It is a political season and a time politicians hope their works will do the talking, as they seek to win over a people so badly injured by the failures of leaders who had promised them good lives, but made their lives all the more miserable.
While Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State is not particularly liked by many, he however, has been identified as one of the most successful Governors in the country who in silence, managed to change the face of Kaduna State.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in a communique signed by its Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, has hailed El-Rufai as a silent achiever whom other governors need to emulate.
The Forum said within his 7 years in office, El-Rufai has transformed Kaduna into a modern State through exploits in the areas of infrastructural and economic development.
“We have noted that Kaduna is wearing a new and beautiful face and we encourage other state governments to copy this example. We also noticed that the Kaduna State has attracted direct foreign investment. We also encourage other states to study and follow the progressive initiatives of Kaduna State government which has led to this progressive economic achievements by the state," the statement read in part.
With 2023 in the horizon, the Kaduna State Governor wants to make sure he leaves no project uncompleted by the end of his administration by allocating over 60 percent of the 2022 budget to capital expenditure.
While it's unclear El-Rufai may join the presidential race, he did however, hinted that he has no interest in the presidency saying ruling Nigeria is not a job for old men like him.
El-Rufai who made the startling admission in an exclusive interview with the Pidgin service of the BBC, said he has suffered presidential ambition suspicion for 15 years now, a situation which he said has made some people paint him in a bad light, including calling him a Jihadist, just to keep him out of the presidential race.
He stated categorically that, governing Nigeria is a serious job, which is obviously too much for a 62-year-old man.
According to him, “look at me, look at my grey hair. If you see my picture when I was sworn in, my hair was very black but look at how it has become. This is a very difficult job and that is just state governor, one state out of 36, a big one, yes; a difficult one, yes, but it is not the same as Nigeria.
“President of Nigeria is a very serious job, it is too much for a 62-year-old,” El-Rufai said.
“I have been suffering this presidential ambition suspicion since 2006, I have suffered it for 15 years today, and I am sick and tired of it. There are people that are out to paint me in a particular picture so that, I will be out of the presidential race, but they don’t know that I am not in any race anywhere.
“They have called me all sort of names; they said I am a Hausa-Fulani heredentist, I am Jihadist and all that, Jihadist when? Where? I am not even an active member of any Islamic organization. I am Muslim yes, a devote one but, I believe religion is private. Even here in this office, when it is time for prayer, I just excuse myself as if I am going to the restroom, I don’t ask anyone to come and pray with me, because we will all go to our graves separately.
“Look around me and see, I not surrounded by only Muslims, this government is the only state government in this country that has at least people from 13 other states of the Federation as cabinet members.
“One of the most influential persons in my life, one of my closest political associates is Pastor Tunde Bakare. It was Pastor Tunde Bakare that actually introduced me to Buhari and CPC. I didn’t join the CPC because Buhari lives in Kaduna or he is a northerner. So, if I am an Islamic Jihadist, why will Pastor Tunde Bakare be speaking to me?” El-Rufai asked.
El-Rufai's statements should be taken with a grain of salt though, unless of course, you can trust a politician with your life.