El-Rufai: “Nothing Can Make Jonathan Succeed”

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC,
Malam Nasir el-Rufai in this interview culled
from Saturday Sun talks about why he has
remained a constant critic of President
Goodluck Jonathan, why he cannot serve under the current administration and his plans
for 2015. Mr. el-Rufai, who said he understands
President Jonathan better than those around
him now, also adduced reasons why he thinks
the present administration cannot succeed. Excerpts… When asked if he has a hidden agenda for his
persistent criticism of government, Mr. el-Rufai
says, “No, no, no. Jonathan was actually a
good friend of mine at the time he was deputy
governor. To me, when a friend of mine is
destroying Nigeria, I have to speak. And I believe strongly that Jonathan has been
systematically destroying the fabric of unity in
this country. He has been promoting divisions
and corruption and impunity at the highest
level. Even if we were from the same mother, I
would criticize him if he does that. I don’t care! I think Nigeria is more important than
any relationship, personal or familiar. And if
my own brother was the one running Nigeria
the way Jonathan is ruining it, I will criticize
him.” Don’t you think your criticism will be better
channelled if you participate in his
government? No! I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that the
devil will repent. I don’t believe that when you
see something and you know how devilish it
is, you will improve. There is a limit to how
much you can change what is technically bad.
I believe that the Jonathan government is completely and totally bad and anyone that
joins will only come back spoilt. So, I don’t
believe that. I have never for a moment even
considered having anything to with the
Jonathan government. Not even for a
moment. People believe he listens more than former
President Obasanjo whom you worked with
and that you were one of the arrowheads that
made that government succeed. Those
advancing this argument also believe that
being part of this government, you would also make it succeed. What is your take on this? Nothing can make Jonathan succeed. He is
grossly incompetent, he doesn’t listen, he
doesn’t even understand the issues. I am
sorry! I know the man more than those that
are shouting with Jonathan because when he
was my friend, none of them even knew him. I knew Jonathan as a deputy governor in 2002.
That was when I first met him and we have
been relating. So, all these new found
Jonathan lovers should just shut up. I know
him and I know what he can do and what he
cannot do. So, please, they should just leave me alone. Those that want jobs can go and
take jobs. I don’t want. His plans for 2015 I am going to continue to work on building
our party at every level and hope that we will
present an excellent presidential candidate
that will ensure that Jonathan goes back to
Otuoke. That is my plan.

Pick Buhari As Presidential Candidate And See PDP Win 2015 Race – Presidency Tells APC

APC SPOKESMAN, ALH. LAI MOHAMMED (L) & PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON POLITICAL MATTERS, DR. AHMED GULAK

The Presidency has observed the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build up to 2015 and declared that if the party picks a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as its presidential candidate, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would coast to an easy victory.

The Presidency was apparently replying a comment attributed to spokesman of the newly registered party – Alhaji Lai Mohammed – that it would be political suicide for any party to field President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, stated this in a telephone interview with a PUNCH correspondent in Abuja on Thursday.

The presidential aide also commented on other APC leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i.

He said, “As far as that merger is concerned, the calculation of the Congress for Progressive Change elements is that Buhari will stand for the election. If he stands for the election, it is a walkover for the PDP; so, we are praying that they field Buhari.”

Sounding very confident on who would or would not run for the presidential race under the banner of APC, Gulak stated, “Tinubu is not interested in the presidential race. I have it on good authority that Tinubu is not interested.

“El-Rufa’i is not a politician. When we are talking about politicians who are likely candidates, we don’t talk about people like El-Rufa’i. We are talking about political politicians.

“But in all, the President has yet to declare his intention whether he will re-contest or not. When the time comes in 2014, we will know whether he will offer himself for a second term or not. As of now, we are here to work for Nigerians.”

Gulak berated the APC for attempting to decide the fate of the President if the PDP fielded him for the 2015 presidential election, saying since the party had just been registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its leaders should mind their own business and focus on the challenges ahead of them.

He said, “The APC that was just born yesterday should not have the mouth to talk.

“They should mind their own business and face the struggle ahead of them. They should stop focusing on what PDP will do or will not do, that is none of their business.”

The presidential aide added that so far, the APC has not shown that it possesses the presidential material to cause President Jonathan sleepless nights if he decides to re-contest in 2015.