Hate Him Or Love Him, El-Rufai Is A Politician You Can’t Ignore – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as a politician who cannot be ignored.
This was as he told politicians in the country that they are all one in the task of nation-building irrespective of their political inclinations.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the unveiling of the book, “OPL245: The Inside Story of the $1.3b Nigerian Oil Bloc”, written by a former Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN, the vice president said what binds the political class together is stronger than what divides them.
In his acknowledgment of protocol, Shettima recognized most of the dignitaries, many of whom are of different political persuasions.
He said; “The game changer, is he still around? No, the game changer has left. But the enfant terrible of the Nigerian Governor’s Club, hate him, love him, but you can’t ignore him. Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, and the fire-spitting leader of the Kwankwassiyya Movement, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. So many dignitaries, which reflects the eclectic crowd of friends that Mohammed Bello Adoke maintains. We have PDP. We have new PDP. We have the coalition heavily represented by my elder brother, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai. We have the NNPP/APP/APC, but this is a reflection, this is a kaleidoscope of colours.
“What binds us together surpasses whatever that divides us. Former IGP MD Abubakar is a PDP man, okay, let me say sympathetic to PDP. We are all one. I have the best of relationships with him, in spite of our minor political differences.
And of course, Senator Daggash, are you in ADC, APC, or PDP? Only God knows where you belong to”, he said lightheartedly.
At the event, former President Goodluck Jonathan recalled that at the end of his tenure in 2015, several of his officials were targeted by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Jonathan, who was represented by a former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, in his administration, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said Adoke was hunted at home and abroad.
He said; “The author of this memoir, Mr. Bello Adoke, was the Attorney-General of the Federation at that time. He was hunted across the globe but today, he is alive, he is healthy, and he is here to tell his story.
“Power belongs to God. The best anyone who is blessed with the opportunity of holding public office should do is to commit to the assignment and use the opportunity to uphold truth, justice, and fairness.
“To some, the occasion may be a book presentation. To others, it is a celebration of victory over persecution”.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
