Disruptive El-Rufai, by Kola Amzat

No reasonable and discerning Nigerian would ever be fooled by former Kaduna state governor, Mallam El-Rufai recent pronouncement that he never crossed his mind to serve as cabinet minister in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The fact remains that someone who never desire to be a minister would never attend ministerial screening at the Upper Chamber, even, if nominated by the president.
In the glare of Nigerian public and international community, the former FCT minister registered his physical presence, took his allotted time at the screening and made valiant efforts to be confirmed as minister, at least through his very positive responses to plethora of questions posed to him by the distinguished senators during the screening, until it became crystal clear that the senate had resolved to withhold his confirmation on account of damning diverse petitions from his own Kaduna state seriously implicating him on issues bothering on security breach, as well as deep involvement in several security cases in southern Kaduna back in his state.
It’s also in the public domain that prior to the ministerial screening, El-Rufai had already assembled the team that he desired to work with, and had even held several meetings bothering on several challenges in the power sector, as its reported that the president had hinted him that he would likely be appointed as Minister of Power.
All this plan crashed as senate suspended his confirmation, as well shutting him down.
He also compounded his case by visiting the president just 24 hours after his confirmation was suspended and offered to nominate an aide to possibly take his place in the cabinet, a request that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces turned down.
Indeed, its only less-discerning minds and politically naïve Nigerians that Mallam El-Rufai could be selling dummy, that he’s never interested to serve in the present cabinet, more-so, with this diminutive figure who have been at the corridor of power since he burst into limelight about two decades ago, and have come to realize immense privileges and authority that power confers and attracts.
The crux of this Piece however is that, looking back at El-Rufai screening and the resolve of the senate to shut down his confirmation, presidency should be appreciative and thankful to providence that the former Kaduna governor never made it to the Federal Executive Council, even though, some Nigerians, including this writer were rooting for him, then.
Without any iota of doubt, his inclusion in the cabinet would have been counter-productive and highly regrettable, as he certainly would have been an object of disruption and divisiveness.
He would have made deliberate attempts to rock the boat and disrupt governance, an unfortunate development that would have surely created headache for the president to handle, against the backdrop of his motley crowd in the north that would have moved to support and back him up.
No one can possibly fault this argument considering the recent reckless pronouncement and outburst of former FCT minister during an Abuja national conference where he described the present state of governance and opposition as a “national emergency”, and also went further, that he no longer recognize APC again, alleging that the party have been turned to a one man show, critiquing that no NEC meeting has taken place in the last two years.
The former DG, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) further alleged that the ruling party have deliberately drawn up an agenda to destroy the band of opposition parties, a misguided and reckless statement that gave him out as party man already hobnobbing with opposition parties, even, despite his claims that he remains a member of APC.
Is anyone still in doubt that El-Rufai involvement in this government would have been a complete disaster and disruptive?
Is anyone still doubting that his cabinet membership would have provided him opportunity to be divisive, and platform to instigate uproar at the seat of power?
With all intents and purposes, El-Rufai is significantly frustrated that he’s been kept out of government and that, he’s no longer calling shot in his own Kaduna state, as leadership of the party has been ceded to the state governor.
His critique of government is therefore rooted in personal animosity, desire for power, envy and strife, and not, because he loves Nigerians so much to the extent of fighting their battles.
His unguarded outbursts against the president and APC, the party he claims he still belongs, is enough to suspend him for some months, while awaiting that he shows remorse, failing which he could finally be expelled.
There is no doubt that El-Rufai has transverse governance at the state and federal levels as a former DG, Bureau of Public Enterprises, former FCT, minister, and immediate past governor, Kaduna state, a very important state in Nigeria, and particularly, Northern Nigeria, all past key offices that ought to afforded him leadership comportment, been circumspect, restraint and temperate in all dealings.
Despite more than his two decades of hugging and romancing power at the very highest level in the country, it does appear that, he’s still derelict in deploying these attributes whenever necessary.
He’s therefore advised to stay away from unnecessary radicalism, remained less volatile and embrace the attribute of 21st Century leadership.
This is the path of honour. This is the path he must tread otherwise, he would soon be a candidate for political extinction.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
09077509348.