It was a piece of unbelievable news in the early hours of yesterday: that Nasir El-Rufai, one of the brightest brains deemed to be capable of championing brilliant ideas in the skewed administration of President Bola Tinubu, has been schemed out in an unceremonious manner. 

The author of the book Accidental Public Servant and first-class graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University clinched the iconic “Barewa Old Boys’ Association Academic Achievement” owing to his outstanding academic achievement as a student of the prestigious institution. It is not expected that such a big fish would suddenly become the prey of a supposed cabal which suddenly became so powerful in the cabinet of President Tinubu. 

President Tinubu has spoken well of this El-Rufai in several fora. In fact, he implored him to suspend his academic commitment abroad and join forces with his then-coming administration. So they could collectively rescue Nigeria. 

My respect for El-Rufai started blossoming after I purchased his autobiography as a secondary school student. I was inspired by his big story of uncommon excellence at Barewa College, where a particular Mr Dehinnugbo, the sports master, inspired the students. Idanre-born Dehinnugbo also taught the generation of my father at the premier Olofin Anglican Grammar School, Idanre. 

He must have goofed with his bigoted utterances, which successfully dwarfed his larger-than-life image in public places, including the commando style with which he dealt with the Shi’ia Muslims in Kaduna. Sheikh Elzakyzaky, the religious leader of what used to be the populous Islamic Movement of Nigeria, will not forget in a jiffy how the rogues acting on the order of the then-new government of El-Rufai besieged his home in Zaria in 2015, brutally wounded him and killed hundreds of his followers, including his children. 

He, despite not being a saint, would not have given his prayer to the perpetuation of the dictatorial stance of Governor Nasir El-Rufai as a minister. After all, El-Zakzaky, at a public lecture, threatened to continue with the Jihad of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio. 

Without being swayed by El-Rufai’s many atrocities, he has done a lot to improve the condition of Kaduna people and Nigerians. I really could not come to terms with how his NSA mentee, Nuhu Ribadu, will willingly stampede his second shot at the ministerial position. Maybe he couldn’t overlook the weight of the many petitions against El-Rufai.

El-Rufai accommodated the newbie, Ribadu, on his appointment as the chairman of the maiden EFCC around December 2002 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. EFCC, at its inception, was without a physical office, including a space in the national budget. Nasir El-Rufai of the Bureau of Public Entreprises hosted the anti-graft office. The take-off fund was also contributed as a loan by the bureau under El-Rufai, who hid under the cloak of a section of the BPE Act which empowered him to support public parastatals created to track public properties and funds. I think he wouldn’t have willingly served as El-Rufai’s albatross. 

Before speaking thus to the president: “It appeared you had reservations about me because you can’t claim not to be aware of the petitions,” he would have been really pained by what appeared to be the intention of the president to embarrass him.

He also spoke thus in his native Hausa language after he conceded his ticket to Jafaru Sani: “Walihi talahi ban na zon aiki dey shi ..true to God, I don’t want to work with him. It is Bola Ahmed Tinubu that wants me to work with him. I don’t want any government job. I have passed the stage where anybody can be my leader.” 

El-Rufai challenged Buhari’s many obnoxious policies by suing or speaking out. He appeared to have called the bluff of President Buhari, just like he did to Late President Umar Musa Yar Adua. He would have attracted many enemies from these ends, just like his counterparts who did the same. He has a lot to regret owing to this national embarrassment.

Nigerians should, while punishing El-Rufai, remember how he also did well in some areas. During his tenure, In September 2015, the treasury single account policy was adopted, and the closure of 470 accounts belonging to various state departments and organisations resulted in the recovery of N24.7 billion, Kaduna State’s civil service was reformed. A reduction to 13 instead of 19 ministries and 18 instead of 35 permanent secretaries was implemented. 

Some others are that the selection of only 12 assistants, ten special advisers, and 13 commissioners for the state was implemented, and no less than 1.5 million public school students received one free meal daily through the school feeding programme, saving N1.2 billion in two months. El-Rufai suspended the collection of fees and levies at public primary and junior secondary schools.

He performed wonderfully, too, as BPE director. He demolished many illegally constructed buildings while serving as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The course of history has showcased the man El-Rufai to be a stoic. It took him many months before Nigerian senators could confirm him as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, alleging that it was because he refused to pay bribes requested by the senators. He revealed in his book how Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid the senators without his consent.

As much as I would like to scold him for his many bigoted utterances, I would also like to appreciate him for his courage. He must take his time to think through these experiences. The Kaduna people who have always supported him are the same people who have suddenly turned against him. He appears to have been savaged by the nemesis of his treatment of the Southern Kaduna people. Thank you, nevertheless, El-Rufai!

Finally, I am really wowed by his obsession with Uba Sani, Jafaru Sani, and other Sanis in Kaduna!

Tunde Akingbondere, an intern at the Falana & Falana Chambers, wrote from Lagos.