CALLING IT AS IT IS: El-Rufai was denied ministerial appointment by Tinubu, yet he didn’t complain – Uche Diala 

So, what exactly is Mallam El-Rufai’s crime to warrant the hostile and uncharitable attacks and insults being directed at him by some people? I would really love to know.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was denied a ministerial appointment after nomination by the President, whatever the true reason was. It happened.

I have never read anywhere where Mallam El-Rufai has complained about that or condemned President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because of it or for any other reason. Please, someone should correct me, if I’m wrong.

So, what exactly is Mallam El-rufai’s crime to warrant the hostile and uncharitable attacks and insults being directed at him by some people? I would really love to know.

Who says Mallam El-rufai has no right or freedom to visit or associate with anyone he likes, including with politicians of other political parties?

Never mind that he is an adult, he is neither an appointee of the President nor a member of the administration and we are not in an election or campaign season. So what’s all the fuss about?

I read this comment below attributed to Mallam El-rufai.

“I am a founding member of the APC. But frankly, I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years – no caucus, no NEC, nothing. I don’t even know if it is a one-man show. It is a zero-man show.”

“Though I am a founding the member, the party has left me behind. I’m still there where we were. We wanted to form a progressive party that will fight corruption, revamp the economy and restore security to Nigerians. That was the objective of forming our party.”

“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening.”

What is wrong with this?

If that is Mallam El-rufai’s sin, I would be glad to take the bullet on his behalf for it.

Any bona-fide, sincere, serious minded and committed APC member can make this exact comment and be much very much in order.

These are legitimate and genuine concerns and sentiments that many of us who joined the APC from the very start have expressed privately and publicly at various times, from our states to the national levels.

If it is seen as a criticism of the party, what is wrong with frankly and boldly criticising the party when there is a need to? How is this a problem for any one? How does that translate to an attack on or opposition of the President?

Why are we averse to the truth and vehemently attack anyone who tells us the truths we need to hear to get better and make genuine progress?

The unfortunate thing is that many of the people fanning these embers of hate, bitterness and division have no real stake in our party.

They are neither registered members of the party nor have they contributed or sacrificed even a quarter of what the likes of Mallam El-rufai have done for our party, from its inception to date.

It is bad enough to lose capacity to reason rationally and objectively. It is worse to lose the sense of charity and fair judgment of others. It is a tragedy to lose both.

The Holy book says: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mathew 7:12)

I sincerely hope, pray and indeed plead that we tone down the kind of hateful, uncharitable, caustic, divisive, unjust and cruel politics that we are playing.

It helps neither the President, his administration, the nation nor our party. There is a lot for us to deal with as a party and a nation.

God Bless The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

©️ Uche Diala

druchediala@gmail.com
29th January 2025