Obi a tribal bigot? No Sir, Mallam El-Rufai By Esin Etim Esin

 In all human societies, the Almighty God and Creator has always implanted people with a sense of propriety who serve to moderate the excesses of others. That way, we are not in a perpetual state of anarchy and can claim to be higher than other animals that we, often arrogantly, refer to as ‘Beasts’. 

As the campaigns for the 2019 General Election go full-swing, observers are witnessing all manner of strategies by the candidates and their supporters. We have seen candidates who focus on issues germane to the nation’s very survival; contestants whose only credentials are that they are Nigerians; and the desperadoes with their trade-mark crude politicking and under-hand tactics. Indeed, as the saying goes, Nigerians are seeing the good, the bad and and the ugly; which reminds one of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the incumbent All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor [or is it Nero?] in Lugard House, Kaduna. 

When the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], Alhaji Atiku Abubakar named former Governor Peter Obi as his ‘running mate’, it was like he had hit the panic button for the ruling APC. The combined stature of Atiku and Obi totally upset the permutations of the APC chieftains who had all along thought they were on a roller-coaster. Stepping down from their cosy perches, their foot soldiers went firing in all directions. 

In his characteristic reckless fashion, Mallam El-Rufai went public to describe Obi as “a tribal bigot”. This was sequel to other allegations that Obi as Governor had demolished Mosques in Anambra State and even ordered Northerners to leave the State. Though there are all kinds of unguarded statements from some of the political class, the statement by El-Rufai was clearly intended to incite a section of the country against Peter Obi. In the first place, a person as presumably educated as El-Rufai and entrusted with public office need to impose bounds of decency on himself. Thankfully, an increasingly discerning and knowledgeable public and the commendable maturity of his target doused the intended consequences of El-Rufai’s hate-comments. 

On the allegation itself – tribal bigotry – it would have been laughable if Nigerians were watching El-Rufai in a Nollywood melodrama or even comedy. In reality, no such trait could be further from the character and conduct of the man, Peter Obi; and the bases abound. The following comments from a cross-section of upset responsible Nigerians, including those of Northern origin, speak volumes of the true nature of Obi and further diminish the fading stature of Nasir El-rufai.

Speaking on different occasions on the allegation that Peter Obi was discriminating against Northerners, three retired Police Officers of Northern origin who variously served as Commissioner of Police in Anambra State during Obi’s tenure, were agreed in rating Obi as a fair, humane and detribalized Nigerian whose principal focus as Governor was the good of all within his jurisdiction. DIG Philemon Leha [rtd.], visibly upset by the spurious allegation against Peter Obi, asserted: “I am from the North and I know what I am saying. Northerners are among the people holding the economy of Anambra State and in what circumstances could a Governor have sacked them? Numbering over 2 million as at last count, they are practically everywhere in the State, including Awka, Amansea, Onitsha, Nnewi and many other towns and communities. Let Nigerians be assured that the allegation is a lie. Anybody spreading that kind of rumour is not being fair to the man and that is not the way to go for our national development”.

Expressing concern over the spate of fake news designed to malign credible Nigerians, Alhaji Amusa Bello [CP in Anambra state, 2006-2010] observed that it was unthinkable for anyone to associate Peter Obi with violence or rascality as Obi never demolished any Mosque nor asked anyone, aside from criminals and kidnappers, to leave Anambra State. He called on “those behind this rumour to desist from that and look for fact. They should stop this ‘pull him down syndrome’ that will never take them anywhere good. Peter Obi has a lot of credentials and several attributes that favour him in his aspiration”.

In his usual calm manner, Peter Obi had some words of advice for Nasir El-Rufai: “…I believe that as we grow older and are saddled with more responsibilities, we are expected to become circumspect in our thinking and avoid recklessness in our speeches and utterances … All I do for people like El-Rufai is to pray for them and encourage them to concentrate on doing those things that will better the lots of Nigerians rather than engage in hate speeches that will divide and destroy the country … At this difficult time in our country, when thousands of our brothers and sisters across ethnic divides are killed all over the country, including innocent citizens in Kaduna State; millions of our children from all the parts of the country are out of school; millions of Nigerian youths from all parts of the country are without jobs, our pre-occupation, especially among those that are in government should not be making reckless speeches”.

It is instructive to note that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has a record of unstable conduct, of conflict of interests, and many have wondered how those around him manage to cope. After Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – as Vice-President of Nigeria – had brought him into the Federal power structure, he soon turned against and betrayed his benefactor. When the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua refused to appoint him into his Cabinet, El-Rufai promptly castigated the gentleman and his team, which included his erstwhile friends like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.  In the build-up to the 2011 general elections, El-Rufai described the incumbent President as follows: “General Muhammadu Buhari is perpetually unelectable”, to which the retired General had responded: “El-Rufai has finally revealed his shallow grasp of global political history, and his complete ignorance of the issues at stake in the Nigerian polity…”.  .Today, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is the self-styled chief confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari. His conduct of public affairs as Governor of Kaduna State since May 2015, including high-handedness and manic acts of omission and commission against the people, are evident but will be discussed on another platform.

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On a cursory platform, Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai could well be mistaken for colleagues in a blue-chip body corporate or a global corporation. However, in reality they are wide apart in upbringing, exposure, world-view, mien and conduct. Thankfully, they are both highly visible in the public domain for Nigerians to determine that the difference is clear. 

Need we say more?

Esin Etim Esin lives in Kachia, Kaduna State