By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo
Like a dream something cast on my mind about what the former Kaduna state Governor, Nasir Ahmed Elrufai said in 2017 to his critics.
“I had fought with two Presidents, Umaru Yar’Adua ended in his grave, while President Goodluck Jonathan ended in Otueke.”
The flash of that statement beamed my heart and I reply with my heart, “no one takes one’s life but God,” But, like a challenge, in 2016 Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleman threatened the former Governor of Kaduna state with death and the former governor demanded for the date and time of his death from the Pastor.
Like a normal thing to Nasir Elrufai as he described himself as a dodged fighter, but it will come to the senses of any sane person that God is the most exalted one that gives time to people to chew even more than they can bite.
Through the eight years’ governorship of Nasir Ahmed Elrufai many of such reckless comments manifested.
In preparation of the 2019 General Election, the former governor threatens the international nations and observers with dead threat. Saying that, “We are waiting for the person that will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags.”
The three senators of Kaduna state were cursed by Nasir Ahmad Elrufai for tackling a loan of $350 million.
Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North), Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) and Comrade Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) were cursed in public by the former Governor, and he promised to remove them from power; however, the governor did all he could to ensure that Comr. Shehu Sani and Sulaiman Hunkuyi lost their primaries despite the automatic ticket given to them by the APC party.
With many reckless and unapproved demolitions in Kaduna state, the former governor of Kaduna state mocked the Kaduna state residents and marketers while they prayed for God’s intervention. More than 16 Kaduna state markets were demolished and not more than five were completely renewed.
The good, the bad and the ugly were done in the Elrufai’s government, but sincerely the Kaduna state people suffered, their businesses crumbled, their properties seized and education malfunctioned for excessive fees.
The former Kaduna state governor promised that he doesn’t want presidency at 62, either senate seat, nor ministerial position but undercover reported that Elrufai eyed the seat of Chief of Staff of the Federation but like what the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo described the former governor, he accepted the ministerial slot despite boast that he is bigger than the position.
Many petitions against the former governor impeded his way to the ministerial way for the mistakes he committed. But, after losing the seat, Nasir Elrufai promised to settle for business and abstain from partisan politics, then recently his engagements with politicians sparked reactions.
The former governor in few days visited the suspended Senator Abdul Ningi and the SDP secretariat.
One thing that will come to the mind of people is what Elrufai is up to? But, the spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, Daniel Bwala said the Nasir El-Rufai is planing for a join ticket with Peter Obi against Tinubu for 2027.
Although I wondered if Peter Obi can accept the offer after all the attacks he suffered from Nasir El-Rufai and if looked at the conditions of others that the former governor lobbied for 2015 victory of the APC party.
The people that Nasir Elrufai follow may be afraid if they look at the aftermath of the three senators in Kaduna state that he publicly cursed and deterred the victory of the two? What about the other politicians, the House of Representatives like Rufa’i Ahmadu Chanchangi, Samaila Farar Aniya and others.
What about the Shiite that Elrufai visited their Hussainiya and promised to ensure justice for them, but later the story changed?
What about the Northern Elders he blasted, other religious bodies, the court of justices, the civil servants, the NLC, the teachers, and the students of the state that gave their votes but later education become unaffordable for them? The statements of Nasir El-Rufai to Muhammad Buhari during the Naira Swap were also questionable.
To others, El-Rufai is a competent politician, an administrator of rules who knows how to tackle many problems of Nigeria. His government of Kaduna state did well in renovating and physical development of the state that people can see and appreciate, but despite that some had it in their minds that at times he doesn’t toe the good line of laws in doing things because he feels he knows much than others.
To categorically explain, everything is own by God. The Amechi that El-Rufai first campaigned for is not the president of Nigeria at present but the ‘God-father’ of many politicians, and what happened to Elrufai is the plan of God Who can changes things as He wishes.
No matter what, the Government of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and Kaduna state of Malam Uba Sani are kind to the former governor because if files will be opened, the former governor will enroll in another course outside the country.
After the SDP visit the former governor said he doesn’t care about what anyone will say. It is now left for a man to decide the way to his grave, but surely El-Rufai was angry as he pursues politicians and looking for relevance.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim Goronyo is a political analyst and writes from Kaduna. auwalgoronyo@gmail.com
