AmanaOnline

In his public life,the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai has cut the image of a frank, brutal and impassioned politician that courts controversy with an almost compulsive fervour. He neither fears nor runs away from issues and is won’t to deliver with such cadent thud on any issue, no matter whose ox is gored. Put simply, El Rufai is a straight shooter that leaves no one on doubt of where he stands on any issue. He does not hide behind pretensions niceties and does not deploy diplomacy when he talks on any issue. He doesn’t operate in stealth. He forewarns his opponents before he takes on them and is not known to operate with conceit and guise.

Predictably, the decision of the senate to stand down his confirmation for ministerial position in the President Bola Tinubu cabinet has stoked up quite enormous controversies and has brewed a fratricidal warfare that is threatening to assume a sectional and tribal tempo as different shades of the Nigerian public take sides on an issue that should pass as an ordinary issue were the person of Nasir El Rufai not been involved. What has added fuel to this particular fire is the scheming, antics, intrigues and mischief of Nigeria:s rich cult of schemers, agent provocateurs, merchants of intrigues who are desperate to sow tares in the Tinubu government and the APC using the stalled El Rufai confirmation saga as useful hatchet for their obnoxious projects. In a country where a gargantuan rumour mill and a humongous industry of mischief, fake news and industrial lies thrive, it isn’t surprising that the El Rufai issue has garnered traction more than its real worth. With a press and a public that relish such tittle tattle and fabricated gossip, it is understandable why the El Rufai issue has morphed into a divisive national discourse with all the predilection to divisive contestation and howling allegations thrown in every direction.

It is understandable why the stalled confirmation is generating so much passion across the various divides that undergird the Nigerian nation. It is in line with El Rufai’s public life that abhors not controversy. It is equally understandable why many Nigerians, and indeed many supporters of APC are irked by this stalled confirmation. El Rufai invokes such fanatical passion amongst core APC supporters for the brave, courageous and daring manner he led the Northern flank of the Asiwaju presidential campaign. At a time the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, slid into ethnic baiting to corner the votes of northerners in the 2023 presidential contest, El Rufai, with current APC National Chairman, Umar Ganduje led a fierce progressive fightback that not only damned Atiku’s tribal card but vociferously championed the cause of power shift to the South in line with national interest.

Again, El Rufai was frontal in challenging the asphyxiating currency swap policy that was levied on the country as the general election was approaching. He and some bold northerners did not only speak against it deleterious effects on APC support in the North but took the Buhari-led federal government all the way to the Supreme court over the policy.

These, coupled with El Rufai’s long cultivated persona as a forthright, frank and straightforward nationalist, have etched him deep in the hearts of many fervent APC supporters nationwide.

So, it was a given among majority of party faithfuls that El Rufai, who cut an indelible administrative niche for himself when he served as Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, would pick any office of his choice in the Tinubu government. His record as a no-nonsense, deep. competent and convinced administrator deepened the faith of APC faithfuls in his viability to add depth to the Tinubu government.

But it is trite to note that El Rufai wasn’t keen to continue in public office after his tenure as Kaduna governor. This much he stated at a public function before the election, stating his desire to quit public life and take a deserved rest. It was also public knowledge that President Bola Tinubu publicly stated that he needs El Rufai in his cabinet and that we would do everything to have him in his government. So the eventual nomination of El Rufai to the proposed Tinubu government followed these public declarations. It was not a burning desire on the part of El Rufai to continue in public office but a response to the just desire of the President that he should avail the nation of his rich residue of administrative knowledge and help the nation achieve its developmental goals. It is obvious that those shredding themselves to pieces today on this stalled confirmation issue and those who wrote those nefarious petitions against El Rufai are oblivious of this background to his nomination as Minister. If they know, they would have understood that Nigeria needs El Rufai as Minister than El Rufai nerds the ministerial portfolio. So having him out of the cabinet is a greater loss to Nigerian than to El Rufai.

It is instructive to observe the deep crevices that have developed amongst friends, associates and political soulmates, especially in APC, with this El Rufai issue. Particularly is the friction that has arisen amongst APC faithfuls, members and supporters on this issue. These deep layers of division gore negatively at the Tinubu presidency that needs the wholesome support of APC faithfuls to succeed. The division seeks to create wedges within the APC. This works to the schemes and intrigues of those that do not wish APC and the Tinubu government so all sides of the needless imbroglio must cease fire and allow this issue to wane. The heavy swathe of gossipers, fifth columnists, agent provocateurs and Job comforters that are hauling accusations, invectives and diatribes all over on this issue desire the issue to endure forever; not to the benefit of APC, the Tinubu government and Nigeria but to the benefit of their warped interests. Ditto for the section of the media that continues to sow malice in this El Rufai issue and employ it to further their malicious interests.

It is noteworthy that almost everybody, from Tinubu to the least party supporter has been accused to have been working against El Rufai’s confirmation. Even his notable protege, whom he did everything to make governor of Kaduna the other day, Gov. Uba Sani has been accused to be behind the senate non confirmation of El Rufai, which proves that meddlesome interlopers have bought the issue wholesale for the purpose of showing distrust and division in APC. Party supporters should beware. It has even been tarred with ethnic and tribal brush such that many are exchanging sectional fisticuffs over what will eventually end up as a storm in a tea cup.

Above all these however, what is kindling this fire is the subdued restiveness among the rank and file of APC members and supporters over the inexplicable poor (almost negative) reward system of the party. Underneath the decision to work for and support a party is the expectation that if one works hard to help his party to power, he merits to be rewarded. This is the reward system that underpins loyalty to a party and motivates members and supporters to work for the success of that party. It is natural, as any other reward system in other life endeavors.

As a progressive party that was coming to power for the first time in Nigerian history in 2015, expectations were writ large in the minds of APC members and supporters who did everything to defeat the conservative forces in 2015, mostly with their personal resources, that they would be encouraged to do more and firm the virgin feet of progressives in Nigerian political leadership. But strangely, the emerging Buhari regime didn’t do anything like that. Rather, the regime promoted an awkward reward policy that empowered those of the defeated PDP, when not recruiting strange characters that neither fought for the victory of the regime nor defended it against the frantic attacks from the displaced PDP thus installing a queer reward system that displeased and disempowered APC ranks and file as the regime lasted.
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So there were huge expectations that the Tinubu regime would rejig this reward policy with a view to rewarding footsoldiers who had been slaving for the triumph of progressive politics even from the era of militarism.

Most APC supporters invested huge hope on Tinubu as a veteran progressive fighter to identify. locate and reward these cadres of supporters as an impetus for others to work for the success of the party. So it was a huge expectation, loaded with equally hefty anxieties that trail every body language and action of the new government.

So far, this barely disguised anxiety and expectation have been called into play in the reactions of party members to the appointments made so far by the Tinubu regime. Many have concluded that the Tinubu government is adopting the same strange reward scheme Buhari implemented for eight years and have therefore approached issues, especially as they relate to appointments with such prejudiced mindset as they are doing on the El Rufai issue. There is a frantic intercalation to an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ divide and in this jaundiced state, every other person is accused of being guilty, as we are seeing with this El Rufai case. I believe that it is too early to have reached such abject conclusion especially when the government has made just a handful of appointments, with so many more are yet to be made. It is germane however to state that all members and supporters who worked for Tinubu would not get appointments even if the government exhausts every opportunity for public appointment. The need therefore arises for members and supporters who worked for APC and Tinubu to tailor their expectations for reward with what is possible and understand that while reward for work is essential, not all would be directly rewarded. Some would be indirectly rewarded through those that were directly rewarded.

But having noted these, it behoves the President to take direct charge of this reward system and turn it around for the better. He should know how important it is to the health of his regime and ensure that reward to his supporters go round and not locked up to any particular group or section. The president should take full charge of the APC reward system and ensure that the hopes placed on him by the party faithfuls to emplace a durable reward system that will meet the expectations of the members. This stands to deal with such similar nasty innuendos, brickbats, accusations, imbroglio and altercations around the El Rufai issue.

At the end of the day, I know that the El RRufai stalled confirmation issue would be resolved to his favour, to the favour of APC and to the favour of Nigeria, except he has recused himself from further service to Nigeria. President Tinubu will certainly do this, stretch out the party’s reward system and peace shall return to the party!

Peter Claver Oparah

Ikeja, Lagos.