I have been a keen observer as events unfold since the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect in the keenly contested election held on February 25, 2023, particularly the battle for positions in the incoming government which is already stoking tension in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It is believed that consideration for the appointment are likely to be made based on capacity, loyalty, work ethics, efforts during campaign, impact on Tinubu’s election, among other factors.
However, what I consider as disturbing scenario is the ongoing media campaign for Kaduna state governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i to be appointed as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), a key government appointment that performs the function of Cabinet Secretary.
I have come across a variety of news items, mostly in form of exclusive stories attempting to show that El-Rufa’i is the man fit for the job of the SGF. While El Rufa’i has said that he was not backing the Tinubu to clinch any political appointment, the body language of the governor who had been known for being a betrayer indicated that the man is sponsoring the media campaign for the top plum job.
At the time when some few governors in the North are solidly behind Tinubu’s life time ambition to become Nigeria’s president, El-Rufa’i was one of his antagonists. Some of these governors are branded as ‘enemies’ in President Muhammadu Buhari administration, who until the presidential election are still being hunted by the so-called cabals.
Some of these governors’ absolute loyalty for Tinubu cost them reelection or made it difficult to get their anointed candidates elected in the March 18 governorship poll when the cabals used the might of the federal government to favour the opposition in their respective states.
When it comes to the game of power and perfidy, El-Rufa’i pylons above his earls and those he met in the game, since his dawn into national fame, when his now alienated tutor and benefactor, Atiku Abubakar recommended him to head the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), El-Rufa’i capacity to betray and spasm those in the path of his selfish interests.
Prior to the turn of events in the country, when El-Rufa’i and his likes never expect that Tinubu could make it to the presidency, has been one of the consistent attackers of the President-elect. In fact, he once said that Tinubu is too old and unfit to rule the country.
El-Rufa’i has been branded as a perpetual betrayer because former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is believed to have brought him to limelight with an appointment in the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) but ended up branding Turakin Adamawa as corrupt.
His nature to betray all that trusted him as his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo rightly described him in his book My Watch. While practically failing woefully in the task of governance in Kaduna state, El-Rufa’i let down someone he called his father, Obasanjo, Umaru Musa ‘Yar ‘adua and Goodluck Jonathan who brought him from exile.
Having seen clearly that the Buhari administration is failing, he wants to jump ship to save himself politically. He also brought to prominence issue of Buhari cabal to please the Tinubu camp of the ruling party so that he could be considered for an appointment.
While it is true that certain forces have attempted to scuttle the candidature of Tinubu, through the currency swap policy meant to incite voters against the APC, El-Rufa’i exploited the situation to his advantage in order to position himself to be a cabal in Tinubu’s presidency.
The dismal performance of the APC in the presidential election in Kaduna state also points clearly to the fact that El-Rufa’i do not deserve any compensatory appointment from the incoming administration.
A look at the presidential election results from Kaduna state indicate that there is a difference of about 200, 000 between APC and the opposition PDP. This is contrary to other North Western states of Katsina with a difference of only 6, 762 and Sokoto which is just 3, 235.
It will be even more appropriate to zone the office of the SGF to either South East or South South geo-political zones. And if it must come to the North, then a Christian from North Central should be considered in the spirit of sharing formula for the key appointment in the new administration.
It is therefore, pertinent to called on the President-elect to be wary of the antics of El-Rufa’i who has never hide his disdain for him and is bent on securing an appointment with the incoming government only for him to betray the trust just as he did to others in the past.
Abdurrahman is based in Abuja and can be reached at zubairahman@yahoo.com