Fransis de la Rochefoucauld, once said, “No accidents are no unlucky but that the wise may draw some advantages from them; nor are there any so lucky but that the foolish may turn them to their own prejudice.”
“… to make the case that public service is important … to convey a message to those already aspiring to a career in public service … a message for those that have opted up—The Nigerian Diaspora … an appeal to persons that have held public office to document their experiences and tell their sides of the story … and finally to put on record my version of events…” —– Are most of the reasons Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai puts forward for writing his poignant, compelling, captivating, motivating and unprecedented autobiography, “The Accidental Public Servant.”
Memoirs are increasingly becoming popular in Nigeria today. This originated from the biographies of our leaders of the First Republic from then onwards. Several efforts have been made to write biographies of national figures both while on office and afterwards. These efforts are often made by people from different callings.
However, past leaders, journalists, independent authors, historians and professionals among others seem to be clearly led with varying degrees of success. These attempts in spite of their shortcomings have filled important gaps in our history at various levels. They also provide alternative interpretations and perspective on various topical matters.
In addition, they switch light on the role that some individuals played in our national history — such issues like governance at different levels, elections, politics and even civil war. It is in this spirit that ‘The Accidental Public Servant” was being written.
It is a book which could easily prevail or rub shoulders with any autobiography as the most debated and opened up floodgates of reviews in Nigeria’s recent history.
Scanning through the pages from chapter one to seventeen, it was apparent that Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai could not have come at a better time than this. It is a compilation and presentation of a leader of humble origin. “The Accidental Public Servant” after long but varied public careers.
On El-Rufai’s assumption of public office at the beginning of the Fourth Republic, he started to record tremendous achievements in the upliftment and the general development of both human and material resources.
This book apart from the theme of personal experiences and incessant struggles gives an insight into the understanding of the role played by El-Rufai in private career and much later public service.
Chapter five to seven of the book juxtapose the strong desire for change and development, brilliance, learning, team building, integrity, accountability, credibility and patriotism of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. It also exposes the most insensitive self-ingratiating act ever recorded in the history of Nigeria.
The book shows how desperate politicians promote culture of impunity and bad governance in President Obasnjo’s administration, especially what transpired between the author and the two senators he described as the skilled political operators.
There is no doubt that lack of competence, qualification, capability and accountability of government officials are the main factors contributing to the mis- governance of any administration.
I found page 193 -196 of the book very interesting on how the El-Rufai showed the lessons he learned in team building with good Nigerians who have the technical know-how; people who have been tried and trusted, people of good integrity and people that are ready to work for the progress of this country and bring Nigeria out of the woods.
The book is filled with pictures and colorful quotes from people of that era. These first-hand information provided deeper insight into what, in some autobiographies – are just a listing of factual and fictional information.
The book supplies an in-depth analysis of various aspects of government often giving a short explanation over in some autobiographies.
I recall on May 14, 2004 at ABU’s 2004 pre- convocation presentation, El-Rufai presented a paper titled “Nigeria’s Challenges In a Fast Changing World”. He made some suggestions and the ways forward. Those suggestions were jettisoned and dumped by the administration of that time.
While I definitely recommend this book to other readers, I would recommend the book to those already aspiring to hold a public service and politics. This book would resonate better with them. It is suffice to say that young people could also read it even though most of the characters in the book are much of top-notch public servant.
The narrations in the book flow well and move it along very quickly. The index of some facts in the book are very useful. I give the book four stars.
The book has opened up a floodgates of reflections and reviews within and outside the country. It serves as a reference subject to the top notch public servant and also created awareness for the incoming generation to emulate.
Lastly, autobiography and biography or any historical fiction writing are mostly smoke and mirrors according to writers. So — the success of any book like this depends largely on creating a convincing illusion.
Has El-rufai rised up to this challenge?
I smoked some challenges from the former president Chief Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Abubakar and others. It was reported that Atiku described the memoir as fictional and reflections of selective memory. Obasanjo has written a memoir titled ‘My Watch’ so far and El-Rufai must have read it. At this point, we look forward to reading many memoirs from our leaders to put on record their own version of events and sides of the story.
This is the framework within which to understand Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s “The Accidental Public Servant.”
