el Rufa’is Litmus Test

How Malam  el Rufa’i  ends his tenure as governor will determine whether the people who’ll elect him president will look forward to it or quail at the prospect.

It is no secret that I admire Malam Nasiru el Rufai’s work ethic. I have been since the first and only time that my colleague, Aaron Ukodie, led me to meet with him when he was boss at the BPE. On that occasion, when Aaron and I flew to Abuja (from Lagos) to meet with the man, I was expecting to see the Oga as a big man in resplendent agbada, looking down on us and impatient at the intrusion. Instead I was nonplussed when accosted by a “pinchomic,” nonedescript fellow, padding barefoot at a government office, and without any visible airs. In spite of this bohemian outlook, the confidence he exuded was palpable. What killed it for me was that he actually created time to listen to our presentation, asking keen questions.

My admiration has persisted and caused me to begin to take a closer look at the man, his policies, and his progress on the political plane. And no my friend, Aaron and I didn’t get the job, nor has he ever offered me any consulting job (if you think that this would account for the admiration).

Since that meeting, my emotions have oscilated (nay suffered) between admiration and dismay each time I paused to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of some (not all) of his grand ideas and projects. Although his misteps sometimes bring untold suffering, anguish and tears to the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable, I have always given him benefit of the doubt because of my belief that only those who are actually working do make mistakes.

I confess that I saw in Malam Nasiru the kind of leader that Nigeria needs – modern, aggressive, focused, strategic thinker, and full of good ideas. But now comes Kaduna State, a litmus test and an opportunity for him to play at the grand political stage.

We all suspect that he wants to be president one day. Kaduna State under the leadership of Malam Nasiru will make or mar this as yet secret ambition to rule Nigeria. How? Simple. Kaduna is a mini Nigeria – multi-ethnic, politically sophisticated, and religiously polarized. The way he ends his tenure as governor will determine whether the people of Nigeria who may be called upon to elect him president – in 2019 or 2023 – will look forward to it or quail at the prospect of an el Rufa’i Presidency.

I sincerely hope he keeps this at the back of his mind in the execution of his current mandate, as I continue to wish him best of luck.