El-Rufai’s shrouded movement, By Kola Amzat

It’s not contestable that the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a dominant force in the northern politics.

The diminutive, but obviously tall in strategic thinking and former Minister of FCT was in the forefront of Asiwaju Tinubu’s quest for the nation’s presidency.

He was a resounding voice for the Tinubu presidency project in the entire north and even, the entire nation.

Nigerians vividly recall his efforts in mobilizing the governors of the north to ensure that power shifted to the south, and more importantly, with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the centerpiece of their focus.

Besides, he was the major force that frustrated Emefiele’s currency design antics majorly aimed at truncating Tinubu presidential campaigns, as he made conscious and passionate appeal to the downtrodden in the northern region to look beyond cash gifts from Tinubu presidential campaign organization.

The aforementioned valiant efforts of former Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, more than ever before, endeared him to the president who was determined to optimally reward him and perhaps, make him one of the stars of his administration.

Of course, the appreciative president after his inauguration followed this up by featuring his name in the ministerial nominees’ list.

But, El-Rufai encountered challenges during senate screening as damning petitions bothering on his deep involvement in security issues came in to senate, from his home state.      

The weight of the petitions was just enough for the senate to step down his confirmation for the plum job of minister.

Consequent upon this development, the former governor few days after his unsuccessful screening stormed Aso Villa to formally brief the president.

 But, he committed the greatest blunder of his eventful and burgeoning political career when he affirmed to the president that, he’s no more interested in the ministerial job and subsequently nominated one of his allies to take his place, a request declined by the president.

El-Rufai is oblivious of the fact that, this president is not one to be bullied, stampeded or harassed. 

Also, while meeting the president, he confirmed his intention to henceforth focus his attention on his doctorate degree program somewhere in the foreign land, after the curtains have been drawn on his tenure as Kaduna state governor.

Nigerians were however curious to see the former Kaduna state governor criss- crossing the country in quest for chieftaincy titles, with Ijebu Ode as his point of call, where he has been conferred Gbobaniyi of the ancient town, a prominent and highly revered Yoruba kingdom, with huge tradition & culture of industry and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Assuredly, the citizenry expect that El-Rufai’s archives would have been filled up with several titles from kingdoms and communities particularly in the South West geo-political zone in the months or years ahead, before the 2027 general elections.

What does this portends? Contending with the president in his political fortress?

Nigerians vividly recall that presidential aspirants in the past took delight in picking chieftaincy titles in notable kingdoms across the country with a view to connecting, interacting and fraternizing with the people at the grassroots and downtrodden, a strategic initiative aimed at boosting their chances during their party’s primary, as well as presidential polls.

Is El-Rufai treading the same path? Is this the aspiration of the former governor of Kaduna state?

Does the former Minister of FCT planning to contest 2027 presidential election after losing out in the power game, thereby squaring with President Tinubu?   

Is he attempting to ruffle feather? Has El-Rufai forgotten that President Tinubu will be gunning for second term in office, Almighty Allah sparing his life?

Is the former DG, Bureau of Public Enterprises not conscious of the fact that the president would be accorded the right of first refusal by APC?                 

Is he attempting to remove the carpet off the president foot, during the 2027 presidential primary and general elections?

It’s also instructive to enquire of El- Rufai possible political dealings and interactions with notable APC stalwarts who have equally lost out in the power game.

Key figures in this bracket are the gregarious Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Transport Minister, the politically inconsistent Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, as well as Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State and immediate Interior Minister.

Other prominent characters in this category are Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the government of the federation and Yakubu Dogara, erstwhile Speaker, federal House of Representatives, the duo who mobilized the entire Christendom in the north and even Nigeria, against Tinubu during the recently presidential elections.

There is no iota of doubt that all the above political figures are embittered and presently at logger heads with the president and capable of engaging in any political vendetta to undo, outsmart and unhorse, as well as truncate the president dream  for second term in office.

The pertinent question here: Are these key political figures meeting and strategizing ahead of 2027 general elections?

Are they also planning to pursue their ambitions within the confine of the ruling party?

Are they seeking alternative platforms?

Are they also attempting to align and collaborate with the existing virulent and destructive opposition parties?

It’s germane for Mallam El-Rufai to be equivocal in availing the ruling party and Nigerian public his future political ambition, so that the country would know exactly where he stands.      

Of course, it’s too early in the life of this administration for unnecessary distractions that El-Rufai unclear and shrouded movement is generating.

This government inherited monumental challenges that it’s presently battling with.

There are problems of oil subsidy removal, economic downturn, spiral inflationary rate, insecurity across the land, disunity amongst the ethnic groups in the land and political challenges that Tinubu administration is making spirited efforts to frontally combat.

The administration can’t afford to combine this with El-Rufai clandestine and unclear movements. 

Of course, the president and his administration would prefer to be conscious of where El-Rufai belongs, so that he could be situated and treated accordingly.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.