Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has voiced his concerns about what he describes as pervasive “envy” within Nigeria’s political class.
In a post on his official X account over the weekend, El-Rufai shared his reflections on the issue, which comes in the wake of serious corruption allegations against his administration.
These allegations stem from a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accuses El-Rufai’s government of siphoning ₦432 billion during his eight-year tenure. The Assembly claims that the mismanagement of funds has left the state with significant debt liabilities.
In June, an ad hoc committee established by the State Assembly presented its findings, revealing that many of the loans acquired during El-Rufai’s administration were allegedly misappropriated. According to the committee, the funds were not utilized for their intended purposes, and due process was reportedly ignored in securing these loans.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, echoed the committee’s findings, stating that the alleged diversion of ₦423 billion by El-Rufai’s administration has burdened the state with substantial financial liabilities. The committee recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies investigate and potentially prosecute El-Rufai and some of his former cabinet members for abuse of office, public fund diversion, and money laundering. They also called for the immediate suspension of the current Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who served in the same role under El-Rufai.
In response, El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, strongly defended the former governor’s record, dismissing the committee’s claims as “scandalous” and politically motivated. Adekeye emphasized El-Rufai’s pride in his administration’s achievements, describing the inquiry as a biased process aimed at smearing the former governor’s reputation. He assured the public that El-Rufai had served Kaduna State with integrity and within the bounds of the law, labeling the probe as a “politically motivated hatchet job.”
El-Rufai has since taken legal action, filing a fundamental rights lawsuit against the Kaduna State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
In a separate reflective post on his X account on Saturday, El-Rufai delved deeper into the issue of envy within the political sphere, describing it as an “incurable disease.”
He said, “WEEKEND REFLECTION: “NONE of us has to fail for ALL of us to succeed. And in unity there is strength.” – @VP Kamala Harris, US Vice President (2021-2024) and Democratic Presidential Candidate at the Democratic National Convention,
“The quote above led me to reflect on the meaning and implications for our situation in Nigeria. Feelings of envy require that EVERYONE fails for ONE to succeed.
“Envy is quite prevalent amongst the key actors in our political system. Competence, capacity, and commitment are some personal leadership qualities that attract the envy of those lacking or deficient in these indices.
“Instead of striving to attain, the envious seeks to hate and destroy those that are better. Envy leads to hatred.
“Hatred leads to destructive thoughts and actions, including unspeakable crimes like perjury, malicious prosecution, persecution, unlawful imprisonment, torture and even murder for the target(s) of the envy.
“Can the incurable disease of envy amongst Nigerians, particularly within the members of the political class be cured? Personally, I doubt it.
“The emerging problem of Nigeria is the outcome of the continuously deteriorating competence, capacity and commitment of the political leadership.
“Societies succeed or fail depending on these personal and institutional qualities.
“No matter what, the incurable virus of ENVY has to be confronted and degraded, if not cured, if Nigeria is to achieve its manifest destiny of greatness and leadership of the Black Race. I pray this can be realized. Amen.”
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