Abuja-Kaduna Rail: Bruce Fires Back At El-Rufai, Challenges Governor To Public Debate

Senator Ben Murray Bruce, lawmaker representing Bayelsa east, has reacted to comments by Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, challenging the former FCT minister to a public debate.

El-Rufai had on Friday attacked the senator for telling President Muhammadu Buhari to give credit to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the Abuja-Kaduna rail project.

Recall that President Buhari had on Thursday commissioned 10 new coaches and two locomotives at Rigasa train station in Kaduna.

The “Common Sense” senator asked the President to put pride aside and say “thank you” to Jonathan, saying the Abuja-Kaduna rail project was entirely the former president’s achievement.

“I hope President Muhammadu Buhari remembers to say thank you to former President Goodluck Jonathan for the train ride he enjoyed in Kaduna,” the Senator wrote on Twitter.

I hope President @MBuhari remembers to say thank you to former President @GEJonathan for the train ride he enjoyed in Kaduna. Some of us haven’t forgotten that that achievement was ENTIRELY the handiwork of the Jonathan government. Nigeria should give honour to whom honour is due

— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) January 4, 2018

Reacting on Friday, Governor El-Rufai, who took a train ride from Rigasa to Kakuri with the President on Thursday, accused the senator of feeding the public with wrong information about the standard gauge rail system.

In a statement via his official Twitter handle, the governor said Former President Jonathan deserves no credit for the project, as he was not part of it.

While accusing the Jonathan government of stalling the project, the governor said credit should be given to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who according to him designed, financed and started the Abuja- Kaduna Light Rail.

El-Rufai said, “Wrong Distinguished Senator! The Obasanjo administration which Jonathan was not part of, designed, raised the financing and started the EPC of the Lagos-Kano dual track-standard gauge rail system, and the Abuja Light Rail. Yar’Adua-Jonathan stalled both projects for two years!

 

Wrong Distinuguisnhed Senator! The Obasanjo administration which Jonathan was not part of, designed, raised the financing and started the EPC of the Lagos-Kano dual track-standard gauge rail system, and the Abuja Light Rail. Yar’Adua-Jonathan stalled both projects for two years! https://t.co/wVc45vKjyX

— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) January 5, 2018

But Senator Murray-Bruce, who would not let the governor get the last laugh, challenged Mr El-Rufai to a public debate on the matter.

 

Your dislike of the late Yar’adua may have clouded your judgment. I made no mention of the ‘Abuja light railway’. My tweet referred to the Abuja-Kaduna railway which IS a product of the Jonathan administration. I am happy to publicly debate this with you. https://t.co/sIl2KBNFK0

— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) January 5, 2018