Igbokwe also wondered why some cabals in APC frustrated El-rufai’s appointment when he was nominated as minister
By Kehinde Okeowo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe has praised former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, saying he appears to be greater, smarter and bolder than the ministers appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
TheNiche had earlier reported that El-Rufai during a recent event in Abuja, declared that he no longer recognizes the ruling party, adding that APC no longer practices internal democracy.
He also accused the party of abandoning its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.
After his comment made the rounds, it didn’t go well with some allies of the president, who launched verbal attacks on him.
A staunch supporter of the Tinubu’s administration, Reno Omokri accused El-rufai of orchestrating the killing of residents of Kaudna State while serving as governor.
ALSO READ: Reno Omokri blasts El-Rufai, says ‘You’re bloodthirsty tyrant’
Speaking via his X page, he tweeted, “You are a bloodthirsty tyrant, and because you no longer see blood flowing on the streets of Kaduna, you are unable to recognise Nigeria!
“The reason you, Nasir el-Rufai, the Butcher of Kaduna, no longer recognise Nigeria is because, while you were Governor of Kaduna, there were industrial-scale mass killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna after you admitted paying herdsmen, and mass murders of Shiites in Northern Kaduna after your government admitted invading their compound in Zaria and killing almost a thousand Shia men, women, children and infants.
“All of that ended as soon as you left office.”
Amid the backlash, Igbokwe in a post on his Facebook page, revealed why the party needs the former governor, stating that some bigwigs like El-rufai were responsible for Tinubu’s victory in 2023.
He also questioned why some cabals in the government frustrated El-rufai’s appointment after he was nominated as minister of power.
Igbokwe wrote, “All things considered APC Nigeria needs the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He worked so hard for APC during the 2023 Presidential and Governorship Elections.
“I am a witness to how Gov El- Rufai, former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and one other governor went to stop the criminal Emefiele’s dubious money policy that was targeted at PBAT which nearly truncated PBAT victory. I also remember the excruciating efforts he put down to retain kaduna for APC.
“HE El-Rufai was nominated as a Minister and we allowed shenanigans and people without honour to come to hallowed chambers of the Senate to stop his nomination for reasons we do not know. If reality is to prevail he was supposed to take a bow, just walk away.
“APC allowed the interlopers to walk away with their sadistic tendencies. Now let me ask this question: Of what meat are they fed? Who among all the Ministers in the Federal Cabinet that is greater, smarter, bolder, more clever, proficient and deeper than Mallam El Rufai?
“Neglecting and ignoring our own scholar in the finest and best tradition is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable. May we never forget this stormy petrel with loads of capacity and capability. Malam El Rufai na man oooooo.
“For whatever reasons APC NIGERIA must not ignore this great man. We cannot afford to lose him to the rival party. He is one of the strong characters we cannot afford to lose at a time like this. Case rested”.
