I’ve forgiven el-Rufai for demolishing my property - Senator Hukunyi

Suleiman Hukunyi, senator representing Kaduna north, says he has forgiven Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, for allegedly pulling down his property.

The property which housed a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was demolished in the early hours of Tuesday.

This happened less than two days after the faction led by the lawmaker suspended the governor.

The Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) had said the exercise was in line with his agency’s mandate to “restore order” across the state.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Hukunyi said if the building had violated any code, it ought to have been brought to his attention.

The senator explained that he gave the property to the APC as part of his contribution to it.

“As my own brother, I wish to let him know that I have forgiven him as a person,” the senator said.

The lawmaker said pulling down his property would not shut him up as it was not wrong to have a disagreement with the governor.

“Your own party, no matter the dispute, what will the military be doing in a location like that, to me if the intention of pulling down that property is to shut me down, it has given me more reason, strong reason to maintain my posture, my belief, maintain my direction in standing strongly with the electorate and my people in my own state,” he said.

“As I am standing here today, the 20th of February 2018, let that be an incident for the growth of democracy in that state, let it serve rallying point for those who have been shortchanged, pained in any way in my state by the leadership of Nasir El-Rufai. This is not too much for a price to carry for democracy to thrive, a price to pay to express the opinion of my teeming supporters.

“Let me also use the opportunity to remind Nasir el-Rufai there is another property which I housed him, which he slept in some many times in the course of bringing some many people together to elect him as governor on Queen Elizabeth road in Zaria. In case he forgets and in case he still wants to take it, I rest my case.”   (The Cable)