Imran Zakari

[Aliyu U. Tilde @Dr_AliyuTilde]

El-Rufai Plc and the Presidency

How many times have I restrained my fingers from writing on this topic? It first came to mind when I heard His Excellency, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, hinting that he will not be part of the Tinubu administration. I watched the clip and laughed. I said does not Malam know that he is now a Plc and no longer an individual enterprise? Can Dangote one day dream of returning to his quiet personal status of 50 years ago?

Once you are a Plc, forget it. You no longer own your life. We own it. You are our property. Our slave. Period. That is the liability you become to yourself when you prove to the public your competence in serving it. The prize of hard work is more work, they say.

I knew the positions of SSG and COS do not fit people of his personality even if he eyed them. Malam is at his best either as an executive or a project person tasked with a very difficult task, like Ministry of Power.

After missing him on campus, I came to know him through many of his intimate friends in Kaduna since 1986. But I knew him from a distance the more when he started public service in BPE, then as Minister of FCT and lastly as Governor of Kaduna State. In summary, he is one Nigerian that has proven his competence beyond reasonable doubt.

That is not to say Malam, 63, is not human. Nobody can come straight in these positions without stepping on many toes especially in a country that is as tortuous as Charles H. Robinson described the African footpath in 1892. Those adversely affected by his policies, which were necessary to straighten up things, will understandably complain and write petitions against him.

Then Malam is also a politician, a fierce one for that matter. We have seen that much during the build up to the last presidential election. To complicate matters, he is vocal, unrelenting, open and many times politically incorrect; yet, calculating enough to yield result. These are
enough to court him many troubles.

One of those troubles is with the legislature. He had a problem in 2003 when the Senate refused to clear him. Finally he got cleared by the intervention of President Obasanjo and went ahead to prove his worth as FCT minister. This time the media is saying it is not about money or even the legislature per se but about some petitions or security issues.

Today President Tinubu needs to play the role that Obasanjo played in getting the Senate clearance in 2003. He campaigned for Akpabio. Some say he also intervened for Keyamo. He stood for two other competent people before: Vice President Shettima and NSA Nuhu Ribadu.

The President has promised to choose for the country the best talents to serve under his government. Though he had difficulties to keep this promise on some of his nominees, the nation may not forgive him for missing the target on Malam. He should defy Malam’s opponents just as he did for many others.

Both the security apparatus and APC owe Malam a debt. His doggedness on power shift to the south and in fighting to neutralize the effect of last minute anti-people’s policy of the Buhari administration that would have cost the APC the Presidency are moral debts that both the President and the party owe Malam; otherwise, both will suffer a trust deficit in the eyes of the public. I have told many—and I may be wrong—that even from a strategic point of view, not having a cerebral and politically hyperactive El-Rufai on board will be a grave political miscalculation for the administration.

The security apparatus has no moral locus to abandon Malam either. He stood by it and acted on its reports to literally go on the ethnic cleansing of Shi’ites in his State—his one act that I strongly abhor and wrote against.

The President now has three major contentious issues at hand: Removal of fuel subsidy, dollar deregulation and the coup in Niger Republic. He must make El-Rufai Plc become the fourth.

Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde
8 August 2023

@officialABAT @KashimSM @NuhuRibadu @woye1 @DeeOneAyekooto

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

On this last day of the @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo administration I am grateful to the Almighty. I am honored to also receive news today of National Honors as Officer Order of the Niger (OON). I was the youngest cabinet level appointee and thankful for the opportunity I had to serve.

[Imran Zakari @imrizzle07]

@arkazaure @FMWRNigeria Allah ya qara lafia da Nisan kwana.

[Bashir Zakari @Bashirzk]

Congratulations Jigawa State Governor Elect, Umar Namadi Sambo, Your excellency, we pray that your success translates to a better, greater Jigawa.

Congratulations @arkazaure , Santurakin Kazaure for the tireless work, and dedication to supporting the Governor Elect.Jigawa wins

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Looking forward to an even greater Jigawa …

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Voting successfully done in Gwiwa LGA in Jigawa. No problems @inecnigeria doing a nice job so far. Next step collation monitoring

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

“As of 10:19 AM on Sunday March 19th 2023, the APC Jigawa Auxiliary Situation Room in partnership with the NorPol Institute is able to project that the APC (Alh Umar Namadi DanModi) will defeat the PDP (Mustafa Sule Lamido) in the 2023 Gubernatorial election.

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Umar Namadi DanModi our next Governor in Jigawa inshaAllah. A consummate professional, a distinguished gentleman and a public servant with an unblemished and impeccable track record focused on developing others. We are excited about the possibilities but first we go out and WIN.

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Jigawa Delivered! With more than 75% of PU’s verified, it is projected that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinibu/Kashim Shettima of APC will win the 2023 Jigawa Presidential Election by up to 100k votes or more and win in at least 20 out of 27 LGA’s. Jagaba shi ne gaba! Thank you Jigawa

[Imran Zakari @imrizzle07]

@arkazaure @MohZaks @As_zakari @mohammedisma @Bashirzk @AIAD_45806 @AbdulrashidMans @Atiku005 @HimraibZakari @Abdurrahimm @MuttakaAbdulmu3 #RenewedHope

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

It’s good to have brothers! @MohZaks @As_zakari @mohammedisma @imrizzle07 @Bashirzk @AIAD_45806 @AbdulrashidMans @Atiku005 @HimraibZakari @Abdurrahimm @MuttakaAbdulmu3

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

We do this politics so we can continue our technocratic work. Ultimately the aim is to serve. We pray that we have continued opportunities to serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith!

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Many youth today are in a hurry … sometimes at the expense of hard work, honest work and commitment. @MohZaks you leave no doubt in these areas. May you have a blessed birthday and continue to soar higher and higher. Thanks for all you do brother 👊🏽

[Barka Sajou @BarkaSajou]

Credible leadership formed at youth makes a lot of difference. Today, we joined a youth @arkazaure and a pacesetter to submit his Nomination Form to run for the office of Gov of Jigawa state. #haskenjigawa #APC #jigawastate2023 #voteAhmadZakari #santurakinkazaure

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

Here’s a video of my declaration in Gwiwa LGA (my hometown) to contest the APC primaries for Governor Jigawa on May 9th, 2022 #SanturakiJG23 … video 1/2

[Imran Zakari @imrizzle07]

@Olamide Ameen

[Bashir Ahmad, OON @BashirAhmaad]

Happy birthday to my big brother and senior colleague Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure, the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, an excellent administrator and a wonderful silent achiever. Many happy returns, San Turaki!

[Ahmad Rufai Zakari @arkazaure]

At 38 I’ve been immensely blessed.I am thankful to my Creator, my Nation,my wife, family,friends for making me who I am today. As the youngest cabinet level appointee in this Government I am thankful to Mr President and the Vice President for the confidence. Thanks for the wishes

[Imran Zakari @imrizzle07]

@PFawziyya Ameen Ya Rabb.

[Imran Zakari @imrizzle07]

@asa_engineer 😀😀😀