El-Rufai soars despite the bitterness of political merchants

BY SAMUEL ARUWAN

 Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has steadfastly refused to be distracted by the antics of politicians who think the goal of public policy should be to surrender public resources to their selfish interests. These venal politicians and their allies have created a demonise Malam El-Rufai industry that generates tons of fiction that may perplex the unwary but has been an abysmal failure. The bond between Malam El-Rufai and the ordinary people of Kaduna State is stronger than the wiles of these political merchants.

The political merchants mischievously misinterpret the policies and reforms of the Kaduna State Government to fetch political capital. They seek to manipulate facts and to exploit differences to serve sinister interests and venal power calculations. They mischievously scream and wear the toga of humanity, but in reality, they are forces of darkness, that work and hope that the worst befalls the state to further their political business.

The progress made in the heath sector to them is not something worthy, the recruitment of over 2000 health workers, that includes doctors, nurses, midwives and other supporting health workers is not an achievement in contrast with 156 doctors this administration met in the entire health sector in 2015. The building of over 100 primary health care centers, that reduced the maternal mortality and morbidity scourge is nothing to write home about. The initiative to train more female doctors in Cuba and other African countries is not a worthy venture, since it’s not about sharing and mismanaging public resources.

The revitalization of the education sector is not worthy of commendation but a point to play politics with and compromise the future of our little children. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of over 600 schools across the state is not a success to them, same with the recruitment of 2300 teachers in the core subjects of English and Mathematics as well as the sciences to teach in public schools. In 2015, when we came on board, at least 50% of our primary school pupils sit on bare floor (the figure was as high as 90% in some schools). Today, we have provided about 200, 000 units of desks and chairs and still counting.

The El-Rufai Government is constructing six new science secondary schools in Manchok, Jere, Hunkuyi, Pambegua, Rigachikun, and Buruku. To the unbiased citizenry, it is a milestone and a step towards the rejuvenation of education in the state. And above all, a sojourn to do the best for ordinary people and their children.

The government’s commitment is clearly seen in all the critical sectors and, the administration is unstoppable and focused to serve in a way that puts the people first. The vast majority appreciates the immediate and long-term benefits of the reforms in the education and health sectors, the hard work being done to tackle the huge infrastructural deficit and introducing discipline into the management of public resources.

Governor El-Rufai and his team are creating a new political order in Kaduna State. It is a time of reckoning for retrogressive politicians. They are bewildered that their tested tactics of blackmail and intimidation have failed to miserably to induce any sense of panic. Rather the man is pressing ahead with a new way of doing things and creating a platform for new leaders to emerge. Malam El-Rufai is retiring political merchants and is close to taming conflict entrepreneurs whose business is exploiting God-created diversities to pitch innocent citizens against each other. And the common man, the beneficiary of Malam El-Rufai’s policies, stands by him despite the deluge of blackmail and retrogressive politicking.

Opponents of the new order in Kaduna State are unhappy that some associations decided to present the APC’s governorship nomination form to Governor El-Rufai. So, they hurriedly created a ghost association, ‘Kaduna Market Traders Association’ and wrote a document signed by fake signatories, Alhaji Falalu Musa Maidoya, Alhaji Gafai Boska and Mr. Thomas Yakubu in order to change the narrative. As usual some hate-filled minds were engaged to massively peddle the fake story. They wailed and toiled, but they failed because their lies could not alter the facts.

To those that followed the drama, it’s fake news peddled by frustrated politicians. But El-Rufai will continue to soar, while they remain in perpetual frustration, bitterness, hate and prejudice. With the blessings of the Almighty God, and the support of the majority of the people of Kaduna State, the 2019 elections will produce consolidation and continuity of Governor El-Rufai’s lofty aspirations for Kaduna State.

Aruwan is spokesman of el-Rufai