President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the South East, Denge Josef Onoh has come hard on various individuals insulting a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on social media.
El-Rufai came under heavy criticism over comments he made
about President Tinubu’s railway project in Lagos.
The former governor had remarked that “two wrongs do not
make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion.”
He spoke while sharing an article by a United States-based Nigerian professor of journalism, Farooq Kperogi’s allegations of ethnic favouritism in President Bola Tinubu’s appointments
Kperogi, in an article titled, ‘Tinubu’s Buharisation of the
NNPC’, accused the President Tinubu of appointing Yoruba people to key
positions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central in the
eighth Assembly, while reacting, accused El-Rufai of whining because President
Tinubu’s appointments into key federal positions doidn’t not favour him.
Sani slammed his northern counterpart in a post on X on
Sunday, accusing him of being silent about the nepotistic appointments under
former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“There were people who were silent when Buhari was fielding
political offices with his kinsmen and have found their voice to speak out when
the equation doesn’t favour them,” Sani wrote.
The former lawmaker further alleged that El-Rufai’s
administration marginalised Southern Kaduna, adding that the former governor
made life unbearable to many people during his two-term reign.
Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga had responded in his X
handle that “Senator Shehu Sani responds to El-Rufai’s cheap shot against
President Tinubu” and was followed up with the likes of Reno Omokri and some
other APC supporters.
In his swift response, Onoh said that Bayo Onanuga’s
personal response to Sani’s post should not be misconstrued to mean that the
president has asked anyone to disrespect Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
He equally said Onanuga’s comment does not amount to any
form of disrespect from him.
“He Onanuga has his right to comment on any topic and also
share his views like anyone else. Being appointed by the President doesn’t rob
him of his personal liberties.
“The president holds Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in the highest
esteem, in politics we have no personal enemies but interest,” Onoh stated.
He stressed that the relationship between the president and
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai goes beyond politics and it will be stupid for anyone to
attempt to undermine it by going to social media and think that disrespecting
him will grant such a person any special privilege in the eyes of the
President.
“The administration will always acknowledge with respect the
immense contributions of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai prior and during the campaign.
His selfless service, commitment and dedication to the renew hope vision
remains unparalleled.
“Like him or hate him, he has carved his name in the anals
of Nigeria politics and his unapologetic support for a Southern president
against his northern political class still distinguishes him till date.
“I personally recall his support and encouragement during
the campaign when attempts to use the CBN as a political tool aimed at
political strangulation of the Tinubu presidential bid, using the Naira
currency change. while few of us were bold enough to voice out against the
actions of the then government of the day.
“It was same El-Rufai that gave us courage by lending his
voice while all those who are now forming lions of today were goats of
yesterday. I personally hold him in the highest esteem.
“Mr. President is preoccupied with stabilising the economy
and development across every state of the regions and one of such is his
consent to a proposal to establish a federal university in Southern Kaduna.
Also there are ongoing discussions to establish a Federal Medical Centre in
Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
“Huge commendation goes to the President as this will ensure
that our most respected and distinguished Senator Shehu Sani can find closure
on his recollection of nepotism that marginalised Southern Kaduna for eight
years.
“One can say that the President has truly brought renewed
hope to Southern Kaduna and Senator Shehu Sani is one of the last vocal voices
from the last crusade. He is entitled to his opinion as a watch dog and one of
the guardians of democracy, hence his comments can’t in any way be taken as
that of a political jobber and it’s the responsibility of any respectable
government to take corrections from any constructive criticism.
“I urge all political actors to refrain from attacks on the
person of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and stop attempts to use the most distinguished
Senator Shehu Sani’s statement as a boarding pass with hope they will find
reward in the eyes of Mr. President because one who disrespects El-Rufai today
is likely to disrespect the President tomorrow.
“No one remembers El-Rufai’s post few days ago in support of
the focused leadership of Dr. Zaccheus
Adedeji, in FIRS, his support for the Nigerian customs
recruitment exercise, and many other positive contributions. Same El-Rufai has
shown support for the current government while political jobbers are now
hovering from all angles to create discord.
“At no time did Bayo Onanuga insult Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
hence any attempt to distort the narrative is an exercise in futility. Nasir
El-Rufai, is a man blessed in building and supporting anyone he deems a friend
even at the detriment of his life but few ever return to thank him. Like every
human, he has his faults and he who is without a fault I dare to cast the first
stone.
“Irrespective of all this drama, he remains a true friend of
the President and a true friend is one who sees you through when others have
failed.
“True friendship isn’t earned by appointments from the
President, nor becoming an attack dog, or propaganda rather it’s a bond forged
in shared vision, commitment, sincerity of purpose and the ability to tell your
friend the truth when he’s surrounded by sycophants and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
isn’t a sycophant neither is Sen. Shehu Sani.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s friendship with the president is
forged beyond politics and only the president can respond to his friend in a
language only both of them understand and anyone who attempts to get in between
them will surely sink even if your wearing a life vest,” he further stated.
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