This opinion piece condemns former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s recent calls for a military intervention in Nigeria. It argues that his comments are irresponsible, treasonous, and motivated by his political frustrations. The piece highlights el-Rufai’s history of authoritarian rule and human rights abuses in Kaduna State.
I read with dismay the coup-baiting comments by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai. Not only is it irresponsible for any politician to bait the military into taking over because they lost out in this administration, but it is also treasonous, especially when such comments are made by a man who was himself a danger to democracy while he held sway in Kaduna.
Nasir el-Rufai, speaking yesterday, said:
“For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits.”
He further said:
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself.”
His comments likening this administration to a military dictatorship is false and self-serving.
Nigerians should be reminded that under Nasir el-Rufai as Governor of Kaduna, the homes of his critics were demolished. Several of them were arrested and jailed, including Audu Maikori, who was forced into exile by Nasir el-Rufai.
Furthermore, then Governor el-Rufai admitted paying herders, and his reign marked the beginning of mass killings on an industrial scale in Southern Kaduna, which have now ended after he left office.
This is a man who threatened foreign election observers that they would leave Nigeria in “body bags“, and today, he is accusing the Tinubu administration of acting like a military government.
Yes, he is counting on the fact that Nigerians have short memories and may not remember his misdeeds.
Interestingly, on the same day that Nasir el-Rufai was photographed with his newfound political friends, Peter Obi gave an interview and said he was not interested “in any coalition that is for the purpose of taking power.”
Why did Peter Obi make that statement on the same day those men met? The signs are obvious. Peter Obi, like I, knows that their intentions for Nigeria are just state capture.
Like myself, Mr Obi was part of the Jonathan administration and knows that Nasir el-Rufai met President Jonathan at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. After that meeting, he began praising Dr. Jonathan and urging the then-acting President to contest the 2011 Presidential election because he thought he would be named vice President by President Jonathan.
But four days later, on May 15, 2010, when then-President Jonathan named Namadi Sambo the vice presidential nominee instead of him, Nasir el-Rufai began fighting him.
And the same Nasir el-Rufai, who had the previous year insisted General Buhari and said, “General Buhari has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded“, suddenly joined General Buhari and became his mouthpiece to fight the Jonathan administration.
Now, after having been snubbed by this administration, el-Rufai is up to his old antics.
I call on Nigerians to remind Nasir el-Rufai of his diabolical history and tell him they would not stand for a military coup because he lost out on becoming a minister.
The opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily align with the views of JolibaLive News! or any of its staff members. The author is in no way associated with this online news blog.
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