FORMER Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, took to his official X account over the weekend to express his views on what he described as ‘envy’ within Nigeria’s political class.
His comments come in the wake of allegations of corruption and misappropriation of government funds during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had accused his administration of allegedly siphoning N432 billion, leaving the state with significant debt liabilities.
In June, the ad hoc committee formed by the state Assembly to investigate the finances, loans, and contracts under El-Rufai’s administration presented its findings to the House.
The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia stated that many loans obtained during El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purposes, and in some instances, due process was not followed in securing these loans.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, also alleged that N423 billion had been siphoned by El-Rufai’s administration, resulting in massive liabilities for the state.
As a result, the committee recommended that El-Rufai and certain members of his cabinet be investigated and prosecuted by security and anti-corruption agencies for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.
The committee further recommended the immediate suspension of the current Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served under El-Rufai’s administration in the same role.
Scandalous Claims
In response, El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, defended the integrity of El-Rufai’s administration and dismissed the committee’s claims as “scandalous.”
He stated, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.
“Many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude with which they served Kaduna State. They were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was obvious that the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.
“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.
“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team. He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”
El-Rufai has since filed a fundamental rights lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the state House of Assembly.
‘Envy Leads to Hatred,’ Says El-Rufai in Weekend Reflection
In a lengthy post on his X account today, El-Rufai described envy as an ‘incurable disease’ and expressed doubt that it could be cured within the political class.
He wrote, “WEEKEND REFLECTION: ‘NONE of us has to fail for ALL of us to succeed. And in unity there is strength.’ – @VP Kamala Harris, US Vice President (2021-2024) and Democratic Presidential Candidate at the Democratic National Convention.
“The quote above led me to reflect on its meaning and implications for our situation in Nigeria. Feelings of envy require that EVERYONE fails for ONE to succeed.
“Envy is quite prevalent amongst the key actors in our political system. Competence, capacity, and commitment are some personal leadership qualities that attract the envy of those lacking or deficient in these areas.
“Instead of striving to attain, the envious seek to hate and destroy those who are better. Envy leads to hatred.
“Hatred leads to destructive thoughts and actions, including unspeakable crimes like perjury, malicious prosecution, persecution, unlawful imprisonment, torture, and even murder of the target(s) of the envy.
“Can the incurable disease of envy among Nigerians, particularly within the political class, be cured? Personally, I doubt it.
“The emerging problem in Nigeria is the outcome of the continuously deteriorating competence, capacity, and commitment of the political leadership.
“Societies succeed or fail depending on these personal and institutional qualities.
“No matter what, the incurable virus of ENVY has to be confronted and degraded, if not cured, if Nigeria is to achieve its manifest destiny of greatness and leadership of the Black Race. I pray this can be realized. Amen.”