From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
As the screening of ministerial nominees in the red chamber of the National Assembly continues, group, Southern Kaduna Youth and Students Forum (SKYSFOM) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio not to confirm Nasir El-Rufai as a minister.
To this group, making the immediate past governor of Kaduna State a Minister would do the Country more harm than good based on his alleged divisive tendency and disregard for the rule of law which is the hallmark of democracy.
The group’s position was contained in a petition addressed to the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio titled “A petition against the nomination of H.E Mal Nasiru El-Rufai by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Senate confirmation as administer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, signed by SKYSFOM President, Shedrack Danladi.
The Group warned that, ignoring its call and that of other patriotic Nigerians who are after the unity, progress, and development of the Country would speak ill of the 10th Senate, to say the least.
The Group alleged that the former FCT Minister is “unfit to serve Nigeria at this material time due to his track record of religious intolerance, extremism, and disrespect for the rule of law”.
The petition read in part “Mr. President sir, following your unveiling of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nominees to the Senate on Thursday, July 27, 2023, we write on behalf of SKYSFOM to draw the attention of the 10th Senate on why one of the ministerial nominee, Mal. Nasiru El-Rufai, should not be confirmed to serve as a minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the President Tinubu government.
“Mallam Nasiru El’Rufai has over the years conducted himself as a divisive leader who does not have the interest of the stability of Nigeria at heart. His disposition to building a peaceful and united Nigeria is zero. He remains a very controversial character in the Nigerian polity whose utterances and actions have starred a lot of negative energy in time past and even recently.
“It is no longer news again, that H.E Mal. Nasiru El-Rufai is an Ethno-Religious bigot, particularly against the people of Southern Kaduna. Such a character should not be given another opportunity to serve Nigeria in any capacity, particularly our Nigeria of today.
“Nigeria is in dire need of leaders who will demonstrate and promote compassion, empathy, inclusiveness, justice, fairness, and unity, not the reverse. The immediate past governor of Kaduna State should not be considered because he will do more harm to Nigeria than good.
“A few months ago, El-Rufai become a national discus, following his inflammatory and inciteful comments in a viral video against the Christian population in Kaduna State, while justifying his same faith ticket legacy. Southern Kaduna is populated by Christians, therefore El-Rufai’s inciteful comments in that video are directed at the Southern Kaduna people.
“During his eight years of rulership and tyranny, many lives and properties were lost in southern Kaduna to persistent attacks without remorse from the El-Rufai’s government. His inflammatory statements captured on that viral video alone should propel the Senate not to confirm his nomination because like in Kaduna State, he will surely repeat the same at the National level which will not be healthy to us as a Nation.
“The Nigeria youths may not be patient with, or tolerate El-Rufai’s religious intolerance, extremism, incitement, and inflammatory statements like the Southern Kaduna Youth and her people did. Kaduna state is yet to recover from El-Rufai’s religious bigotry, extremism, and intolerance legacies, Nigeria should not be his next victim.
Senate should note that El’Rufai has proven to be unable to sustain loyalty and faithfulness to anyone or the nation in all the leadership roles that he has been trusted with. He has no respect for the rule of law, any institution (including the National Assembly), or anybody (including the President) as he respects only his ego and prioritises his interest above all.
“We are calling on the Senate not to confirm El-Rufai as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because he is unfit to serve Nigeria at this material time due to his track record of religious intolerance, extremism, and disrespect for the rule of law.
“Ignoring our call and that of other patriotic Nigerians who are after the unity, progress, and development of our dear Nation Nigeria, will speak ill of the 10th Senate.”