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serosa1966@yahoo.com Hyattsville, MD, USA

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HOW SAINTLY IS SAINT EL-RUFAI?

have taken my time to read articles, and news about the El Rufai allegation of bribery leveled against two Senators, Jonathan Zwingina and Nasiru Mantu. I noticed that most of those who have reacted to the bribery story glorified Rufai to the detriment of the two Senators. I also discovered that most if not all of those who commented on it are based abroad, some who may not have been to Nigeria in the last five years or more. What I discovered in most of the comments is that it was one sided.

There are a lot of loopholes in the Rufai allegation that has made him liable for prosecution if it were to be in sane society, where mediocrity is not celebrated. I wonder why nobody has bothered to ask El-Rufai why it took him three months to come out. The Anti-corruption law states that it is an offence for any body not to report a case of bribery either you were offered or it is demanded from you. While I will not hold brief for the two Senators, I want to say that I have not seen anything honourable in what Rufai did to have deserved the accolades showered on him. To me Rufai is not different from the two Senators. What El Rufai has achieved now is giving an impression of holier that thou. He has presented himself as the most honest Minister, who does not see evil, speak evil, hear evil or touch evil. It is very unfortunate that many of us fell for it.

Why did it take him three months to come out with the allegation? He should react to the allegation that he recommended his brother-in-law for the position of BPE Director General as alleged by Senator Mantu. He should have come out to deny the fact that he presented his brother-in-law for the BPE appointment if is clean. If he is good why did he have to go lobby the Senators, why not wait and face them for screening? How many Senators did he visit?

Has anybody bothered to review his performance at the BPE?

One thing that is clear about the FCT Minister is the fact that he is proud, pompous and arrogant. He believes he is more intelligent than anybody. The fact that he came out of school with First Class does not make him better than any other person. El Rufai became the Director General of BPE not based on merit or his academic attainment but because of his close connection with the vice President Atiku Abubakar. When the BPE was first set up it Director was one Albert an economist from Benue State, a Tiv man, but Atiku was able to talk president Obasanjo into removing Albert from office to appoint Rufai in his place, Rufai, an Estate Manager was appointed in place of Albert through the connection of Atiku. Shortly after that, the Benue Cement Company BCC was sold to Aliko Dangote. During that time Dr Iyorchia Ayu was the Minister of Industries. He fought against the sale of the cement company because he is from Benue state and also because the Cement company was under-priced.

It was the sale of BCC that led to the resignation of Ayu from Obasanjo's cabinet. But it was later discovered that it was Dangote who actually bought BCC, but Atiku. Today BCC is back to Benue State. Rufai should come out and tell the whole world the real and actual owner of African Petroleum, AP. It is unfortunate that the Senate may not have the gut to investigate the activities of the BPE as to who bought what and at what price. I make bold to say that Rufai as the BPE Director did more evil to the nation's economy than if those parastatals were left with the government. Little wonder why NITEL failed and his elder brother now prospering as the owner of Intercellular, a Private telecommunication company in Nigeria. The Rufai senior was a director in NITEL. Nobody has ever bothered to ask him the secret of the success and why the NITEL could not make it.

Mr. Rufai should tell the whole world whose interest he was protecting during the crisis that rocked the sale of Nigeria Airways. The way he insulted the Members of the House of Representatives was the same way he insulted Dr Mrs. Kema Chikwe because the woman refused to allow Atiku to buy Nigeria Airways. The BPE under-priced Nigeria Airways and Kema Chikwe declined. Dangote bought the Union Salt Company in Ota Ogun State not to develop it but to kill it because it is affecting the market of his imported salt. For three years Dangote was paying salaries to workers when nothing was been produced there, yet we have the all-knowing Rufai at the head of BPE.

Rufai cannot deny that journalists covering BPE get handout from the BPE. That is why it is very difficult to get negative stories from the BPE since all the journalists there have been bought. Journalist out that beat writes any story negative about the BPE.

I have not seen any thing so spectacular about this man that warrants the accolades. It is a case of one thief accusing another. Nothing successful was achieved under the "brilliant" Rufai as the head of BPE. He was there for a purpose and that purpose was fulfilled, to act the script of his mentor, Atiku Abubakar, not for benefit of the Nigerian economy.

To prove his innocence, chastity, cleanness, let Rufai declare his assets publicly. Let him tell the whole world what he was worth before he became the BPE Director General, after he left and now. The only person who did that in this country was the Governor of Katsina State, Yar'Adua.

I see the trio as part of our problems. We would be doing ourselves a disservice and deceiving ourselves if we think Rufai is a better person to the two Senators. Zwingina has a lot of issue at home. There is report that he has been banned for holding responsible position in the country for 10 years but the state government refused to release the white paper. Mantu sold out Okadigbo to become the deputy senate President. We know these people are not credible; it was also Zwingina who went to Keyamo with 2 Million Naira for Keyamo to send a petition to the Senate on Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, because Afikuyomi was among those who wanted Anyim removed. Nzeribe had once accused Mantu of same offence but it has not made Rufai a saint. I still want to see the difference between Rufai and the two Musketeers of the Senate. They children of the same parent, from the family of corruption, ineptness, failure in leadership and every other vices of bad leadership.

It is unfortunate that the Anti-corruption commission has not done anything to the issue to date. I think Rufai is guiltier than the two Senators. He should have reported immediately, why did it take him so long. I know he won't be prosecuted, and that is why the two Senators would not be tried too.

Rather than separating them, we should condemn them all. Nobody in this present government is credible. None of them can live above board. None of them can throw himself open for any probe.

We have made the mistake of putting our future in their hands; we should take it back from them.