LESSONS FROM NASIR EL RUFA’I POLITICAL DEBACLE By M K Ilyasu (FBDFM)

LESSONS FROM NASIR EL RUFA’I POLITICAL DEBACLE
By
M K Ilyasu (FBDFM)

I am one admirer of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, whose strides in our political space was momentous and a pride to our ambitious youth seeking to bring in new ideas and energy into the polity.

This is because, additionally, I believed that Mallam Nasir will unapologetically defend integrity and honour as a beacon of courage and inspiration for democratic ideals he espouses in leadership.

My expectations of Mallam Nasiru was building a new generation of committed Youth rooted in their heritage and anchored in communities through whatever political storm or turbulent times they may find themselves.

But, the ongoing stand off due to charges he is currently facing with several allegations tied to corruption, money laundering, abuse of office, and cybercrime-related accusations has exposed another unpalatable side of youth’s aspiration to political power.

We posed the following to our Youth that it must be boned in mind that the young people at the present time are anguished, suppressed, despised, and harassed, and that hardships are frequently visited upon them as they aspire for political office. Informed young Nigerians with moral confidence and civic courage, grounded in hard work from the lessons of our turbulent history remained skeptical to political realities, but someone who nonetheless persists in wishing to become politically relevant should be considered sincere.

This reminds us that continuity in whatever form is not given, rather remains a matter of choice.

What does it mean to choose a future beyond yourself?

Mallam Nasiru’s case is a classical example of loyalty, courage and also a drama of two orientations. One of military, because almost all his growing up into adulthood was during the military era, and, the other into civic culture, espousing democratic ideals.

Taken together, they trace a path from opportunism to renewal, and from mentorship to public service/covenant. Carefully understood, Mallam Nasiru is a story about choosing life.

Why would Mallam Nasir chooses commitment to posterity over self-enclosure, and what that means to his political survival.

The legal framework within which we operate gives his story realism and also questions our moral sensitivity. The ICPC, EFCC, DSS and the Courts are not acting randomly but within recognized social obligations. Their acts therefore go beyond legal duty. It is to Observe and Protect.

The law provides the framework, but our legal as well as our social obligations gives Mallam Nasiru story its social, emotional and demographic depth. The government continually choose statutes over minimal social obligation. This should be looked into

Why would Mallam Nasiru take kick backs, steal or even attempt to eavesdrop on the NSA telephone lines? Isn’t that saying that there is some fundamental wrong with our governing structures.

He was quoted as having said there was no “Elder” in Northern Nigeria except people like him in governance. That may sound offensive but the truth does not lie. Since the outbreak of BH in the early 2000, all that we witnessed is a proliferation of criminal gangsterism. From kidnapping for monetary ransom to insurgencies to terrorism abound. An elder’s voice is enough to stop the ongoing rubbish.

Pulling him into politics is not enough to tutored him in the rudiments of many desperate political situations. I blame those responsible for ignoring his naivety. In what was a unique position he once was, Mallam Nasiru’s ought to understand to stand for the national interest as against the local interests. This fact is of special importance to him, looking at the background of his emergence as political big wig.

Political inclusion should not be self destructive. Those responsible for Mallam Nasiru’s emergence in politics should carefully examine their conscience and speak out for him.

So where do we situate this narrative in consideration of the social and legal context, and the hype that tends to give the narrative its structure.

Most of the cases being pursued include an accusation of cybercrime and unlawful interception or monitoring allegations of the communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser. By any standard, this is the mother of of it all. The NSA respond to no constituency but the President alone.

Mallam Nasiru’s deficiencies are notable in their multipolarity, lack of intelligence information, inability to function secretly or to keep secrets, lack of continuity and above all his localism and parochialism or as OBJ would call it “Provincialism”.

Nigerians are accustomed to hearing politicians being accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), while some investigations also involve the EFCC and DSS.
Major charges include money laundering and fraud allegations. Former governors like Mallam Nasiru are also accused of receiving severance payments far above the legally approved amount. These are allegations against former political office holders who cross carpeted to opposition parties.

El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has publicly suggested that the cases are politically motivated.
My prayer is to President Bola Ahmed Tunubu on whose mandate the “whole people stand”including the bureaucratic government constituency, the partisan constituency and all allies and adversaries to save Mallam Nasiru from further detention. His trial should be fast tracked in the spirit of justice, equity and above all in consideration of the services Mallam Nasiru rendered to the country in the past.

M K Ilyasu (FBDFM) a public affairs commentator writes from Kaduna Nigeria

18th May 2026