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The Inside Story
He had been screened by the senate. The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasru El-Rufai, was one of the 48 nominated ministerial candidates by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to run the federal government with him. Shortly after the former Governor and two other ministerial nominees were denied confirmation by the Senate, El-Rufai, in the company of the former Governor of Rivers State, Wike, paid a courtesy call at Aso-Rock. The video of the visit made people believe that it was to smoothen the rough edges that dogged El-Rufai’s appearance for screening in the Senate and, perhaps, remove the hurddles on his path to confirmation.
People regarded the El-Rufai and Wike’s visit to Aso-Rock as solicitation of Tinubu to put in a word or two that could reverse the Senate’s decision that has sent El-Rufai back to the Directorate of State Security (DSS) for clearance over security issues that accused the Kaduna former Governor of Sponsoring Banditary and Kidnapping for ransom.
Wike and El-Rufai are two of a kind. They have virtually walked the same path in the present democratic dispensation. Both at different times had been ministers and coincidentally they recently completed their two terms as Governors of their individual states.
During campaign, they assidously worked for the victory of Tinubu at the presidential poll. That was why many people believed that Wike was the best person to champion El-Rufai’s cause.
Despite that the Senators are warming up for their recessor summer holidays, political circle still believes that the visit of Wike and El-Rufai to the Presidential Villa would do the magic in favour of El-Rufai to earn Senate’s confirmation. City People has however, found out that the speculation is wrong. El-Rufai is no longer interested in serving as a minister. He has decided not to participate in President Bola Tinubu’s government. This has, undoubtedly, upturned the apple cart of speculation.
That, perhaps, is why observers are asking what might have been wrong that made El-Rufai develop cold feet at the entrance to the Presidential Hall to take up appointment as a Minister.
El-Rufai, a saveyor, who distinguished himself as one of the best in his area of specialisation, made a high grade at school. He is, however, known to be self-opinionaetd and could sometimes behave in a way that could shock friends and associates.
That is why those who are close to him said he was unpredictable. This, however, could not be said to be the reason for backing out of the ministerial position he had earlier worked for and showed interest in.
The security issue raised by the Kogi North Senator in the Senate that outright accused El-Rufai of Sponsoring Banditary and Kidnapping was too revealing and indicting that it could not be glossed over. There is the fear that if the DSS cleared El-Rufai and he is eventually confirmed by the Senate, those at the receiving end of his neverous activities, the Southern Kaduna people and their sympathisers, might later decide to open the can of worms to expose his unstatemanly activities.
This, undoubtedly, would not only riddicule the federal government, but expose the Presidency to accusation of accommodating those who could be regarded as enemy of the state, who are feeding fat on the blood of people. The first duty of any government is security of lives and property. How can a government now defend a sponsor of banditary and kidnapping?
Record revealed that El-Rufai was among the first group of Northern Leaders, who were accused of encouraging banditatry and kidnapping in the Northern region, especially Kaduna. El-Rufai embacked on the policy of giving money to the bandits to discourage them from their criminal activities. The policy did not fly. It back fired.
The bandits instead of stopping kidnapping for ransom became wilder and more brutal. The more money the governor gave them, the more people the bandits kinapped, literally elevating their criminal activities into an industry.
Besides, there were people who condemned El-Rufai’s recent interview after he was nominated for a ministerial appointment by President Tinubu in the said interview, he had said that he had been a minister in the past and later governor for eight years, thereby becoming an elder statesman.
He said it would amount to leadership failure on his part if he had not groomed successors who could take up ministerial appointments in this dispensation. The question on people’s lips is: Is he now being haunted by what he said?
The interview had, therefore made many observers believe that El-Rufai was not interested in ministerial appointment. That was why they were surprised that he appeared in the Senate for screening. His act has made people describe him as the two-faced Roman god, Janus, that could not be easily understood. This is because, one of the faces could be smiling, while the other was crying. It is nothing but height of deceit.
– Tajudeen Adigun
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