The All Progressives Congress (APC), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are among prominent individuals and groups celebrating the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai on his 60th birthday on Sunday, February 16, 2020.
But another group, styled the Nasiriya movement, comprised of believers in the who want the governor to contest the 2023 presidential election are at daggers-drawn over offices and its perquisites in the movement.
According to media reports, the movement has broken into two factions following the sacking of its National Co,ordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Garkuwa,
on allegations of high handedness and alleged financial scam.
An interim National Coordinator, Alhaji Sani Uba Daura, has been appointed, but Garkuwan has threatened to seek legal redress.
A source close to the Governor has said that the governor and his men have nothing to do with the group. “We have nothing to do with the group,” he simply said on enquiries.
Nevertheless, Obasanjo noted that over the years, he had been delighted by el Rufai’s demonstration of rare qualities of commitment and courage in the public service in various capacities by el Rufai.
“Under my watch as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, you made a great success of our privatization programme as the Director-general of Bureau of Public Enterprises, which resulted in the liberalization of our nation’s economy and our being able to meet some of the challenges of globalization and tackling the problem of poverty in our land.
“I must also applaud the giant strides in terms of infrastructural and socio-economic development which the Federal Capital Territory FCT, recorded under your focused administration as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory”, he added.
The APC says it is proud to identify with Governor El-Rufai whose trademark has been a fearless and people-focussed leadership in all public and elective offices he has occupied.
The APC statement from its Abuja headquarters adds: “We fondly recall El-Rufai’s legacies as former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and Minister of Federal Capital Territory. Notably, El-Rufai’s celebrated courage in the pursuit of common good hallmarked his determination in implementing and restoring the Abuja masterplan.
“In our national discourse, El-Rufai has been vocal on issues bothering on good governance and how to make our nation’s constituent units and institutions work optimally. The report of the Governor El-Rufai headed committee on True Federalism remains a reference point in the debates on restructuring and devolution of powers.
“As governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai has recorded tremendous success despite the dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the federal allocation. The El-Rufai administration has positioned Kaduna Stare as a top destination for investors who are benefiting from its various developmental policies and the investment friendly environment.
“He has embarked on massive recovery of government’s property from illegal occupiers and encroachers; improved the learning environment through massive renovation of the state owned public schools across the state; reformed the state civil service by instilling new work attitudes, curbing corruption and accountability; improved the state’s Internally Generated Revenue by plugging leakeages and embarked on massive infrastructure drive, particularly in road construction, water works and better service delivery in the state’s health sector.
“We pray for good health and wisdom for Governor El-Rufai as he continues to inspire the younger generation and contribute to the development of the APC, Kaduna State and the nation.”
Tinubu spoke in similar vein like Obasanjo and the APC, and prayed for many more years with good health and renewed strength to continue to govern the people Kaduna state and serve our nation.