By Igbotako Nowinta
Governor Nasiru El-Rufai’s recalcitrant, malevolent and dictatorial actions fueled the recent tensions that exploded in Kaduna State. How could he have fired lecturers of Kaduna State University, sacked health workers, Local Government workers, etc. and resorted to threatening tactics, because these oppressed Nigerians dared to demand their rights? What did El-Rufai expect after he had put the workers in Kaduna State in horrible siege, not to cry for help? That necessitated the five-day warning strike coordinated by the National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress. When an individual behaves in a savage, crude and horrible way, he or she is classified as a beast. Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State descended to the animalistic plane when he referred to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, and others who went to intervene in the workers’ plight, as bandits. The real animal in him manifested when he unleashed thugs and criminals, armed with knives, sticks and bottles on workers on a legitimate peaceful protest. What l call intuitive animalism is when El-Rufai exhibited every trait of a despot and tyrant over the very people that ensured his election, a development which has sparked fury from many Nigerians today. Nigeria is indeed in a deep mess, with another clownish fellow in the Ministry of Justice, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who in a recent interview granted to Channels Television, could not sufficiently articulate why Nigerians are clamoring for restructuring; limiting restructuring to financial issues at the state and local government.
Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, who marvelously entered his name into history books as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was an Afro-beat musician, song writer, social critic and activist.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s father was a respected Clergy man, while his mother, the late Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was one of the fiery nationalist fighters for the independence of Nigeria.
When Fela died on August 2, 1997, his fans all over the world were shocked; his burial procession in Ikeja, Lagos, attracted over a million sympathizers and mourners. In death, Fela was more popular than the Nigerian ‘beasts’ that tried to silence his revolutionary music.
By taking after his uncompromising and deviant mother, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti invented an intoxicating and revolutionary brand of music – Afro beat, which took many irresponsible civilian and military rulers in Nigeria, to the cleaners.
In one of his highly successful and explosive albums titled ‘Beast Of No Nation” which he released in 1986, after his traumatizing ordeal in detention, Fela cleverly exposed the bloody double dealings and ruthlessness of General Muhammadu Buhari and that of his second in command, General( late) Babatunde Idiagbon.
General Muhammadu Buhari had seized power in a bloodless coup that permanently devoured the Shehu Shagari civilian government in the early hours of December 31, 1983.
In its absolute War Against indiscipline (WAI), the Buhari/Idiagbon junta went berserk; the public execution of two drug pushers, the invention of the draconian decree Number 2, (that took away freedom of the press) and the unnecessary emasculation of Fela and other innocent Nigerians, were some of the reasons that brought wild jubilations to the masses in August 1985, when Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Domkat Bali chased the ‘Beasts’ out of power.
In recent weeks, the antics of Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State against the civil servants produced unassailable facts about a man who is more interested in the booty of power, than the welfare and happiness of his people.
Governor Nasiru El-Rufai’s recalcitrant, malevolent and dictatorial actions fueled the recent tensions that exploded in Kaduna State. How could he have fired lecturers of Kaduna State University, sacked health workers, Local Government workers, etc. and resorted to threatening tactics, because these oppressed Nigerians dared to demand their rights?
What did El-Rufai expect after he had put the workers in Kaduna State in horrible siege, not to cry for help? That necessitated the five-day warning strike coordinated by the National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
When an individual behaves in a savage, crude and horrible way, he or she is classified as a beast. Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State descended to the animalistic plane when he referred to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, and others who went to intervene in the workers’ plight, as bandits.
The real animal in him manifested when he unleashed thugs and criminals, armed with knives, sticks and bottles on workers on a legitimate peaceful protest.
What l call intuitive animalism is when El-Rufai exhibited every trait of a despot and tyrant over the very people that ensured his election, a development which has sparked fury from many Nigerians today.
Nigeria is indeed in a deep mess, with another clownish fellow in the Ministry of Justice, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who in a recent interview granted to Channels Television, could not sufficiently articulate why Nigerians are clamoring for restructuring; limiting restructuring to financial issues at the state and local government.
This same Malami equated and misinterpreted Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution that guarantees freedom of movement for Nigerians in any part of the Federation, to mean open grazing for cows?
Yes, it is only in our country that a constitutional provision for human beings has been given to cows, as well as fundamental rights. Do we still have a country?
The beast in El-Rufai is more evident in his trodden path that generally abandons the rule of law, constitutionality, freedom of his people to peaceful protests and democratic dividends.
It is perfect beastly manifestation that in a supposed democratic setting, a siting Governor has the effrontery to declare the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress wanted, for leading a peaceful protest, meaning that the cornerstone of Nasiru El-Rufai’s political project is to ride rough shod over his people and anything that dwarf his overblown ego.
Who is this pseudo-democrat, what is his pedigree, we have not forgotten how Olusegun Obasanjo picked him from the pit of political obscurity?
Administrative sadism/animalism is when a Governor simply sacks thousands of his workforce for standing to demand their statutory entitlements.
In a nation whose economy has been conditioned and given to the dogs and cats, due to the conspiracy of the elite, one expected Governor Nasiru El-Rufai to have borrowed a leaf from Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who scientifically handled the workers in the State of Osun when in power.
It is hereby recommended that those sitting Governors and numerous public office holders, who are even worse off that the beast we have seen in El-Rufai, should be made to undergo compulsory refresher course, annually, to upgrade their knowledge about administrative and democratic civility in governance.
It is regrettable that El-Rufai is scrupulously misgoverning Kaduna State; he is turning the state into a calabash of violence, unrest, tension and bloodshed.
What a way for a man to betray his people who trusted him with power. He has classified himself squarely as a democratic misfit and a genuine curse to the welfare of the people in Kaduna State.
Yet, this beast is dreaming to be the next Vice-President of Nigeria, come 2023 general elections. God, help Nigeria!
Nowinta wrote, Where We Are: A Call for Democratic Revolution in Nigeria.
