Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna State, has instituted a
law suit against Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The governor was at the State High Court to sign the suit
alleging defamation of character.and is claiming 1 billion Naira as
damages.
Spokesman to the governor, Samuel Aruwan explained that on On
24th July, 2017, Datti Baba-Ahmed in his article ‘El-Rufai’s
Vituperations Against Sardauna, Awolowo, Zik’ alleged, that
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is ‘looting’ Kaduna State dry.
He said the Governor as a law-abiding citizen only went to court
to seek redress.
Below is Datti Baba-Ahmed’s Article
El-Rufa’i’s vituperations against Sardauna, Awolowo, Zik
| Publish Date: Jul 24 2017
I humbly refer readers to Malam Nasiru El-Rufai’s facebook video
in which he said, “I know it is politically incorrect to say Ahmadu
Bello, Azikiwe and Awolowo did something wrong, but they did
(unusual low applause). They did not work hard enough to build a
nation. They maintained what they found, and benefitted from it
politically.”
The above is confirmed and genuinely the work of Governor
El-Rufai of Kaduna State. There is no further clarification from
him or any effort to correct this assertion. He has said it and it
is left for Nigerians to digest anyhow.
The prevalence of severe acute mis-governance in Nigeria does
not mean the total insensitivity of well-meaning citizens. Silence
of the people has not descended them so low that our revered heroes
will be unfairly, needlessly insulted. Neither does the power of
governors to speak at gatherings give them any right to wantonly
bruise what remains of the peoples pride and ego. I feel
responsible and burdened, though a distraction I do not need, to
set the records right. This is quite distinct from joining issues
with the governor, after all he once said to me that he is
dangerous.
Senior citizens do not want to be insulted by a loose cannon
that has already insulted their heroes so they will remain pained
and silent. Peer group and contemporaries are probably too scared
of the governors’ ferociousness, while others are overwhelmed with
daily struggles. This leaves indeed a very small number of people
to react; and I am one of them. I am aware that a docile society
that cannot protect the good name and lasting legacies of their
heroes has no right to see more heroes. We cannot be one of
such.
In the shortest of summaries, Nigeria’s founding leaders – Sir
Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, among
so many of their lasting legacies negotiated the independence of
Nigeria, vigorously promoted education and development of human
capital in their respective regions the likes of which have not
been rivaled today, maintained security, upheld law and order, laid
foundations for post-colonial economic development, promoted peace,
harmony and mutual respect among ethnic and religious divides. The
list goes on as no one can do justice to them by attempting to
discuss their successes at this incident.
In my effort to set the records right, I wish to use only one
aspect of their successes, education. At least this is where I may
be able to claim as my area of competence. Sir Ahmadu Bello picked
children from every hamlet in every village of every local
government and sent them to schools for the first time including
late Yahya Hamza, Nasiru’s foster father. Then he again ensured
successful and promising future leaders were sent abroad to further
their education. That was not all. All of them were tied to
specific careers and he ensured jobs awaited them back in Nigeria.
Sir Ahmadu Bello quickly ensured spread of primary and secondary
schools throughout the region, while mandating the Native Authority
to encourage enrollment. And then the jewel in the crown Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria (ABU) where Nasiru got his first class in
Quantity Surveying (QS). Sardauna developed the region so well that
a professional course like Quantity Surveying (QS), not only Hausa
and history, were available for his children like Nasiru. Good
quality university education for that matter to the extent that
certificates were readily accepted globally and ABU ranked amongst
world top 500 universities.
Chief Awolowo and the great Zik of Africa did no less in their
regions. I am leaving room for others to answer Nasiru please,
including Acting President Osinbajo whom Nasiru wants to be his VP.
At the risk of appearing sectional, I once offered a cash prize to
my politicians from Zaria to anyone who could find me in Abuja a
digger from the Southwest. There was/is none. All diggers are from
the north, and for all the special trades, plumbing, electrical,
welding, tilling, glazing, etc you find them from the southwest
-Awolowo’s legacy. Dr Azikiwe did as much inspiring his people to
commercially integrate across Nigeria, and this was not regional,
it has national impact even more now.
I am one to receive lectures about how good these heroes were,
not to do injustice to their legacies by pushing my luck in
expatiating. This is not my battle alone but for all who care, so I
leave this area for more qualified people.
In 1999, Nasiru became DG TCPC because one old staff declined
interest in the job and presented Nasiru to former VP Atiku. In
2003, he became FCT minister because it would only take a careless
and insensitive person to follow the then agenda. In 2007, he went
on exile for not getting minister of power. In 2011, he was
pardoned by President Jonathan and he returned to join the
opposition.
Humanly speaking, Nasiru became governor because of PMB’s
goodwill. In 2014, as in all other elections, candidates support
was directly linked to cash contributions. Nasiru excelled in this
and PMB was quick to raise his hand as candidate even before
primaries. Of course upon seeing that I dropped my governorship
ambition of 2015 because there was no justice in APC. PMB and APC
can now see they have brought us a governor who underperforms his
duties and over performs in excesses.
Academically speaking, Nasiru appears completely clueless about
the birth of nation-states, with the process of African
decolonization, and the stages of nation building. Had he decided
to read a chapter in these subjects rather than rely on his
self-acclaimed intellect, he would have appreciated our heroes some
more. A governor who does not appreciate celebrated heroes cannot
respect his indigenes and will therefore ruthlessly misgovern them.
This is a genuine concern.
Sardauna was killed in active selfless service right inside
Nasiru’s Kaduna; the house being sentimentally preserved to serve
historical purpose. Yet Nasiru as governor of Kaduna overlooks such
facts and said, “They did not work hard enough to build a
nation.”
Nasiru had during his Senate ministerial confirmation called
distinguished senators fools, later published unfair insults
against VP Atiku, insulted Gen. Buhari and his intellect, and did
not spare even President Obasanjo. So this was actually coming but
we could not see it. However, it must be his last.
Nasiru is a risk to himself, his people, party, and government.
The 2014/15 largesse and his election contributions to APC can
never justify the damage this man is causing. As he insults, he is
looting the state dry and promoting insecurity. As he plots 2019
presidency, and schemes to deputise Osinbajo by force, his state is
left to burn and her resources for his personal use.
I can go on. But to conclude this distraction, I observe that
there is hardly anyone left now for Nasiru to insult. He can either
go higher up and commit blasphemy, or descend on his hopelessly
misgoverned people. May God help us calm Nasiru down.
Sen. Baba-Ahmed wrote this piece from Abuja.
Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna State, has instituted a
law suit against Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The governor was at the State High Court to sign the suit
alleging defamation of character.and is claiming 1 billion Naira as
damages.
Spokesman to the governor, Samuel Aruwan explained that on On
24th July, 2017, Datti Baba-Ahmed in his article ‘El-Rufai’s
Vituperations Against Sardauna, Awolowo, Zik’ alleged, that
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is ‘looting’ Kaduna State dry.
He said the Governor as a law-abiding citizen only went to court
to seek redress.
Below is Datti Baba-Ahmed’s Article
El-Rufa’i’s vituperations against Sardauna, Awolowo, Zik
| Publish Date: Jul 24 2017
I humbly refer readers to Malam Nasiru El-Rufai’s facebook video
in which he said, “I know it is politically incorrect to say Ahmadu
Bello, Azikiwe and Awolowo did something wrong, but they did
(unusual low applause). They did not work hard enough to build a
nation. They maintained what they found, and benefitted from it
politically.”
The above is confirmed and genuinely the work of Governor
El-Rufai of Kaduna State. There is no further clarification from
him or any effort to correct this assertion. He has said it and it
is left for Nigerians to digest anyhow.
The prevalence of severe acute mis-governance in Nigeria does
not mean the total insensitivity of well-meaning citizens. Silence
of the people has not descended them so low that our revered heroes
will be unfairly, needlessly insulted. Neither does the power of
governors to speak at gatherings give them any right to wantonly
bruise what remains of the peoples pride and ego. I feel
responsible and burdened, though a distraction I do not need, to
set the records right. This is quite distinct from joining issues
with the governor, after all he once said to me that he is
dangerous.
Senior citizens do not want to be insulted by a loose cannon
that has already insulted their heroes so they will remain pained
and silent. Peer group and contemporaries are probably too scared
of the governors’ ferociousness, while others are overwhelmed with
daily struggles. This leaves indeed a very small number of people
to react; and I am one of them. I am aware that a docile society
that cannot protect the good name and lasting legacies of their
heroes has no right to see more heroes. We cannot be one of
such.
In the shortest of summaries, Nigeria’s founding leaders – Sir
Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, among
so many of their lasting legacies negotiated the independence of
Nigeria, vigorously promoted education and development of human
capital in their respective regions the likes of which have not
been rivaled today, maintained security, upheld law and order, laid
foundations for post-colonial economic development, promoted peace,
harmony and mutual respect among ethnic and religious divides. The
list goes on as no one can do justice to them by attempting to
discuss their successes at this incident.
In my effort to set the records right, I wish to use only one
aspect of their successes, education. At least this is where I may
be able to claim as my area of competence. Sir Ahmadu Bello picked
children from every hamlet in every village of every local
government and sent them to schools for the first time including
late Yahya Hamza, Nasiru’s foster father. Then he again ensured
successful and promising future leaders were sent abroad to further
their education. That was not all. All of them were tied to
specific careers and he ensured jobs awaited them back in Nigeria.
Sir Ahmadu Bello quickly ensured spread of primary and secondary
schools throughout the region, while mandating the Native Authority
to encourage enrollment. And then the jewel in the crown Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria (ABU) where Nasiru got his first class in
Quantity Surveying (QS). Sardauna developed the region so well that
a professional course like Quantity Surveying (QS), not only Hausa
and history, were available for his children like Nasiru. Good
quality university education for that matter to the extent that
certificates were readily accepted globally and ABU ranked amongst
world top 500 universities.
Chief Awolowo and the great Zik of Africa did no less in their
regions. I am leaving room for others to answer Nasiru please,
including Acting President Osinbajo whom Nasiru wants to be his VP.
At the risk of appearing sectional, I once offered a cash prize to
my politicians from Zaria to anyone who could find me in Abuja a
digger from the Southwest. There was/is none. All diggers are from
the north, and for all the special trades, plumbing, electrical,
welding, tilling, glazing, etc you find them from the southwest
-Awolowo’s legacy. Dr Azikiwe did as much inspiring his people to
commercially integrate across Nigeria, and this was not regional,
it has national impact even more now.
I am one to receive lectures about how good these heroes were,
not to do injustice to their legacies by pushing my luck in
expatiating. This is not my battle alone but for all who care, so I
leave this area for more qualified people.
In 1999, Nasiru became DG TCPC because one old staff declined
interest in the job and presented Nasiru to former VP Atiku. In
2003, he became FCT minister because it would only take a careless
and insensitive person to follow the then agenda. In 2007, he went
on exile for not getting minister of power. In 2011, he was
pardoned by President Jonathan and he returned to join the
opposition.
Humanly speaking, Nasiru became governor because of PMB’s
goodwill. In 2014, as in all other elections, candidates support
was directly linked to cash contributions. Nasiru excelled in this
and PMB was quick to raise his hand as candidate even before
primaries. Of course upon seeing that I dropped my governorship
ambition of 2015 because there was no justice in APC. PMB and APC
can now see they have brought us a governor who underperforms his
duties and over performs in excesses.
Academically speaking, Nasiru appears completely clueless about
the birth of nation-states, with the process of African
decolonization, and the stages of nation building. Had he decided
to read a chapter in these subjects rather than rely on his
self-acclaimed intellect, he would have appreciated our heroes some
more. A governor who does not appreciate celebrated heroes cannot
respect his indigenes and will therefore ruthlessly misgovern them.
This is a genuine concern.
Sardauna was killed in active selfless service right inside
Nasiru’s Kaduna; the house being sentimentally preserved to serve
historical purpose. Yet Nasiru as governor of Kaduna overlooks such
facts and said, “They did not work hard enough to build a
nation.”
Nasiru had during his Senate ministerial confirmation called
distinguished senators fools, later published unfair insults
against VP Atiku, insulted Gen. Buhari and his intellect, and did
not spare even President Obasanjo. So this was actually coming but
we could not see it. However, it must be his last.
Nasiru is a risk to himself, his people, party, and government.
The 2014/15 largesse and his election contributions to APC can
never justify the damage this man is causing. As he insults, he is
looting the state dry and promoting insecurity. As he plots 2019
presidency, and schemes to deputise Osinbajo by force, his state is
left to burn and her resources for his personal use.
I can go on. But to conclude this distraction, I observe that
there is hardly anyone left now for Nasiru to insult. He can either
go higher up and commit blasphemy, or descend on his hopelessly
misgoverned people. May God help us calm Nasiru down.
Sen. Baba-Ahmed wrote this piece from Abuja.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/el-rufai-slams-n1b-suit-on-baba-ahmed-for-defamation/