I’m with El-Rufai, we have to eliminate terrorists – Tinubu

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind Governor Nasir El-Rufai who called for the bombing of forests to dislodge and kill terrorists. Tinubu was in Kaduna yesterday to condole with the people of Kaduna and Governor El-Rufai over the various tragedies […]

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind Governor Nasir El-Rufai who called for the bombing of forests to dislodge and kill terrorists.

Tinubu was in Kaduna yesterday to condole with the people of Kaduna and Governor El-Rufai over the various tragedies that had befallen the state in the last few weeks.

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He called for collaboration and contribution of ideas between the government and security agencies to bring an end to terrorism.

Speaking on the side-line, Tinubu said he agreed with Governor El-Rufai that whatever needed to be done to eliminate the terrorists should be done.

“I am not an expert in security but I am with him (El-Rufai), solidly with him in whatever we have to do to stem the insecurity and eliminate the enemies of progress at any given time,” he said.

He said an attack on one Nigerian was an attack on all of us in the country, stressing the need to fight hard with vigilance and employ other means such as technology to defeat terrorism.

Tinubu urged all Nigerians to contribute their quota to efforts to rehabilitate the victims.

He said: “I’m here to sympathise with Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the people of the state over the train attack. It is a national disaster. It’s a blow to all of us.

“Nigeria bleeds. We need to fight terrorism with all we have. I understand some people were killed while some others are missing. It is frustrating.

“Malam El-Rufai, the governor, we walk with you in every aspect because you are the symbol of our unity. Once in a while, we still remember the first stanza of our old national anthem- although tongues and tribes may differ, in brotherhood we stand.

“If enemies of peace and progress think they can deter us as a nation, we must together stand against them and say no”.

The APC national leader, who was in the company of dignitaries including former Governors of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, Kaduna State, Lawal Jafaru Isa, prayed for the repose of the dead and speedy recovery of the injured.  

He later disclosed to Governor El-Rufai a donation of N50million to cushion efforts to rehabilitate the victims of the attack.

 He also visited St Gerald’s Hospital to see some of the victims.

 Earlier, Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai said Nigeria was at a critical crossroad, which called for “Very difficult decisions to get the right leaders that will take us out of the multiple quagmires that we are going through.

“These are human challenges and they can be solved by human ingenuity and I pray to God to choose what is best for Nigeria so that we have a better, progressive and exemplary country that is fair and just to everyone,” he said.

“We are aware of your aspiration to be president of this country, we look forward to further engagements so that we can progress that aspiration,” he added.

The governor said he had planned to visit Tinubu to thank him for cancelling his birthday colloquium over the attack on Kaduna State, saying the gesture was an unprecedented show of powerful leadership, empathy and concern for the lives and properties of Nigerians.

Governor El-Rufai expressed gratitude to Tinubu for taking time to come and commiserate with the state, describing it as a “Sacrifice and commitment to the greatness of our country.”