Insecurity: El-Rufai ‘Secretly’ Withdraws Son From Kaduna School

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has surreptitiously removed his son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq, from Kaduna Capital School in response to a spike in bandit attacks on public schools in Kaduna.

According to NEWS DIRECT, Malam El-Rufai marched like a behemoth into Kaduna Capital School in 2019 with his wife, Ummi, and enrolled their six-year-old son in the public school, fulfilling a campaign pledge.

Many commentators now see Al-enrolment Sadiq’s as a “political and media ploy” designed to convey the idea that he is just like any other citizen.

Some analysts speculated that El-U-turn Rufai’s could be owing to numerous kidnappings in public schools, particularly in Kaduna and neighboring states, or pressure from family, or a lack of confidence in the government school’s ability to groom his son as well as private institutions.

People who live near the school told DailyTrust that they were disappointed that the governor had removed his son from the school just a few months after the boy had joined the children of the state’s impoverished and middle classes to learn under one roof.

“I am grossly disappointed because the whole enrolment episode looked deceptive,” said Ibrahim Yaro, a resident of Kaduna.

“Leaders should keep respect their words and the promises they take. After the governor has removed his son from the public school, he is now busy increasing fees and sacking teachers…I really don’t understand where he is heading to. Someone should talk to him, please,” he said.

The Kaduna Governor allegedly ‘secretly’ withdrew his son from school and enrolled him at an unidentified institution.

The youngster was taken away immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which resulted in school closures, according to DailyTrust. Al-Sadiq, however, did not return when the lockdown was removed and children were allowed to return to school.

Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, a human rights activist and Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), remarked that the governor’s actions do not demonstrate responsibility.

“The governor must also not forget that as the leader of the state, he is a father figure to all the other children in the public school system especially those that don’t have alternative.

“To simply take his own child out of the school system for whatever reasons, while the children of the poor and vulnerable ordinary citizen are left to face those same challenges, does not show transparency and accountability,” Zikirullahi said.

There was no immediate response from the Kaduna state government.