It is interesting each time a godfather (supposedly), and a godson (assumedly), entertains the public with a ‘fight’. The interesting thing about it is that you get to hear the godfather employ such words as ‘betrayal’ to portray the actions or decisions godson as betraying him and members of his ‘cabinet,’ but, though they accuse the godson of betrayal, no one goes as far as disclosing the terms of the agreement that was betrayed. That is always a well-guarded secret. The public which consumes information, or allegations and counter-allegations, emanating from the ‘fight’ never get to know details of the betrayal. This leaves everyone manufacturing, and spreading narratives about what they believe to be the actual deal that was betrayed by the godson. Only a few know exactly the secret.
This is exactly what is happening between Nasir El-Rufai and Uba Sani. While it is public knowledge that El-Rufai brushed aside all other interests in the race for the governorship of Kaduna State and settled for Uba Sani, not one person has been able to give the exact details of the deal he entered into with Sani, which he (Sani) is now accused of betraying. Do not forget that Uba has been an El-Rufai ‘boy’ even from El-Rufai’s days as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, he was not expected to be a boy for ever. No one expects that though “Obi is a boy”, that ‘Obi’ will remain a boy even a 54.
The reality here is that Uba is no longer a boy. That he carried El-Rufai’s bag back in the day, does not suggest that he will, as a governor, still do the same. Even in the apprenticeship scheme, the boi boi eventually gains his freedom, and is settled to face his life. His oga would only step in once in a while to assist him with goods and credit. No one expects an oga to administer his boy’s shop. Though his oga may, once in a while, offer advice, the former boi boi, is not bound by any known convention, norm or law, to take the advice. This is something that political godfathers have refused to learn. Your godson, for whom you broke the ceiling, made new enemies, and even fractured your good relationships with some, will always remain loyal until he is handed the certificate of victory affirming him as the winner of the office. A few will pretend to still be loyal until after their first 100 days in office. Some will stretch their patience till after the Supreme Court had pronounced them as winners of the election. Actually, it is at this point that a wise godfather ought to begin to keep his distance. This is because if you give bees their space, they make honey for you. If you keep too close, they sting you.
This is the reason I laugh each time I read Nasir, and his sons, firing darts at Uba Sani. Recently, they dived into Elon Musk’s X to accuse the governor of non-performance and all sorts. They simply forgot that “Obi is” no longer “a boy.” As far as politics is concerned, Uba has paid the price and won the crown of servitude. He can no longer be boi boi to El-Rufai. He also cannot be the ‘boy’ to serve the special interest of all ‘El-Rufai boys’ disguised as former this and former that. In a recent publication by El-Rufai’s former aides, some, of who were indicted by the House of Assembly Special Investigation into the Financial Administration of Kaduna in the El-Rufai years, the ex-aides, who are still under his umbrella, pointed fingers at their former co-travellers in the El-Rufai Express of jumping ship and now flying with Sani in Uba Airways. In other words, their former colleagues who now work with Uba have committed a crime that is not defined by law. That’s how they see it!
The passengers on El-Rufai Express are unhappy that Sani allowed the House of Assembly to investigate their former boss and indicted him of mismanaging some N432b. That indictment is being challenged for fundamental rights issues by the former governor, who alleged lack of fair hearing. The House also drew up a list of passengers on El-Rufai Express who, it recommended, should be sent to the anti-graft agencies for further investigation and prosecution with a view to recovering monies said to be wrongly applied, either as payment for jobs not done or over-payments on projects that were overvalued and over-invoiced.
Details of the indictments and recommendations by the House went viral again recently following El-Rufai’s decision to openly express his frustrations against the All Progressives Congress (APC), a political vehicle he was part of its formation and one in which he worked very hard for. He also fought diligently to ensure that the plot by Muhammadu Buhari, and his cabal, to swing the presidential ticket in the 2023 election against the south, was aborted. Though he made some enemies in the course of that fight, many people believed that a place in Tinubu’s government would be a perfect compensation to El-Rufai. However, he was humiliatingly snubbed. And, why not? Elected political leaders who plan to stay long on the throne first destroy the kingmaker. That’s political survival strategy 101. Knowing the role El-Rufai played against the political party that brought him to national and international limelight, and which gave him the initial platform that he needed to wear his political crown and become an accidental public servant, Tinubu’s APC would be strategically suicidal having him in the same room.
Having him in same room is as dangerous as keeping him away. Either way, he will fight to pull the rug if he is not sitting at the table. This is because he is smart, intelligent, strategic and deeply intentional in his politics. He is capable of selling ice to Eskimos. That’s why I admire him. And that’s is why I believe that all he is now doing is pulling every available string to draw a conclusion that the Kaduna House of Assembly indictment was politically orchestrated by Sani. But again, it is elementary politics that every occupier of an office plots his survival strategy and this is not limited to using available official information, and institutions of government, to keep an overbearing godfather at bay.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai ought to know by now that public service in Nigeria is a trap. No matter how well you try to navigate it, you could still be found wanting. I believe he knows that no matter how smart one is that it is not possible to cover all the tracks before leaving office. This is not to suggest that he is guilty of the allegations against him. No! However, he ought to also know by now that just like he fired darts at Goodluck Jonathan, and raised all manner of allegations including claiming that his name was on the a phantom Jonathan hit list; allegedly funding the creation of BBOG and leading northern governors to meet John Kerry in Washington DC, in the execution of a task to pull down the Jonathan presidency, that the same template could also be used against him by those who don’t want him in APC and close to government. And, they may be more than just Uba Sani. After all, I was taught in junior seminary that those who pull others down will have failure awaiting them at the doorsteps of their plans.
That is a wise and poignant saying which should remind us that our actions have consequences, and that those who seek to harm or hinder others will ultimately face the repercussions of their own negativity. Therefore, is Uba Sani wrong in using the powers of his office to keep El-Rufai busy? Well, keeping your enemy within eyes view is a strategic military survival tactics because an enemy within view is less dangerous and can be managed. Uba has won his independence from El-Rufai. He is now a man of his own and will govern Kaduna into his second term.