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Mallam Nasir el-Rufai: The Unguarded Utterances of Mr. I know it all

Published

2 years ago

February 5, 2023

Nasir El-rufai Is A Threat To National Peace, Represents Taliban’’ – Primate Ayodele Fumes

Mallam Nasir el-Rufai: The Unguarded Utterances of Mr. I know it all.

In his book, The Accidental Civil Servant, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai said former President Olusegun Obasanjo told him that he was going to easily make enemies and be hated because he looked too smart and intelligent. The letter writer was mistaken because there was nothing unusual about el-Rufai’s petite physique that could intimidate anyone, only his loudmouth. Mallam el-Rufai has a way with words, and regardless of who you are, if you hear him talk for five minutes on any subject matter, you will either applaud, loathe, or hate him. He is smart, very articulate, and bold in all his arguments, opinions, and expressions.

I am compelled to write this article because I no longer believe that Mallam el-Rufai’s vituperations and postulations are those of a statesman or a true leader. Furthermore, the way and manner in which he talks about the president and his party is sickening. In fact, el-Rufai wants us to believe that he was single handedly responsible for the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the presidential flagbearer of the APC. As far as the Kaduna state governor is concerned, he was the most critical factor that led to the emergence of Tinubu as the flagbearer of the APC, and he will not rest on his oars until the jagaban becomes the president. That way, the jagaban will be indebted to el-Rufai, the new power broker and leader of the new cabal. I reckon that el-Rufai is working very hard to emerge as our next Mamman Daura.

Recently, el-Rufai was on his Channels to castigate the president as an indecisive leader who is incapable of identifying a successor, and also accuse some people in the Aso villa of working for the defeat of the APC. He stated that those forces in the villa were enraged that their preferred candidate had been defeated in the APC presidential primaries. Before you could say, Jack Robinson, the so called most intelligent and fearless governor in Nigeria was on TVC and BBC Hausa, where he not only expounds on his Channels interview but also says that there are no more elders in the north. He said he is an elder because he is a grandfather and he was twice elected governor, and that those so-called elders in the north don’t deserve to be called elders because they were never elected into political office, as if all that it takes to be an elder is winning an election. Unfortunately for el-Rufai, many Nigerians don’t see him as an elder, and had it been that he was standing for an elective office in this general election, Nigerians would have shown him the red card.

I’m told el-Rufai is a fox who doesn’t care about the APC or even Nigeria as a country. What he is concerned about is his interests and ego. Three years ago, the news was rife that el-Rufai would be paired with Rotimi Ameachi as vice president and president, respectively. The two were like Siamese twins, and as of that time, el-Rufai was always in Abuja meddling with the duties of the vice president just to show that if he ends up becoming vice president, he will be a better one. He did all he could to get Buhari to name him and Amaechi as successors, but the president kept mum. He continued with Ameachi until when he realized that Ameachi was planning to take a former Army chief as his running mate. That was all that el-Rufai needed to change his direction and look for another presidential aspirant who could take him on as a running mate. The fact that el-Rufai refused to contest for any post was because he was eyeing the vice president slot. Since Rotimi Ameachi was planning to take his running mate from the northeast, el-Rufai manipulated and advised the northwest governors to opt for Tunubu as flagbearer of the APC. He did so because he believed Tinubu would choose him as his running mate if he became the APC’s flagbearer. He did that knowing fully well that the president preferred either Yemi Osibanjo or Ameachi to succeed him because of their age, guts, and clean records. But since neither of the two wants to take him as a running mate, they will not get the ticket. He worked tirelessly and encouraged the APC flagbearer to make use of money to win the APC primaries. But alas, Tinubu, despite all the shenanigans and manipulations mounted against him, refused to take the most intelligent governor as his running mate but instead went for Kashim Shettima.

The PDP’s flagbearer is a dangerous man—very dangerous in el-Rufai’s estimation. Life will be hell under an Atiku presidency. Mr. Atiku identified and recommended el-Ruafi to Chief Obasanjo, but el-Rufai betrayed him when Obasanjo gave him the impression that he was going to make him president. There is no love lost between el-Rufai and Atiku, and el-Rufai knows that. For that reason, Tinubu must succeed and become president. No, not because el-Rufai believes in Tinubu but because the flagbearer of the PDP is a sworn enemy. Therefore, when he wrongly thought that some people inside the villa were working for Atiku, he became mad and lost control. He went berserk and began to say things that he could not verify. All I can say here is that no one forced the president to redesign the Naira and give a date for changing it; the president did it on his own. To be fair to el-Rufai, the timing of the idea was wrong. As we can see, the enchilada has become counterproductive simply because the criminals are always a step ahead of the president. At a time when the APC needs the goodwill of Nigerians through their votes, this scarcity of the Naira notes made them frown at the party and even stone the president in Kano when he went for a state visit. The Naira scarcity is a national disgrace because it has dragged the government into fortuitous terrain that they never imagined they would find themselves in. We are now selling our own currency; both APC and PDP stalwarts unleashed their goons to scout and buy new Naira notes for them to the tune of hundreds of millions at a commission. The scarcity had crippled the business of the ordinary man on the street. It has made the APC very unpopular, and el-Rufai like every other Nigerian, has to be worried.

This is not the time for the APC to come out to the public and wash their very dirty linen, which many Nigerians already know. What they need to do is exercise caution, refrain from all unguarded utterances, and work together to see how the APC can win the February 25th elections. I say this because the stakes are high, and the APC cannot afford to treat this election lightly. This is because it will be difficult to rig this election, not just because of the BVAS but also because Nigerians are ready to see that their votes count. But I think what the APC should be worried about is the conspicuous silence and absence of major northern Christian APC stalwarts in the Tinubu campaign train. I am worried about the posturing and indifference of Boss Mustapha, the SGF. I think he is on the same bandwagon as Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Babachir Lawal. Not only that, I also believe that VP Yemi Osinbajo is also against his own party because of his stand against the Christian-Christian ticket. In fact, Tinubu compounded the matter when he picked someone who castigated him as an ice cream seller. Same with Ameachi and a host of others. Regardless of whatever their present position is, the APC must do everything to win them over and make sure that they work for the party. Even though Kashim Shettima hurriedly ran to go and see Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in the company of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, it is public knowledge that both Sheikh Bauchi and Ibrahim Saleh al-Hussain had endorsed Atiku, and this is something the APC should also worry about.

Why did I ignore Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, some readers of this post may ask? This is Nigeria, a very distinctive nation with its own distinct quirks. For an Obi presidency, the moment is still not right. The man still doesn’t have widespread appeal. Sen. Kwankwaso would have performed better, but he began his campaign later than expected, and his party’s influence is only in Kano and a few northern states. The upcoming elections in Nigeria will still be heavily influenced by money because Nigerians haven’t learned their lesson, just like when the big boys traveled to Abuja as party delegates to choose the presidential flagbearers, but instead of casting their votes for the candidates who would best serve their moral convictions, they opted to amass money instead.

Given the current political climate, it is essential for all APC leaders to show restraint and abide by the rules of their party and show decorum. Any overzealousness from a party leader, such as the recent statements from el-Rufai, could potentially rock the boat and destabilize the APC. It is therefore important that el-Rufai be cautioned and be advised to work harmoniously with other APC leaders to ensure that their party succeeds. APC leaders as well as PDP leaders strive to remain united and committed to the fundamental principles of democracy in order to ensure a stable and secure nation.

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Celebrating Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje At 60 By Jimmy Enyeh

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Celebrating Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje At 60 By Jimmy Enyeh

Majority of Deltans are unanimous in their submissions that the name of
Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, a celebrated top civil servant and retired permanent secretary in Delta State Government House has been recorded in the good side of history.

As he clocked 60 today, family members, friends, associates and well wishers have been falling over themselves to pay tribute to a kind hearted and jolly good fellow.

Edwin, a scion of the famous Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, a family noted for producing top bureaucrats and influential public servants.

For 35 years until he retired in January 2024, he added values to Delta State civil service, deepening its positive nuances and was one of the people that nurtured the civil service of the young state upon creation in 1991 to its now enviable heights, setting it along with others on a trajectory that has made it one of the best in the country.

Gbegbaje’s story is far from the proverbial rags-to-riches . He was born into comfort and high society, but suddenly lost his affluent parents in his first and third years at the University of Jos, but with good counsel and guidance of relatives who were bureaucrats, Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje made a career choice that saw him becoming a permanent secretary at 46, a very rare feat in those days.

In an interview conducted three years ago to celebrate his 57 years, he offered a glimpse into his life, challenges and triumph. “I come from the larger Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. We have quite several branches of the genealogical tree. We have the Abesan. The patriarch of the family is Chief Gbegbaje Dasone.

“We have Oloyo Gbegbaje and Ogidi Gbegbaje. My parents were civil servants like myself. My mum was a social welfare officer who rose through the ranks.During the late Ambrose Ali administration in Bendel State, she was appointed permanent secretary. My father was a medical doctor.

“He was the first radiologist in the defunct Bendel State and second in the country. My father was the chief consultant radiologist in Bendel State. I also have an uncle, Mr. K Gbegbaje who was a permanent secretary. When he retired, he became the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission. I have an uncle who was the first Accountant-General of Kwara State. He was in the northern civil service in the 60s.He later became Chairman of National Oil. I am from a family of bureaucrats. I attended Emotan Primary School in Benin.

“I proceeded to Edo College. When I left Edo College, I had the desire to leave Benin. Even when I was admitted into UNIBEN to study Economics and Statistics, I wasn’t enthusiastic. So, I got admission to study Political Science in Jos in 1981. Prof Emovon from UNIBEN was the Vice-Chancellor in Jos at the time. As I was entering, Jos ceased being a campus of the University of Ibadan. I was there from 1981 -1985. I graduated before my 21st birthday.

“Unfortunately, I lost my dad as I was entering the university in 1981. When I was just getting into my third year, I lost my mum.

It wasn’t easy being the eldest among my siblings. In fact, I was encouraged to come for Christmas holiday in Benin without knowing that the evening of my arrival in Benin was the period of my mum’s service of songs.

“I didn’t have an inkling that such a thing had happened. I didn’t even hear that she was ill. I was shocked when I saw canopies in my compound at Ovie Whiskey Avenue close to Ekhewan Campus. A prominent Jos-based businessman from Ughelli encouraged me to visit home for Christmas.

“I graduated in 1985 and taught at a secondary school in Iko-Eket, Cross River State. Just as I was finishing, there were some advertisements for jobs. I didn’t see the one for NNPC early enough.Towards the end of 1988, my uncle who was the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission, said since I couldn’t get a private sector job, I should participate in extended interviews, especially since I had sat for ASCON examination.

“He advised me to start a career in the civil service. By the end of 1988, letters of appointment were out. I wasn’t conscious of the fact that the person who resumes first becomes the senior in service. I didn’t resume early. My uncle said I was supposed to have resumed instead of waiting to resume in the New Year. A few of my friends who were conscious of it had resumed and they became my seniors in service. I resumed on January 3, 1989.

“That was how my career started. We were supposed to come in as administrative officers Grade 7, but at that time there was a decree. So, by the time we came in, we were designated as personnel officers. We were regarded as the special class.

“Upon the creation of Delta State on August 27, 1991, we all had to move to Asaba. In fact, the movement was swift.
We were all not fully prepared for the swift movement. There was a surge of human beings into Asaba with the state creation. A lot of us couldn’t get accommodation in Asaba when we came. In fact, I stayed in Ibusa for nine years. It was when I met my wife that we moved to Asaba. A lot of my colleagues were sleeping in the offices then.

On his retirement, the Delta State governor praised Gbegbaje’s contribution to the growth of the state.

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, at the retirement thanks-giving service of Gbegbaje, urged civil servants in the state to emulate his virtues.

Speaking at a grand reception in honour of the celebrant at the Events Centre, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori described Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an intelligent, humble, diligent, transparent, process driven, selfless, accountable and compassionate bureaucrat.

While congratulating the retired Permanent Secretary for his diligent and patriotic service to the state, Oborevwori said Ogidi-Gbegbaje was very helpful in the last seven months of his administration.

According to him, “a lot has been said about Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje and I also have a personal experience about him while I was Speaker and in the last seven months as Governor of Delta State, we have worked very closely and he helped me to settle down quickly.

“Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje played his role very well, he is diligent in his duties and was always giving good and useful advise wherever he worked.

“Your service to humanity is something worth emulating and I must say that I enjoyed working with you. I congratulate you for 35 years of unblemished and meritorious service to the government and people of Delta State.

“We are going to miss you, the civil service will miss you, the machinery of government will miss you, you are retired but you are not tired, and your service is still needed.

“I want other civil servants to emulate your commitment to duty. So my message to other civil servants is that they should emulate Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje.

“If you look at his journey in the civil service from Bendel to Delta, you see his commitment to duty. Today, he has finished strong and we rejoice with him and his family”.

Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, congratulated the celebrant for a successful retirement from service and urged other civil servants to emulate his kind virtues and commitment to duty.

From all indications, Edwin Ogidi-Gbagbaje is worth celebrating, he has touched numerous lives in the last six decades.

At the cusp of his 60th anniversary, the social and the civil service landscapes pulse with milestones he has achieved thus reasserting his worth as a rare force of nature. As family and friends join him in celebrating his 60th birthday, the image that pops into head is that of his genius and the passionate intensity he possesses, literally squizing water from stone as far as the public service is concerned. His brilliant performance as a permanent secretary, Delta State Government House, has earned him another appointment. He is currently the Chairman, Delta State Bureau for Pension and has been giving a splendid account of himself.

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“In All Life’s Hardships, Keep Your Smile” By Prudent Ludidi

Published

6 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

“In All Life’s Hardships, Keep Your Smile” By Prudent Ludidi

Let’s talk about a powerful tool that can help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence, resilience, and hope. That tool is your smile.

Life can be tough. It can throw us curveballs, test our resolve, and push us to our limits. But in the midst of hardship, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We forget to smile, forget to laugh, and forget to live.

Your smile is more than just a facial expression. It’s a symbol of strength, courage, and determination. It’s a beacon of hope that shines brightly, even in the darkest moments.

When life gets tough, it’s tempting to frown, to cry, or to give up. But I urge you to do the opposite. Smile. Smile through the tears, smile through the pain, and smile through the struggles.

Smiling doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your problems or pretending everything is okay. It means you’re choosing to rise above, to find the silver lining, and to focus on the good.

Your smile has the power to transform your mindset, inspire others, diffuse tension, and heal emotional wounds. It’s a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and fear.

Think about it. When was the last time you smiled? Really smiled? Not just a polite smile or a forced grin, but a genuine, heartwarming smile?

Smiling can:

Reduce stress and anxiety
Boost your mood and energy
Improve your relationships
Increase your resilience

So, how can you keep your smile shining bright, even in the face of adversity?

Find the humor in difficult situations. Laughter is a powerful way to shift your perspective and lighten the load.

Practice gratitude daily. Focus on the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem.

Surround yourself with positivity. Spend time with people who uplift and support you.

Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and prioritize self-care.

Remember, your smile is contagious. It can light up a room, brighten someone’s day, and change the atmosphere.

In all life’s hardships, keep your smile. It’s a reminder that better days are ahead, that you’re stronger than you think, and that you’re not alone.

Your smile is your superpower. Use it to overcome obstacles, to uplift others, and to create a ripple effect of joy and positivity.

Don’t let life’s challenges steal your smile. Keep shining, keep smiling, and keep pushing forward.

You are stronger than you think.

You are braver than you feel.

And you are capable of overcoming anything that comes your way.

So, smile. Smile with confidence. Smile with courage. Smile with hope!

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Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai

The Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS, Nigerian Army) and Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Ambassador (Lt General rtd) Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR has said that Lagos State has all the qualifications of a modern city and is one of the most populated cities in Sub – Saharan Africa. He went further to affirm that Lagos is also indicative of the degree to which Nigeria’s economic, political, social, and cultural landscape is deeply embedded within the global system.

He made this assertion on Wednesday 20th November, 2024 as the keynote Speaker at the Second Edition of the Lagos State University of Education Security Summit, with the theme: Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai, while delivering the lecture in a paper titled: Lagos in Nigeria’s National Security and Defence Architecture: An Analysis.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai postulated in his paper that, “The presence of strategic military installations, the verse Atlantic Ocean and extensive coastline has placed Lagos State on the strategic defense map of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, He said further that, ” While the sea provides a strategic economic status it could also be vulnerable to external attacks across the ocean”.

In his paper, Ambassador Tukur Buratai reiterated that the Lagos State government should begin to look at the options and implications of having its own security.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai also emphasized the urgent necessity to bolster our nation’s troop level to 800,000. He said a larger and more robust force will enhance operational readiness, improve our country’s capacity to respond to various contingencies, and strengthen our alliance on the international stage.

He also called for the establishment of a Marine Corps for the Nigerian Navy to be strategically stationed in key regions such as Lagos, Borno, Cross River, and Port Harcourt.

He also raised the pressing issue of the persistent lack of stable power supply in Lagos. He asserted that the Lagos State Government must urgently prioritize the development of independent power generation.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai also lauded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s strategy regarding security in Lagos, which provides an example for governor’s throughout Nigeria. He said the governor recognizes that genuine security transcends mere physical presence or reactive measures. He commended the governor’s innovative approach, which has redefined the urban governance, and has also set a benchmark for other states to follow.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai also recalled that during his tenure as the Chief of Army Staff, he had the distinct privilege of witnessing the fruitful collaboration between the Nigerian Army and Lagos State under the leadership of Former Governor Ambode and now Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Ambassador Buratai, during the lecture, also appluaded the Lagos State Government on its infrastructural development in Lagos State, especially the Red and Blue Railway lines.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai also commended the Federal Government interventions in the development of Lagos State, while applauding the construction of the Lagos to Calabar Highway, he adviced the Lagos State and Federal Government on the security implications of opening up the high way, he suggested to the government to be proactive by early planning for its security when opened and becomes operational.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Education, Prof B. B Lafiaji-Okuneye welcomed Ambassador Tukur Buratai to the institution. In her words, she said, ” The great warlord and global peace ambassador is visiting our great institution for the first time. Sir, we appreciate you and what you stand for. Your desire for a Nigeria that is peaceful and safe, where the citizens and residents are free and are given every opportunity to prove their worth and contribute to the growth and development of the nation is evident “.

While making his contribution during the summit, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Lagos State, appreciated and commended Ambassador Buratai for adding value to the security summit and more importantly adding value to the Lagos State University of Education. The Commissioner also drew the attention of the participants of the summit to parts of Ambassador Buratai’s paper, where he elaborated on the strategy of social inclusiveness rather than the use of force to curb insecurity.

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Barr Tolani Sule on behalf of the Lagos State University of Education, presented a Plague of Honour to Ambassador Buratai for his role in nation building.

Other discussant at the Summit included, HRM, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, (Arolugbade 11, the Oloja of Epe Land and the Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs), HRM, Oba Momodu Afolabi Ashafa ( The Aladi of Ijanikin Kingdom), HRM, Oba (Dr) Aina Josiah Olanrewaju ( IKUYAMIKU 1, the Oloto of Oto Awori Kingdom) and HRH, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja JP ( ALADESHOYIN, the Paramount Ruler of Odo – Noforija Kingdom), all of whom spoke on the theme :Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.

The event which was attended by various Traditional Rulers, Members of the Governing Council and Senate of the Institution, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education in Lagos State, Barr Tolani Sule, Captain of Industries, Security and Para Military Chiefs in Lagos State, various invited guests and the students.

Ambassador Tukur Buratai’s delegation to the summit included, Lt General Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), Former Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army, Colonel Emmanuel Adegbola (rtd), Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, Alhaja Toyyibat Adeosun, Alhaji Isa Dogo amongst others.