Malam Nasir el- Rufai has been a prominent figure in recent news. The former governor and one- time minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was among the 48 individuals nominated by President Bola Tinubu as ministers in July.
However, according to DAILY TRUST, El- Rufai subsequently withdrew his interest in becoming a minister after the Senate deferred his confirmation along with two others. In an interview with Weekly Trust conducted 11 years ago, el- Rufai discussed various topics and explained why he had no intentions of becoming a minister again.
The interview, conducted by Amina Alhassan and Mulkat Mukaila, shed light on his perspective. El- Rufai clarified that the actions taken in Abuja during his tenure as FCT minister were necessary corrective measures. The aim was to address the prevailing issue of people disregarding regulations and assuming they could act with impunity.
He emphasized that the intent was not to target specific individuals, contrary to accusations of heartlessness. His statement that ” Abuja is not for the unemployed” was misinterpreted by the media, as he meant that the city was not designed to accommodate those without jobs.
El- Rufai highlighted the importance of leaders fulfilling their responsibilities to society instead of solely focusing on personal gain. When questioned about the projects executed during his tenure, el- Rufai asserted that there were many accomplishments.
In contrast, he criticized the current government for failing to highlight any notable projects undertaken during their time in office. He pointed out that in four years, the present administration received the highest oil revenue in Nigeria’ s history, surpassing what the Obasanjo administration received in eight years.
However, the current government has squandered these resources without significant achievements. El- Rufai drew a comparison to the Obasanjo era, suggesting that the accomplishments during his own time in office were more substantial, DAILY TRUST reports.
Ultimately, el- Rufai’ s decision not to pursue another ministerial position stemmed from his belief that leaders should prioritize serving the society rather than solely benefiting themselves. The interview provided insights into his perspective on his previous role and the importance of responsible governance.
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