PND APPEALS TO PRESIDENT TINUBU TO REMEMBER EL-RUFAI IN FORTHCOMING CABINET RESHUFFLING

   BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

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Project Niger Delta (PND) ,a civil society organization, a Frontline Socio-political group in the Niger Delta Region has called on President Tinubu to remember Nasir El-Rufai, a political infantryman that foot this government in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffling for we having considered his good political footprint towards Mr. President emergence as one of those consummate actor that emancipated his dreamboat in the Northern part of Nigeria.

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In a statement signed by Comr. Princewill Timipre Ebebi Executive Director/Coordinator of Project Niger Delta, made available to Daily News Nigeria on Monday, the group stated in parts:

“We believed he has demonstrated comradeship been steadfastness in all staircase towards midwifing Mr. President vision despite the many impugn witnessed within the political space in the All Progressive Congress (APC) about the issues of zoning, general election and until now, the recorded political dynasty of Mallan Nasir El-Rufai antecedents are indisputably remained indelible as far as Nigeria Democratical Chemistry is concerned. His undeniable records are within the public space and even individuals who were considered as adversaries of the erstwhile Kaduna state governor keenly attested to this camaraderie.

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“We believed and agreed with every good student of history that El-Rufai played a pivotal role in ensuring the power shift to the Southern region and the emergence of President Tinubu, defying all odds. We believed that the allegations bedeviled against El-Rufai are political motivated which is amount to nothing more than desperation of certain factions seeking retribution against him and attempting to disdain and undermine President Tinubu.

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“We believe indeed El-Rufai has undeniably served this nation to the fullest commendable and remain eager and capable of contributing even more for the fulfillment of Mr. President Renewed Hope Agenda for the betterment of all Nigerians. It is on record that the shameful and unfriendly political displayed by Senator Godswill Akpabio led 10th Senate is regrettable by all well meaning Nigerians and of a truth the good people of Kaduna state, Northern Nigeria and the entire nation were deeply disappointed by the Senates failure to confirm the most outstanding ministerial nominee of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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“Let us give you some  of the insights about the footprints of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as follows:

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“1. 2023:El-rufai disassociated APC, Tinubu from Buhari’s government policies that is to say he faulted the Buhari administration for failing to implement the removal of petroleum fuel subsidy and restructuring of the country, noting that those actions are inconsistent with manifesto of the APC.

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“2. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai spearheaded the push by the North West Zone for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency

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“3. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai singlehandedly fought belligerently against the naira redesign plot for interim government in Nigeria which averted the plans to stop the 2023 general election that brought President Tinubu as President.

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“4. It is on record that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is one of the founding father’s of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished public servants with a reputation for academic brilliance serious organizational skills and a result oriented administrative acumen. As a Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise, El-Rufai a neo-liberal economic conservative drove with uncommon passion and zeal the process of transferring the means of production public to private entities through the mass privatization of public enterprises between 1999 and 2003 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

As a minister of the FCT between 2003-2007, El-Rufai who was assigned the task of restoring the Abuja City Master Plan after many years of violation by President Obasanjo took a plunge into this ocean of responsibility and swam ashore to safety after navigating through its thorny labyrinths after four years of minister of FCT El-Rufai was adjudged by friends and foes as having performed superlatively as the Abuja master plan was not only restored the city was equally cleaned up expanded and secured, to the extent that by 2006 (three years later), Nigeria celebrated the 30th anniversary of the creation of its new capital with pride pomp and pageantry as one of the most beautiful cities in Africa. El-Rufai impressive performance as a public officer distinguished him as one of the emerging leaders of Nigeria, in general and Northern Nigeria in particular.

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“However, that phenomental success was without its downsides, as El-Rufai was accused of high handedness, impunity and conflict of personal and public interests in his administration of the FCT, especially in matters of land revocation and allocation to the extent that his tenure was a subject of probe by the National Assembly. He subsequently went into self-imposed exile under the Umar Musa Yar’Adua administration which he considered as hostile and vindicative to him for reasons that remains unclear many years after. But El-Rufai fought egalitarian back from his base in exile by exposing the corrupt underbelly of the Yar’Adua administration, while some members of the President’s inner cycle as a cabal that was feasting on the common patrimony of Nigerians, And with no subsequent minister of the FCT recording his level of achievements, El-Rufai increasingly became a good example of what a minister of the FCT should be. El-Rufai’s reputation as a competent and high performing public official in the country that earnest yearns for good and effective leadership added to his solid political reputation, making him one of the most sought after politicians in Nigeria on the eve of the 2015 general elections. As a then leading member of the newly formed opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), from Muhammadu Buhari’s CPC faction, El-Rufai was the gubernatorial candidate of the party for Kaduna State going into the 2015 elections. While Buhari emerged victorious as President, El-Rufai was similarly elected as Governor. And a new El-Rufai began his unwoven commitment as a Pan-Nigerian Nationalist leadership of president Olusegun Obasanjo to while he continue to retained his famous developmental streaks and administrative acumen as Governor of Kaduna State.

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“But Nigeria is neither Normal country nor are the times ordinary in the largest democracy in Africa. The political masters of Nigeria appear to have perfected the art of state capture, as seen in the list of ministerial nominees of President Tinubu. The list includes members of the ruling establishment in Nigeria some of who have been indicted by anti-corruption agencies for gross mismanagement and diversion of public funds under their watch and nothing qualifies these individuals that should disqualify El-Rufai, as it is essentially a compensation list for those who contributed to the victory of President Tinubu at the 2023 polls.

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“Hon.Douglas Oyakemeagbagha,a patron asserted that from foregoing, Project Niger Delta (PND) which stands for Justice, Fairness, Equity, Peace, Unity of purpose, progress, development and security of lives and properties believed in Mr. President Renewed Hope Agenda to be successful. Hence, we collectively appeal to you President Tinubu that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should be remember for good in the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffling for quality service delivery to Nigerians.

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“We believed if El-Rufai is considered, he will administer his contemporary administrative skill to foster meaningful contribution onward President Tinubu to deliver his promised mandate to Nigerians because he is tested, proven political prowess and stoic leader of our growing democracy. Mr. President we want you to succeed because we are facing challenging time together. Hence, our appeal to bring Mallam Nasir El-Rufai aboard.