The Many Sins of El-Rufai (By Comrade Musa Garba)

The Many Sins of El-Rufai (By Comrade Musa Garba)

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is once again attempting to manipulate public opinion, parading himself as a champion of Northern Muslims and a fearless social critic. But Nigerians must not be deceived. El-Rufai’s record in public service is riddled with arrogance, recklessness, and a blatant disregard for the very people he now pretends to defend.

 A Legacy of Destruction?

El-Rufai first gained national prominence as the Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term. Under his watch, Nigeria’s privatization process became a national tragedy. Government-owned institutions were sold off at giveaway prices, often to cronies with neither the capacity nor the intention to make them productive. The result? Decay, collapse, and mass unemployment.

Some of the most controversial sales under his tenure include:

- Ajaokuta Steel Company & Delta Steel Company, both of which failed under new ownership, crippling Nigeria’s steel sector.

- ALSCON (Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria), sold in a shady deal to Russia’s RUSAL, sparking legal battles.

- Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), whose botched privatization left Nigeria without a national telecom backbone.

- Nigeria Airways, liquidated under El-Rufai’s BPE, leaving thousands of workers stranded.

- Power Sector (NEPA/PHCN), which was sold off in a rushed process that worsened Nigeria’s electricity crisis.

Instead of driving economic growth, these privatizations destroyed industries, leading to massive job losses and further economic instability.

 The Kaduna Nightmare

El-Rufai’s eight-year rule in Kaduna State was a textbook example of divide-and-rule politics. His administration deepened religious and ethnic tensions, favoring one group while oppressing others. His infamous statement—warning that he had paid off foreign mercenaries to avenge Fulani killings—was a dangerous endorsement of violence that set the stage for the security crisis that engulfed the state.

Under his watch, banditry and kidnappings spiralled out of control. Innocent citizens were slaughtered in their homes and on highways, yet El-Rufai’s response was cold indifference. Schools were closed due to insecurity, businesses suffered, and entire communities lived in perpetual fear.

 A Man Without Loyalty?

El-Rufai’s greatest skill is betraying those who once trusted him. He turned against Obasanjo, who brought him into national politics. He betrayed President Goodluck Jonathan, whose government he viciously criticized after enjoying his goodwill. Even within the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai constantly schemed against allies, discarding them once they were no longer useful to his ambitions.

Today, he is at it again—seeking public sympathy after falling out of favour with the Tinubu administration. But Nigerians must remember: El-Rufai serves no one but himself. His newfound “activism” is not about justice or fairness—it is about regaining lost political relevance.

 Conclusion 

El-Rufai’s record is not one of service but of destruction, division, and betrayal. His desperate attempts to rewrite history must be resisted. Nigeria deserves better than the hypocrisy of a man whose entire career has been built on deceit. The many sins of El-Rufai can not and must not be forgotten.

Comrade Garba wrote from Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State