Some youths on Thursday took to the streets of Kaduna State to demand injustice in the prosecution of a former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged fund diversion and disappearance of a lecturer and online commentator, Abubakar Idris, otherwise called Dadiyata.

Dadiyata, a critic of the ex-governor’s administration, went missing on August 2, 2019. 

The protesters converged on the UTC roundabout in the metropolis and walked to the Government House, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions.

The inscriptions included, “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.”

Other inscriptions read: “Kaduna lived in fear, we want the truth” and “Publish loan agreement and spending breakdown now”.

Beyond the call for justice, the youths were demanding a full investigation into the $350 million in state funds allegedly lost under the previous administration.

Furthermore, the protesters issued a warning against “distraction tactics.”

Speaking to journalists, leaders of the protest, Anas Yusuf and Joseph Chori, stated that the Governor Uba Sani’s agenda for a transparent Kaduna cannot be fulfilled until every kobo of the state’s wealth was accounted for.

They called for the immediate arrest of Bashir Saidu, Jafaru, and Hafiz Bayero, accusing them of sponsoring “fake” protests to shield El-Rufai from the government’s ongoing investigations.

The youths said that attempts to divert public attention would not stop the push for a cleaner and more accountable Kaduna State.

They added, “We are not here for politics, we are here for accountability.”

The protesters said, “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.

“Those years cannot be erased with speeches. Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai must answer hard questions. You governed and now you must account. The disappearance of Dadiyata remains an open wound. A family still waits. Kaduna still asks: what happened?”

“We demand an independent public security audit of that administration. We also demand 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.”

According to them, loans are not free money, adding, “public debt demands public accountability because no one is above the law. If innocent, prove it. If guilty, face prosecution.”

They stated that Kaduna State was experiencing relative calm under Mr Sani saying, “we will not allow destabilization to shield anyone from scrutiny, this is not revenge, this is justice and this is democracy.

“We will not forget the victims. Kaduna deserves better and Kaduna will demand it.”

(NAN)