Between January 2016 until May 28th 2023, I spent that period working with Governor El-Rufai in Kaduna StateGovernment, first as his Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Relations and later Commissioner. I served in four ministries over the period. I am a witness to history and as a student of Political Science, I nurse the dream of seeing governments in Nigeria run on the strength and character of leadership as true representation and expression of the mandates of the people. I am therefore involved and possibly partisan on matters that may affect el-Rufai, my Governor.
My takeaway in the el-Rufai regime is that the long age vacuum of indecision by officials of state was replaced with action and delivery for eight years. The government he led provided space for contestation of ideas and the superior positions took precedence in the decision-making process. Crucial matters of state and administration were thoroughly debated and dialogued at the end of which in most cases, positive decisions that led to the transformation of Kaduna in both physical and material senses were achieved. There was never a dull moment and the people of the State and those who desire development through pro-active governance across the country saw and are equally witnesses to history. Kaduna, the headquarters of the old Northern Region regained its lost glory and left it far better than he met it.
This background is necessary to lay the foundation for the justification of the tittle of this piece. I was amazed when the senate which cleared people like Bello Matawale and a few others as Ministers of the Federal Republic, rejected Nasir el-Rufa’i. Thence, it was clear to all those who thought of a newNigeria and its policy framework that the Tinubu administration was starting on a note of huge joke. I was perplexed because the seriousness of the administration whichwe worked so hard to put in place was after all not what we expected of it to be. A government geared towards serving and filling the gaps that hither to existed in the national politywas soon to become like any other one before it. Like him or not, Nasir is an enigma and specie not common within the nation’s political and public policy landscapes.
I was equally bamboozled by the Lagos rhetoric because Lagos was a reality, but I was soon to realize that age is playing some role unfortunately on the capacity of Mr.President to superintend over Nigeria as he did in Lagos when he was barely 47 years old. At 72, so many things havehappened and are happening. The role of the individual decision maker in impacting history diminishes more often with edge.
I believe that the senate’s rejection of the nomination of el-Rufai remains the crudest political and strategic start of the Tinubu administration and will continue to haunt it until the end. The rejection was not elrufa’is loss but Nigeria’s huge deprivation of quality, courage and effective governance at a time when critical minds are needed in government to break the jinx of backwardness and lead to reform and change. President Tinubu promised to work on the power sector and get it sorted out ones and for all, a sector that has defied possible national solutions. We thought our nightmares were going to be over, but we were rebuffed by agents of continuity of pain and helplessness in the corridors of power who were visibly frightened by people with capacity, action, and result. The decision was simple, let’s do business as usual. This has become the signpost of this regime unfortunately.
I know the role that el-Rufai played in the countdown to the APC Presidential primaries because I was involved. He was the most outspoken of all the Northern elements in the desire for an Asiwaju’s emergence as the candidate of the party. And did not relent until power was won even if the APC lost Kaduna to the PDP. As a distant second, President Tinubuscored over three hundred & Ninety thousands of votes second to probably only Lagos and Oyo if put in comparison with votes from the President’s Southwest states.
Two things happened in my humble interpretation of the situation. The PDP, el-Rufa’i believed has done worst for Nigeria and even if the APC wasn’t meeting the most expectations of the people, it was a better option than the old order, in the assumption that the Tinubu government would be friendly to its architects and its voters. So far, my judgment of the situation is rough edged and painfully regrettable that our huge expectations are being dashed this early in the morning.
El-Rufa’iphobia is a serious state of mind buried in fervent fear by people who desire to run government and its apparatuses in the old fashion of business as usual to the exclusion of anyone that could possibly based on ideas over-shadow them upstairs. Afraid of courage and decisiveness, and in total fear of what the courageous can do to rid the nation of its numerous challenges. Challenges that many leaders have exploited to meet their personal idiosyncrasies. As soon as the elections were over, in-house politics set-in and the result is this fear that is palpable by those who chose to hang around the president even if they lack the capacity to effect the massive radical changes and reforms that Nigeria desperately desire to assume its proper place in both the administration and governance of the country as well as the leader of the Black race on earth.
I thought the government which el-Rufa’I was a central character in evolution would make maximum use of not just his intellect but keep him busy even if for political purposes, so he may not have the latitude to operate as a ‘free enterprenuer’. President Tinubu thought otherwise and chose to let him ‘lose’, so, why should anybody be bothered? This was not thought of by the thinkers of the regime and are now in a state of worry whenever el-Rufa’I is cited anywhere in and out of the country. He visits former Presidents Babangida and Buhari, it is a frontline news. Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA visits him, its news and paying back a visit to Shehu YamusaGabam, the Chairman of SDP, it is another good news, el-Rufa’i is negotiating a space for contest in 2027’
I do believe that the blunder of refusing el-Rufa’I party to the government will continue to haunt the spirits of those who were responsible for this severe tactical blunder as the government braces for 2027. Certainly, a poor political chasegame. I will not reject el-Rufa’i for the crowd that convinced the president to exclude him from his government. The implication of that unwise action is what we see beginning to happen every day.
My take is that the man should be allowed to pursue his endeavors. This phobia only expresses the desperation of those who will continue to be afraid of what he can do when given the chance in authority. No wonder, despite our support for the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products and liberalization of foreign exchange regime, things continue to deteriorate, and Nigeria seems to be in a free fall. Acute energy deficiency, worsening purchasing power in the face of growing weak currency has occasioned hunger, poverty and difficulty across the length and breadth of the country. The President’s entire economic management team is grossly deficient, as such, we may continue to see downward trend in quality of life of the people.
I think Nasir el-Rufa’i should be allowed to exist as those who see him as the problem will continue to be pricked by their conscience. This is the line between the perception of politics and what it is. It is a noble enterprise and a very serious relationship between people and those who aspire to orprovide leadership on one hand and on the other between God and the leaders. If we will work to secure a mandate only for a few to turn treacherous on the day of ‘allotment’, it reminds me of the common belief which sees every politician as a liar.
My view of politics is that it could be a vacuum whose contents are what you put into it. What is real around the corridors and lackies is that the fear of Nasir el-Rufai by those who seek to undermine his capacity and use, is the beginning of wisdom. We are not likely to see to the end of this apprehension anytime soon. It is like the common saying, ‘the good that men, and women too! do will certainly live after them.’
This is the meaning of el-Rufa’iphobia and many people will live with it, while Nigeria misses his courage, action and forthrightness, those with the disease will remain in self-delusion. I am optimistic that Nigeria will be better than what it is today. We shall continue to search for new direction, a common good for all by the struggle to entrench new ways of doing government business.
I rest my case!
