them for the security of the school because we got intercepts from at least two groups that are planning to attack the school to kidnap my son.

“I don’t think they will succeed because there will be enough security there to prevent it but other children may be placed in danger.

“We have no idea what weapons they will come with. I have taken a stand against paying bandits and at least three groups of bandits have been intercepted planning to go to Kaduna Capital school and kidnap my son and ‘see if they catch my son, I go say I no go pay ransom?’” the governor said.

He assured that his decision was purely based on the safety of other children in the school, adding that he had enrolled his son in the school to prove to the people of Kaduna State that he had enough confidence in the public-school system and stressed that he intends to keep the promise.

Political gains

El-Rufai, who has come under fire by residents who accused him of enrolling his son in public school for political gain, said his action was not politically motivated.

“We believe in leading by example, we believe in whatever policy we propose that will affect people negatively, we start imposing it on us,” he said.

The governor explained that his son, who is still registered with the school and goes to take his exams, is now being home-schooled and assured that as long as there is reasonable confidence that his attendance will not put the school at risk, both children will return there.

“It is my intention that my children will be in public school as long as I am governor here.

“Of course, when I finish my term, I will move out. I intend to leave Kaduna when I finish. I am not going to stay here. I may explore other options of putting them in other schools,” he said.

He said the young El-Rufai misses the school, adding that; “he keeps asking, ‘Baba, when will I go back to school, I miss my friends, I miss my teachers’ I told him not yet, you can’t tell a seven-year-old you are likely to be kidnapped.”

The story

Daily Trust exclusively reported on Saturday that El-Rufai had secretly withdrawn his son from Kaduna Capital School after what many observers described as “political and media stunt” to give the impression that he is like any commoner.

While the enrolment of Al-Sadiq in the public school was greeted by a massive commendation from all walks of life, the removal of the son was not made public, a development seen by many as a “betrayal of public trust and confidence.”