Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai shared his views on what he described as ‘envy’ among Nigeria’s political class on his official X handle over the weekend.
This statement comes in the wake of allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds during his eight years in office.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has claimed that El-Rufai’s administration allegedly misappropriated ₦432 billion, leaving the state with significant debt.
In June, an ad hoc committee set up by the Assembly to investigate finances, loans, and contracts from El-Rufai’s tenure submitted its report.
Committee chairman Henry Zacharia stated that many loans were not used as intended and that due process was sometimes ignored.
Speaker Yusuf Liman also alleged that ₦423 billion was siphoned during El-Rufai’s administration, resulting in substantial liabilities.
The committee recommended investigating and prosecuting El-Rufai and some of his cabinet members for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.
They also suggested suspending Commissioner of Finance Shizer Badda, who served in the same role under El-Rufai.
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In response, El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, defended the administration’s integrity and labeled the committee’s claims as “scandalous.”
He said, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State. This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears.
“Many of the officials who served in the El-Rufai government appeared before the ad-hoc committee because of their confidence in the quality of their service and the rectitude which they served Kaduna State. They were under no illusion that they were participating in a fair process. It was obvious that the ad hoc committee was merely going through the motions of an inquiry just to give some gloss to predetermined conclusions.
“It is sad to see such a shameful departure from any notion of decency and fairness by a state legislature. We dismiss with contempt the claims being peddled in connection with the report.
“Malam El-Rufai wishes to assure discerning Nigerians that he has served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity, assisted by a hardworking and patriotic team. He complied with all extant laws in all his activities while he was the governor. This jaundiced probe should be disregarded as the politically motivated hatchet job it is.”
El-Rufai has since filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna against the state House of Assembly.
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In a lengthy post on his X handle on Saturday, El-Rufai characterized envy as an ‘incurable disease’ and expressed doubt that it could ever be cured within the political class.
He said, “WEEKEND REFLECTION: “NONE of us has to fail for ALL of us to succeed. And in unity there is strength.” – @VP Kamala Harris, US Vice President (2021-2024) and Democratic Presidential Candidate at the Democratic National Convention,
“The quote above led me to reflect on the meaning and implications for our situation in Nigeria. Feelings of envy require that EVERYONE fails for ONE to succeed.
“Envy is quite prevalent amongst the key actors in our political system. Competence, capacity, and commitment are some personal leadership qualities that attract the envy of those lacking or deficient in these indices.
“Instead of striving to attain, the envious seeks to hate and destroy those that are better. Envy leads to hatred.
“Hatred leads to destructive thoughts and actions, including unspeakable crimes like perjury, malicious prosecution, persecution, unlawful imprisonment, torture and even murder for the target(s) of the envy.
“Can the incurable disease of envy amongst Nigerians, particularly within the members of the political class be cured? Personally, I doubt it.
“The emerging problem of Nigeria is the outcome of the continuously deteriorating competence, capacity and commitment of the political leadership.
“Societies succeed or fail depending on these personal and institutional qualities.
“No matter what, the incurable virus of ENVY has to be confronted and degraded, if not cured, if Nigeria is to achieve its manifest destiny of greatness and leadership of the Black Race. I pray this can be realized. Amen.”
