By Sa’idu M. Sanusi
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i, former governor of Kaduna state, is a renowned person who is, indeed, a man of character and valour. In fact, he is a competence personified. Added to this is his firmness and antecedence as a public figure who has traversed the political terrain confident of himself and his ability unlike many others who are in politics courtesy of presumed godfathers.
El-Rufa’i, as a public officer have proven his meetle, has defied his antagonists, and his records as the former minister of FCT and governor of Kaduna state are there for both cynical and discernible minds to contend with.
It was not unexpected that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu lobbied him before submitting his name to the Nigerian Senate for a screening and confirmation.
In fulfilment of the extant Nigerian law, a nominee is required to appear before the Senate for screening. El-Rufa’i just did that out of respect for the honorable members, answering all their questions. From the proceedings, of course, nobody was in doubt of his capabilities.
But this is a political era when every single event is wrapped and shrouded in partisan intrigues. El-Rufa’i was not expected to have had a smooth sailing given the grudges some senators bear against the nominee. It was the right time for taking their pound of flesh for El-Rufa’i’s perceived wrong to the elements in the hallow chambers directly or to their godfathers dictating from the inner recess of their mansions.
The deferment of El-Rufa’i’s clearance for alleged adverse security report is a smokescreen concocted to frustrate the former governor and eventually scuttle his emergence as a minister of the Federal Republic. Nigerians are not unaware of whose bidding the (dis)honourable and (un)distinguished Senators were playing. Majority of partakers in the Senate circus show thought they were rediculing the nominee rather than themselves. It was obvious that the central theme the clearance drama was self-serving occasioned by their narrow selfish interest.
Some Nigerians are very familiar with the antics of those who fabricated and scripted the perversive insecurity in Kaduna state and elsewhere for selfish reasons. People who could see no wrong if multitude of their compatriots are daily sacrificed through insurgency and banditry could go to any length to deal with an enemy of El-Rufa’i’s standing.
The Nigerian Senators have engaged in a dance of shame to clearly stamp the hopelessness of Nigerian polity where an action and lack of it is based not on the interest of the collective.
It is gratifying that the former governor is not a political dedperador who would grieve over (missed) opportunity. He was a minister and governor who had served before and made impact, and many are very impressed. Sooner than later Nigerians will find out the real reasons for the senators’ action.
Sai’du can be reached at E-mail: saidusanusi66 @gmail.com, Tel: 08035999429
