“I Pity President Buhari” – El-Rufai Says

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Sunday, said that over seventy percent of Nigeria’s oil revenue has disappeared under previous administrations without a trace due to corruption.

The Governor stated this during the Sunday service at The Latter Rain Assembly, where he was a guest. He said that the present state of Nigeria was saddening as Nigeria was passing through the worst economic downturn ever.

El-Rufai noted that President Muhammadu Buhair has always been around to bail Nigeria out of economic difficulties, pointing out the President’s military government and the troubling economy he inherited from the Shehu Shagari civilian administration.

El-Rufai said, “We have always known that there is massive corruption in Nigeria but the revelations of the past one year have shocked even the most pessimistic of critics. Nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s oil revenues disappeared without a trace.

“Of course, there must be consequences for that. When we sit down with President Buhari these days, I pity him. I pity him because he has always become President anytime Nigeria is in trouble.

“First, it was after the NPN (National Party of Nigeria) government had almost grounded the economy (in 1984) and now, after a massive looting of the nation’s treasury; and he has to lead the team to fix it.

“But we are working round the clock to fix these problems. With your prayers and the cooperation of Nigerians, we shall surmount these problems.”

“President Buhari loves humanity passionately; his strength is that he believes everyone could be trusted, which is also a weakness. When he gives people any assignment, he expects people to carry out the assignment with all honesty. Unfortunately, this is not so all the time as we have seen over time and that’s why I said it is a weakness.
“The President is not a man who has interest in making money for himself or for his friends. Mistakes could be made; only God is perfect.”

Speaking on his position as the governor of Kaduna state, El-Rufai attributed it to the advice of Pastor Tunde Bakare, the general overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, who he said invited him to join the Congress for Progressive Change in 2011.

“I already made up my mind never to go into public office after I left office the last time. Pastor Bakare told me that I should not be bitter; that I should forgive anyone who might have offended me and should move on with my life.

“He then invited me to the join Buhari’s party, the CPC, in 2011 and we have continued since then. Today, I’m close to President Buhari because of what Pastor Bakare has done.

Today, I’m a governor because of what Pastor Bakare has done. I’m no longer sad; I’ve forgiven everyone; and I’m no longer bitter.

“More importantly, we need the prayers of Nigerians to succeed.”