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Tag: el-Rufai

  • Nigeria will rise again, says el-Rufai

    Nigeria will rise again, says el-Rufai

    Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Nasir el-Rufai and Latter Rain Assembly Pastor Tunde Bakare yesterday said the people who ruined Nigeria would soon be consumed by the wrath of God.

    el-Rufai said Nigeria would still rise, regardless of the damage people had done to it.

    He said there was a time when the government listened to the people.

    He said Nigerians needed the courage to speak out their minds, regardless of intimidation from any quarters.

    el-Rufai said he did not publish his book to dent anybody’s image but he did so to give Nigerians hope.

    The duo spoke at the presentation of “The Accidental Public Servant”, written by the former FCT minister at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    el-Rufai said: “Seventy-five per cent of Nigerians today were born 35 years ago when things were working in the country. When you send a letter to the government, you receive a reply. When you apply for a job, you will be shortlisted based on your discipline. But today, it is not so, and some of this generation of today can not believe this because nothing is working again.

    “When Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Awolowo were at the helms of affairs of this country, we had Nigeria that worked. Leaders are not God, they are human like us. You can do better if you are in that office. But before we can do this, we need education, dedication, integrity, honesty and commitment to this great nation.”

    Pastor Bakare said el-Rufai was not a religious bigot.

    He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo should praise the former minister for revealing some of the secrets of his administration.

    Pastor Bakare said:“I want to commend the courage of el-Rufai for making some secrets in his book clear to Nigerians. Obasanjo should not condemn him but he should be commending him because God wants him to use that medium to check him.

    “Those who referred to el-rufai as a religious fundamentalist or bigot do not know him because he has worshipped with us at Latter Rain Assembly several times and tweeted it to the people all over the world for the people to know what we preach.”

     

     

     

     

  • Political crime of preventable suffering; El Rufai’s autobiography

    Political crime of preventable suffering; El Rufai’s autobiography

    When a government takes power it must take on responsibilities to the citizenry. In Nigeria political power is an end in itself. The only activities advertised are self-perpetuating ‘re-election engineering’ supported by theft and accumulation of masses of public money to fill ‘war chests’ to execute a re-election project. This ‘politically legitimised’ but totally ‘criminally illegal’ budget diversion in the moral custody of the political class to personal and party war chests deprived the budget of functionality at every level of growth and development.

    Nigeria has suffered from the political roundabout of ‘win-budget-political theft-budget failure-election corruption-win-budget-theft-budget failure etc’. This preoccupation of politics with self-perpetuation and unenlightened political self-interest has overridden our development as none of the 5, 10, 15 or 20 year development plans were seriously executed. The dichotomy of the North and South views on everything has also been a major drawback to sustained development. The best example is the abuse and misapplication of federalism to mean only a ‘skewed federal character’. This is an on-going 35 year hidden ‘Second Civil War’- with abandonment of basic honest sharing principles on the altar of warped principles, census, LGA and revenue figures and domination or dependency. The spin-off was the conservative versus progressive struggle, usually won by the powerful conservative elements of all ethnic groups. The cost of this stranglehold on Nigeria was a serious lack of three things- development, devolution of power and funds nationwide. This cost is reflected in Nigeria’s woeful showing in sports, electricity power supply, education, medical treatment, railways and abandonment of the well-entrenched colonial culture of building and road maintenance.

    Historically, the Public Works Department would mark a date in five years on the wall and it would return on that date to repaint the house. We abandoned that inherited colonial working civil service maintenance culture. Those who sat at meetings which abandoned such maintenance strategies should be exposed. Note that UK spent over £22m pounds on citizens’ compensation claims for potholes.

    Little could be done by individual citizens and states to cancel out federal abdication of its national responsibility and abandonment and deliberate neglect of the railways or the failure of the national power grid or the bad roads. Of course all used and still use generators etc to substitute for power deprivation. This is preventable suffering. Nigeria would have saved trillions annually if no generators had ever been imported to substitute for a failed government. The grid would have been forced to grow at 1,000Mw per annum to 25-30,000Mw by now, short of the needed 100,000Mw but better than our 5,000Mw. Who pays for this ‘preventable suffering’?

    Every pothole and diversion for development must be studied to reduce ‘preventable suffering’. Remember the anguish at Ogere and Ore? All ‘Preventable Suffering’ is easily solved. Government is not God and must create solutions to prevent suffering even during construction. It is not necessary for citizens to suffer excessively for government development! Government should supervise and force contractors to take care of citizens during construction.

    Nigeria’s failure to develop railways, roads and power and cancel history from schools was no mistake but a deliberate punishable criminal conspiracy against Nigeria. It was deliberate government policy. Those civil servants, politicians and military adventurers who sat at Federal Executive Council and Ministerial Meetings vetoing power grid development, standard gauge railway line, East West roads, second Niger Bridge and history from the curriculum know each other. We want to know them before they get more misplaced national honours. Such people have no business lamenting ‘Nigeria Today’ or advising current governments on the ‘way forward’. All their lapses have paralysed the nation while countries with fewer resources have leapt ahead of us in almost every ranking except corruption and other negative areas. They should be exposed under the Freedom of Information Act and in properly informative biographies like the exciting new 627 page autobiography by Nasir El-Rufai titled ‘The Accidental Public Servant’. Agree or not with him, you should get a copy if you are writing a biography or are hopeful for the future of Nigeria. Criminal politicians beware. We the people will get access, a la El-Rufia, to what you say and do, irresponsible or not, in governance and your deeds will appear in the public domain. Look at the recent sack of judges.

    Government is often people with greed and ambition with little vision. Government’s failure in railways made life a misery and a death trap. Government intentions to perpetuate the railway blight failed when its search for an international container port license for Lagos required railway evacuation of containers. The citizens made do with nothing in some parts while in progressive areas the citizens substituted for federal losses by investment of their resources in their children’s education.

    Happily a few of these areas are finally receiving attention mainly because the conservatives have finally agreed to be dragged into the 21st Century. But the pace is slow relative to need to compensate for ‘preventable suffering’.

    Recently we have seen some movement in solving these problems and serious attempts to achieve the MDGs but at what mega-cost and corruption? Inexplicably, simple mass action solutions like UBEC-led ‘Emergency Operation Textbooks, Science and Sports Equipment Boxes’ still elude millions of Nigerian students stuck in over 70,000 schools mostly unworthy of the simplest dictionary definition of ‘school’ –enlightened inspired teachers, teacher and child friendly school environment, books, books, books. Preventable suffering?

  • 2011 polls: Obasanjo wanted Buhari, Okonjo-Iweala ticket –El-Rufai

    2011 polls: Obasanjo wanted Buhari, Okonjo-Iweala ticket –El-Rufai

    Feared Jonathan won’t be competent president

    Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el- Rufai, has alleged a plot by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from winning the 2011 election.

    The alleged plot, according to El-Rufai in his memoirs The Accidental Public Servant, was based on the ex-President’s perception of Jonathan as a weak leader.

    El-Rufai calls the scheme an “interesting move” to stop Jonathan.

    Obasanjo’s preference, he says, was a joint ticket of General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Okonjo-Iweala also served in the Obasanjo government in the same capacity.

    The book, which is due for public presentation this week in Abuja, has become a hot cake.

    But for security reasons, its pre-launch circulation has been restricted to a select few.

    The ex-Minister, who enjoyed the confidence of the former President and was one of his trusted aides, said of the alleged plot: “The period between 15th January and the deadline for submission of nominations by political parties to INEC had its own version of intrigues. Pastor Bakare had not immediately accepted the offer to be running mate, but the media was awash with speculations that Buhari had chosen him.

    “On 25th January, I was summoned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to his hotel room at the Hilton for reasons he said were both urgent and important. On arrival, I exchanged pleasantries with Steven Oronsaye and Akin Osuntokun in the living room and we went straight into his bedroom.

    “After greetings, Obasanjo asked if I was still in touch with Buhari. I replied that I was not directly but could reach him anytime I wished. He then asked that I resumed my role of emissary between the two of them and wished to know quickly if I could reach Buhari with a message. I responded that I could do so pretty quickly.

    “Obasanjo then said that he concurred with my earlier belief that Jonathan would not make a competent President and that the best presidential candidate of the whole lot was Buhari.

    “He expressed willingness to support Buhari and go public with it if CPC and Buhari are willing to consider his suggestions and implement them.

    “Obasanjo suggested that I should convince Buhari to pick Ngozi as his running mate, enter immediately into an alliance with the ACN and ANPP, and then offer the Senate President’s position to the South-West to secure Tinubu’s support.”

    The former Minister said Obasanjo offered to source for four wealthy Nigerians who could finance Buhari and CPC’s campaign.

    El-Rufai added: “If Buhari agreed to these proposals, Obasanjo undertook to get three or four unnamed wealthy people to help with funding the CPC campaign, and Obasanjo would try bringing Labour Party to endorse the Buhari-Ngozi ticket.

    “Obasanjo promised to resign from the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and announce his support for the ticket if it would be helpful. I took notes on the hotel notepaper and left, promising to report back the next day.

    “It was fortuitous that both Buhari and Pastor Bakare were in Abuja, so along with Pastor Bakare we met Buhari and delivered Obasanjo’s message.

    “Bakare, who until then was a reluctant running mate, saw the Obasanjo offer as good for CPC and Buhari and hoped it would free him from the burden that Buhari had imposed on him.

    “He added that since Buhari had not yet officially announced his name as running mate, he would be happy to step aside for Ngozi. I was simply an emissary so I was silent, hoping that Buhari would accept so I would be free of my commitment to be at Bakare’s side!

    “Buhari smiled and asked for my opinion as someone that knew Obasanjo pretty well. I told both of them that I thought Obasanjo was being honest in his recommendations as I would urge Buhari to take similar steps of merger with other parties and so on

    “I doubted if Obasanjo would deliver on the monies promised and the resignation from the PDP Board of Trustees and did not even think the latter would help the CPC and GMB in anyway.

    “I also added that Obasanjo’s faction of Ogun PDP had just lost all their tickets to contest the next elections and should this situation change, Obasanjo would renege on everything he had committed to. Obasanjo may also be making another strategic move of removing Bakare’s name from the ticket, in addition to responding to Jonathan’s failure to ensure that his faction got the ticket by hook or crook- something Jonathan simply refused to do, preferring to support the state governor, Gbenga Daniel and his faction.

    “Buhari restated that he thought long and hard before deciding on Bakare and would not change his mind. However, we all agreed to continue to engage Obasanjo and encourage contacts with Ngozi while pushing to see real movement towards the financial and other political commitments made.

    “The same evening I returned to Obasanjo to brief him. He was excited and promised to contact Ngozi, Labour Party, the ANPP leadership and a few wealthy benefactors.”

    The ex-Minister also revealed how Obasanjo made a U-turn on Jonathan and threw his weight behind him regardless of his ‘weaknesses’.

    He said: “Some days later on 1st February, I got a call from Prof. Julius Ihonvbere requesting a meeting to follow up on my discussions with Obasanjo and Buhari. We met in the 3G offices on 2nd February with Julius and Festus Odimegwu on the same subject.

    “We exchanged information and updates on the political situation and ended with the question posed by Obasanjo to me and then to Julius and Festus- “How do we stop Jonathan from getting elected, and thereby saving the country from state failure?

    “We discussed various steps but unanimously recognised that Obasanjo would abandon the plan as soon as his temporary disagreement with the Jonathan administration was resolved. Since we believed in what we were doing, we agreed to soldier on under whatever scenario.

    “On 7th February, we all travelled to Abeokuta to meet with Obasanjo. Odimegwu and Julius had developed a clear roadmap about remedying the weaknesses in Buhari’s organization and campaign for Obasanjo to play his lead role in the anti-Jonathan effort.

    “By then, a weird Federal High Court ruling had restored the tickets of Iyabo Obasanjo and other members of their faction in Ogun State. So true to form, Obasanjo simply back-tracked, rejected the roadmap he had asked us to prepare, and said we should now explore ways of “remedying Jonathan’s weaknesses” and supporting his candidature.

    “His commitments to Buhari vanished that day, just as we all predicted on 25th January. It was a very depressing drive late at night to Lagos for the five of us-Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Festus Odimegwu, and Prof. George Obiozor with Otunba Akingboye driving.

    “We lamented Obasanjo’s consistency in putting his personal interest before that of the nation and agreed that never again will he get another opportunity to waste our time the way he just did.”

  • el-Rufai urges professionals

    The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has admonished professionals to uphold the tenets of service for the nation to rely on their expertise and judgement.

    Speaking at the induction of new associates into the professional cadre of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) in Abuja, el-Rufai charged the inductees to ‘’ensure that  they distinguish themselves and always give clients value for money’.

    ’ Represented by an aide, Mr Martins Akumazi, said the problem with professionals is their disposition towards money rather than creating a niche for themselves by building a brand around integrity and professionalism.

    He urged them to be patient, dedicated to their professional callings and also to ensure they are always in tune with agreed principles of correct moral conduct. He also urged them to eschew anything pertaining to professional misconduct and dishonesty while carrying out their professional services.

    To the newly inducted Associates, he implored them to build their profession around good name which he said is more sustainable rather than money which will always follow any one that has the quality of integrity expressed by good name.

    He also enjoined them to be forthright in their dealings with clients and colleagues in their activities.

    In her keynote address at the ceremony, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Ms. Ama Pepple represented by Sir GTN Tanbasi, a  Deputy Director in the Ministry, challenged professionals to upgrade themselves and ensure they are on top of issues in their profession.

    He said as it is impossible for a nation to develop beyond the level of her educational attainment, so it for its citizens. She urged them to see themselves as important stakeholders in the quest for nation building.

    She said as real estate practitioners’, the nation looks up to them as those who would provide the solution to housing in Nigeria. She said now that their voice can be heard as professionals, they should not hesitate to make their input known as professional members of Estate surveyors and valuers.

    The ceremony, which took place at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja under the chairmanship of Mr A. G. Songosanya, the Chairman of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board Of Nigeria (ESVARBON) attracted other professionals.

    NIESVPresident Mr Emeka Eleh who administered the oath of office and the induction assisted by members of his management committee, was enthusiastic that professionals have the wherewithal in terms of skill and competence to meet up with global standards when called upon to render their professional service.

  • el-Rufai, Kuye, Akingba bemoan corruption

    el-Rufai, Kuye, Akingba bemoan corruption

    Prominent Nigerians, including former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), President Mrs. Pricilla Kuye and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, Dr. Amos Akingba have bemoaned the spate of corruption in Nigeria, stressing that the country is at a crossroads.

    Kuye said proper upbringing of children and enthronement of good leadership would stem the rot, urging Nigerians to vote for men of integrity during periodic elections.

    Akingba stressed the need for constitution change, adding that the current 1999 Constitution is the most corrupt document in the world.

    el-Rufai asked leaders and citizens to stand up for what is right and not what is convenient, lamenting that Nigerian system had converted individuals into municipalities.

    They spoke at a lecture in Lagos organised by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG). The lecture entitled: ‘Reparations: What Nigeria owes the tortoise’ was delivered by Prof. Pius Adesanmi, a Canada-based university don.

    The SNG Convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who hinted that the group might hold another massive protest against the government on the national drift, declared that revolution should not begin in the churches and mosques because clerics have soiled their image and wreaked havoc on the nation. He called for the probe of sources of income of Christian clerics buying private jets, saying that they are corrupt.

    Bakare also decried the poverty of political leadership, which he said, had crippled governance in the country.

    The Guest Lecturer lamented that Nigerian leaders had been behaving like the proverbial tortoise assailed by selfishness and wickedness, adding that the struggle for national cake had displaced the more important need to bake the cake.

    He said the current leadership had refused to learn from the good example of leadership laid by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the defunct Western Region, based on the principles of “collective good and common will”.

    Prof. Adesanmi accused leaders of individualism, which he described as the father of selfishness. He said: “The rain that falls on bitter leaf is the same rain that falls on sugarcane. The same rain of oil falls Dubai and Nigeria. The difference is leadership. Since 1999, rulers have behaved like the tortoise”.

    Mrs. Kuye asked Nigerians to speak up against bad governance to reduce the moral decadence in the society. She added: “Nobody should be above the law; it appears some people are. This is bad. Accountability is lacking in this country. People should take the federal legislators to accountability. Why are the legislators earning so much money? That money can be used to develop the country”.

    el-Rufai said: “Nigeria is at a crossroads. We are situated in a crisis of unquantifiable proportion. Men and women of goodwill should reject evil. Every year, we need to create three million jobs to arrest unemployment. Investment in education has collapsed to less than five percent. Nigeria is not secured from these problems. It is the elite’s enclave mentality.

    “No water, but people sink boreholes and get water treatment. No road, they buy jeeps. No police, they will get private police. Now, they are getting private jets. In the west, there is armed robbery. In the east, it is kidnapping. In the north, it is Boko Haram. They are not different”.

    A politician, Jimi Agbaje, said: “We need to scrutinise politicians before we elect them to lead us”.

    Also at the lecture were the Okeja NBA chairman, Monday Ubani; former federal legislator Dino Melaye; an economist, Erick Boyo; Campaign for Democracy (CD) leader, Dr Joe Odumakin; Dr. Akinyemi Onigbinde, Gbemi Ogunbiyi, and Pastor Simeon Afolabi.