Nigeria Content Online

The
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said yesterday that the former
minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el-Rufai lacks the moral
standing to advise its leader, Muhammadu Buhari to retire from politics.

Mr el-Rufai was
reported to have told Mr Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida, both former
heads of state, that they were too old to contest the forthcoming
presidential election. The former minister argued that most countries
of the world are run by younger people. Messrs Buhari and Babangida are
in their late 60s.

In a statement in
Abuja, the party said age is not a determinant of performance in
office, adding that Mr Buhari has integrity and experience which he
will bring to bear if elected president next year.

“This remark by el
Rufai has finally revealed his shallow grasp of global political
history, and also his complete ignorance of the issues at stake in the
Nigerian polity. Whatever is his motivation for such bandy-legged
pronouncement, we wish to remind him that there are some salient and
undeniable points he needs to consider before raising his fingers in
the direction of Buhari,” the statement signed by its spokesperson,
Daniel Aghanya said.

“el Rufai should
consider that age is not one of the criteria for governance, but
integrity, accountability and a connection with the governed. These
sterling qualities Buhari has, but el Rufai, is currently embroiled in
corruption charges leveled against him for his questionable
administrative actions during his tenure as FCT minister.” The party
noted that Mr Buhari spent all his years as the head of state,
petroleum minister and chairman of the defunct Petroleum [Special]
Trust Fund (PTF) without an iota of corruption charges against him
during and after discharging his duties in these capacities, stressing
“this has nothing to do with age but character and a sense of
patriotism in the discharge of one’s duty as an able public servant.”

Beyond compare

The Congress for
Progressive change warned Mr el-Rufai not to compare himself to the
former head of state, in their contribution to national development.

“We really do not
know the virtues el-Rufai wants to teach the Nigerian people,” the
party said. “Definitely, it is impossible to give what you don’t have.
Malam el-Rufai has no democratic credentials, in spite of his so called
youthful age.

“Second, El Rufai should remember that, unlike what he perceives,
men and women shaped by proper political experience through their young
years have found opportunities of using such to effectively serve their
nation at epoch-making dispensations in such countries.”