On a day his
friends and associates converged on Abuja to celebrate him, courage
betrayed the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-
Rufai, and he broke down and wept openly.
friends and associates converged on Abuja to celebrate him, courage
betrayed the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-
Rufai, and he broke down and wept openly.
El-Rufai, a courageous and controversial figure in the Obasanjo
administration, who is both hailed as a hero by many and vilified as a villain
by others, could hardly contain the tears of joy that flowed from his inner
recesses when he noticed the mammoth crowed that witnessed the presentation of
his new book “Accidental Public Servant” at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja
Thursday.
administration, who is both hailed as a hero by many and vilified as a villain
by others, could hardly contain the tears of joy that flowed from his inner
recesses when he noticed the mammoth crowed that witnessed the presentation of
his new book “Accidental Public Servant” at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja
Thursday.
I didn’t know
Nigerians will honour me this way-El-Rufai
“I never thought I could be so honoured; I am deeply touched and I do not
really know what to say and how to say it given the calibre of persons and the
large number of people who have turned out today to witness the presentation my
book,” the former minister said.
As he began to elaborate, tears flowed down his cheeks and those close by
helped him with handkerchief and he ended his speech and was helped to his
seat.
Nigerians will honour me this way-El-Rufai
“I never thought I could be so honoured; I am deeply touched and I do not
really know what to say and how to say it given the calibre of persons and the
large number of people who have turned out today to witness the presentation my
book,” the former minister said.
As he began to elaborate, tears flowed down his cheeks and those close by
helped him with handkerchief and he ended his speech and was helped to his
seat.
The former FCT minister, whose book presentation attracted mainly
political bigwigs from the opposition political parties, however apologised for
weeping in public, explaining that he wept because of the encomium poured on
him.
political bigwigs from the opposition political parties, however apologised for
weeping in public, explaining that he wept because of the encomium poured on
him.
“I was touched. The
prayer by Pastor Sarah Omaku was very kind to me. I have never had any one
speak about me in that manner, I just couldn’t handle it I am sorry if I
disappointed you,” El-Rufai explained.
prayer by Pastor Sarah Omaku was very kind to me. I have never had any one
speak about me in that manner, I just couldn’t handle it I am sorry if I
disappointed you,” El-Rufai explained.
Before then, EL-Rufai had explained, “My hope is that you people
will elicit on some of the things we did in government that were right and many
of the things that we did that were mistakes.
will elicit on some of the things we did in government that were right and many
of the things that we did that were mistakes.
“I think that lessons are learnt when additional memories are
protected when people learn from what works and what doesn’t work and personal
mistakes and errors of leaders.
protected when people learn from what works and what doesn’t work and personal
mistakes and errors of leaders.
“That is how to build a nation; that is how future generations
learn and this is why I wrote the book, I don’t think we should have the
conspiracy of silence about how our government is being run, I think we should
talk openly about it, celebrate what we did right and admit where we made
mistakes and name names so that people will know that when you are in
leadership position, history will judge you, that is what is my biggest motive here,”
he said.
learn and this is why I wrote the book, I don’t think we should have the
conspiracy of silence about how our government is being run, I think we should
talk openly about it, celebrate what we did right and admit where we made
mistakes and name names so that people will know that when you are in
leadership position, history will judge you, that is what is my biggest motive here,”
he said.
Source: Vanguard
