Your Excellency Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i,
Governor of Kaduna state
Dear Sir,
Not many high-ranking Nigerian politicians have had a smoother political experience and career than yourself.
It was late Professor Chinua Achebe, author of “An Image of Africa and The Trouble With Nigeria”, who said that the most commonly enunciated Nigerian ideal is unity, with faith following closely. In spite of the challenges our country faces today, many of which have done some us more harm than good, by impeding our growth and development, we still remain hopeful, faithful, united and unapologetically resolute that things would work in our country one day, especially with the recent influx of young minds on the business of governance and with leaders who remain ruthless in the quest for prosperity for their state and people like you.
Your trajectory when you were the director of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) and secretary of the National Council of Privatisation (NCP), where you spearheaded the privatisation of several government owned corporations in 1999 and also the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) placed you on the threshold of history.
You demonstrated once again that God is with you when you became governor of our dear Kaduna state without fuss. Indeed, your life has been that of a man who is graced and backed by God.
In 2015, i believe that God gave you the pen to rewrite the history of Kaduna state’s politics and governance, hence the reason behind this open letter.
In the history of our dear state, you are the first governor that laid the foundation that redefined true leadership and governance through massive youth and women inclusion in the state; some of us today have the track records and zeal of instilling values and uplifting the poor masses in our various local government areas to prosperity.
Your book “Accidental Public Servant” and your landmark successes in leadership style which we have never witnessed in this 21st century in Kaduna state, encourage me to join politics (which I was never interested).
I came from a very poor background, but you have provided me with the platform not just to govern my people but to become the best ever local government council chairman in Kagarko local government area.
Your disposition further builds in people like me, the hope and confidence that, somehow and in the not-too-far future, this country of ours will achieve its potential as a great and wonderful country.
Your contributions to good governance in turning around ugly situations into good memories will remain on the lips of many Kaduna state citizens.
You have become a beacon and a torch bearer of the Nigerian leadership just like other reputable Nigerians, who came into power when governance meant intangible prizes devoid of impact; but on ascension into office as the executive Governor of Kaduna state you proved otherwise, that governance was about the people more than empty propaganda.
It will be wrong of me with the “KADUNA URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAM” and other laudable programs that you have initiated in the state not to acknowledge that you are truly a breathe of fresh ideas in this tainted political space.
Your zeal, commitment and measures you showcase in combating the dreaded ravaging scourge of Covid-19 in the most more challenging period in our history as a people and as a nation were unprecedented.
The Kaduna Investment program (KADINVEST) was another laudable initiative of your administration In 2016 to attract some strategic investment opportunities in bringing expertise and investors from different walks of life to consolidate its existing investment gains to maximise the state’s economic potential.
As as result of the program in the last seven years, Dangote Automobile Assembly Plant, Olam, Africa Natural Resources & Mines Limited, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Tomato Jos Nigeria have established their operations in Kaduna today with our youths gainfully employed.
Thank you once again your Excellency for giving us space to grow, and expectations to live up to.
As your administration winds down come May 29, 2023, I feel Nigeria today, needs a man of your calibre to be the next president based on your track record in BPE, minister of FCT and governor of Kaduna state.
We are already missing you and I pray you get to become the president of our dear country in no distant time.
Honourable Rabo is the Executive Chairman, Kargarko local government area of Kaduna state.
