If the strong man of Kaduna state politics, Mallam Nasir Elrufai who is the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, was ever told that his lieutenants would turn against him so soonest, he might not believe it, no matter the respect he had for the soothsayer. Unfortunately, the governor and house assembly members he gave the party tickets to, in just over a year ago, are now asking for his head
*Using Mallam Nasir Elrufai as a case study, Mr. Dele Farotimi Esq was right through his book ‘Do not Die in Their War’. The Nigerian politicians have a very short memory, they are a bunch of ingrates, ready to sacrifice anything for their immediate gratification at the expense of the masses*
The Kaduna state was the seat of Northern power and housed respected leaders like Sir Amodu Bello, Aminu Kano, And other pre-independent social crusaders and champions. Just like Ibadan in the southwest of Nigeria and Enugu in the southeast, Kaduna was the center of decision-making during the regional government. Far better than other aforementioned counterparts during the regional government cum parliamentary government before 1966. It had one of the earlier cantonments of military base in Nigeria. The major casualties of the first coup, led by Major Kaduna Ezegwu and other disgruntled young military officers who struck and destabilized the first Republic, took place in this ancient city, Ibadan and Lagos that was the FCT then.
The Premier of the northern region who was said to have hidden himself among his children while sighted the coup plotters, lost his life to the incident. Also, Ondo-born Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun who was the commandant of 1st brigade, Kaduna barrack was killed by his subordinates who had earlier eaten food from his table, served by the pregnant wife, Mrs. Latifat Feyisitan Abike Ademulegun. The assailants didn’t consider the good leadership gesture of the first indigenous commandant of this Northern division of the Nigerian army. He joined the military at the age of 18 through the private in 1942 and was commissioned in 1949 with some early senior officers like Late Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, Gen. Babafemi Ogundipe, and Late Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari but was brutally killed by Major Timothy Unwuatuegbwu, with his wife, popularly known as Sisi nurse and their unborn child.
The late Brigadier Ademulegun’s offense was related to the cordial relationship that existed with the Premier of the Northern Region then, Sir Amodu Bello, having lobbied for the GOC of the topmost Army hierarchy in 1965, following the expiration the expatriate’s tenure who occupied the position in peri-indepedent era, in less than a year before his untimely death. This military and political fraternization was detested by his younger officers and considered unprofessional. No doubt, the city of Kaduna is strategically located in the history of Nigeria, in all spheres, ranging from political, economical and military adventures. In the same vein, Gen. Muhammed Buhari is also popular with these great people, seen to be his second home, though has Daura in Kastina as his country home, just like other Northern retired Generals and most of the elites of this region who have affiliations and private homes there.
This state was created in 1967 during the reign of Gen Yakubu Gowon as the head of state, with the name ‘North Central state’ which extended to modern-day Kastina state, and had its headquarters in Kaduna till date, the 8th largest city in the country. Though, Kastina state was later carved out from it in 1987, however, it remains the third most populous state in Nigeria currently. The first civilian governor, Alhaji Barabe Musa through Sir Aminu Kano’s party in 1979, PRP, was impeached in 1981 as the first governor with such a record in the history of the nation. General Babangida’s kangaroo transmission program from 1991 to 1993, had Alhaji Muhammad Dabo Lere of NRC, the right wing. Since the inception of this dispensation almost three decades ago, PDP produced Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, Alhaji Muhammad Namadi Sambo who later became the vice president to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ibrahim Patrick Yakowa who died in a plane crash, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero while APC had Alhaji Nasir Elrufai and the current governor, Alhaji Uba Sanni.
The Kaduna state which had been the stronghold of the PDP, finally lost to the Sai Baba Phenomenon that brought in Gen Muhammad Buhari of APC as the president in 2015. Meaning that, the Buhari’s influence made Alhaji Muktar Ramalan Yero and other PDP bigwigs to be defeated in the same year’s governorship election. This controversial personality, Alhaji Nasir Elrufai earlier had a running battle with Alhaji Shehu Sanni, a human rights activist, on who flew the governorship ticket of APC . The latter was pacified to take one of the senatorial seats in the state. Alhaji Nasir Elrufai gained national recognition, following his appointment as the director of the Bureau of Public Enterprise, under the supervision of the vice president then, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, handled the privatization projects of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.
He was appointed the minister of FCT between 2003 to 2007 where he stepped on many big toes in emphasising the master plans of the national capital. His activities had been courageous and patriotic, endeared him to the hearts of many Nigerians, later joined President Muhammad Buhari’s camp where he was a major stakeholder, the same relationship maintained throughout the duo in power as a governor and president respectively. This former Barewa college student was able to consolidate himself in Kaduna state, after winning the second term. The initial prediction that he wouldn’t win based on the number of teachers sacked by his administration for incompetency, failed when he was declared the winner with a wide margin by INEC and completed the 8 years as stipulated by the constitution. In his usual controversy, he was a strong proponent that the presidency should come to the South which Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu GCFR later won.
The new turn of events started, though unpalatable, when he was screened out due to security reports as a minister nominee to the current President. He had since then, been seen as one of the forces who may re-unite to dislodge the incumbent Nigerian president whose administration in the last one year can be best described as a colossal failure. At this moment, the former APC godfather of Kaduna state is not finding it easy as the ad-hoc committee set up by 40-member of his state house of assembly, recommended the probe of his two-term administration , claiming to have siphoned 423 billion nairas. Though I don’t have anything against a genuine probe of any past government by the immediate successor, this will enhance accountability and strengthen our democracy. The most shocking thing here is that majority of the people asking for Elrufai’s head are his beneficiaries who got their party tickets through him in just over a year ago. Judging from Mallam’s case, Mr. Dele Farotimi Esq was right in his popular book titled ‘Do not Die in Their War’. Nigerian politicians have very short memories, they are a bunch of ingrates who are only concerned about their immediate gratification at the expense of the masses.
*Dr Akeredolu O.N, a medical doctor, a surgeon, a neurosurgeon in view, resides in Akure*
