I Pity President Buhari – El-Rufai

The governor, who spoke during a Sunday Service at Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Assembly in Lagos on Sunday, claimed that the past administration almost grounded the nation’s economy.

“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,” he added.

El-Rufai also said that he was able to become governor of Kaduna because one-time running mate to Buhari, Pastor Tunde Bakare, had invited him to join the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) now All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2011.

President Buhari, who was military head of state between 1983 and 1985, seized power through the barrel of the gun, removing the “hopelessly corrupt” civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the process.

Governor El-Rufai had in 2013 publicly criticized the president, telling him to retire as he has nothing to offer Nigerians.

According to the governor, Buhari remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, shows that he is insensitive to Nigeria’s diversity.

He cited an example in 1984, where Buhari allegedly allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new.