EL-RUFAI ADMITS SPIRITUAL ATTACK - THE SUN

...As Jimi Lawal opens up

From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna

GOVERNOR Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai of Ka- duna State yesterday disclosed what looked like an admittance that he was indeed attacked spiritually.

He was speaking on the incident for the first time while addressing a workers’ rally in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, had shortly after superintending over the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship primary election, “disappeared” for about 10 days.

But his deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex, told a gathering last Sunday in Southern Kaduna, where he had gone to
represent the gov- ernor, that El-Rufai travelled abroad to woo foreign investors.

Bantex made the disclo- sure at a time speculation was rife that El-Rufai had some health challenges.

Although, none of the government officials were willing to speak on the matter, El-Rufai, however, gave himself away yester- day, when he spoke about the incident.

Though, in a veiled reference, he told some resi- dents, comprising mainly workers: “They wanted me dead. But what they don’t know is that even if I am not here today, my deputy will continue. They can go ahead with their fetish ac- tivities, I don’t care.”

Daily Sun gathered that El-Rufai actually collapsed shortly after the primary election, and was thereafter flown abroad for medical attention.

The collapse, it was learnt, was occasioned by “stress,” which sources said, the governor has been going through, since he was sworn about three months ago. One of his wives, Aisha Ummi on her post last Sunday night, on the social media, two days before the governor eventually returned to Nigeria, through Abuja, further suggested that something must have gone wrong with the gov- ernor healthwise, which might necessitated his “sudden disappearance.”

She had said: “He’s healthy as can be-not an ache or pain. Our prayer is thanking the Lord that he is healthy. We pray for long life and good health to His Excellency, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.”

The deputy governor, while speaking at the Kafachan Town Hall meeting, told the gathering that the governor was away on overseas trip to “attract investments to the state.”

But if El-Rufai had indeed gone on an invest- ment drive, he would have seized yesterday’s encoun- ter with workers to tell them something about the trip, one of the APC chief- tains, told Daily Sun:

“But if you notice, he was talking about death issue. You see, some of us are still keeping quiet because we are expecting appointments, so we don’t want to be marked. Otherwise, I would have granted you a full blast interview on this matter.”

Other APC chieftains who spoke in confidence previously about the matter had disclosed that El-Rufai was suffering from a “spiritual attack,” over the Zaria demolition:

“Ask around, the Zaria people who are angry over the demolition he carried out have vowed to see his (El-Rufai) end. And these people are using both marabouts and other African traditional magic to hit at

the man. So, forget about what some ignorant persons are saying, I can confirm to you that the man is suffering from spiritual at- tack.

“You know how passionate the man is about President Muhammadu Buhari. But Buhari was in Kaduna last Friday, and Mallam was nowhere near the airport. I understand he collapsed shortly after the Kogi congress.”

Another APC chieftain said: “We have always told him that Abuja is not Kaduna. Abuja is no man’s land, but in Kaduna, we have lo- cals who can invoke whatever they believe in, and in no distant time, you start seeing the repercussion. We hope he would have learnt a lesson or two, from this his latest experience. We wish him well, but he just has to apply the brakes. He is stressing himself too much.”

Meanwhile, the governor’s Special Adviser on Investment Promotion, Mr. Jimi Lawal, for the first time, opened up on the series of allegations against him, which many say do not make him fit, to hold a public office.



Last week, a group, the Centrum Initiative For De- velopment and Fundamental Rights Initiative (CE- DRA), peopled by persons mainly from the southern part of the state, and which campaigned vigorously to enthrone El-Rufai, had given the governor, two days’ ultimatum, to fire La- wal, or face mass protest. The ultimatum has since expired.

The group is being led by a Kaduna State University lecturer, Dr. John Danfulani.

Although, the state government is yet to officially react to the demands of the

group, Lawal, who is in the eye of the storm, has chosen to carry his cross by himself.

Lawal chose the social media to make his case.

Hear him: “I was the founder of Alpha Merchant Bank in 1988 and became the MD/CEO at a relatively young age of 29. My then chairman wanted a loan without collateral, which I refused as a professionally qualified banker that would always abide by the rules. The chairman made false allegations against me, which were investigated and found to be false. He also sued me for not being fittobetheMDbutIwas cleared by the court.

“A couple of years later, Alpha bought a controlling interest in the then Afribank, having competed and won a bid against others. One of the companies that competed against us was owned by General Abacha, who later became Head of State. So, another false allegation (was) made against me and other directors as part of a plan to take over the shares in Afribank.

“I was offered millions of dollars to deny Alpha’s interest in the acquisition, which I refused. Then, came threats to my life, on account of which my parents insisted that I leave Nigeria. So I was in exile for 10 years until 2003.

“As to being wanted in America or anywhere in the world, it is nothing but yet another false allegation. Finally, let me end with yet another prayer: if I have lied in any of the points herein contained, may the Almighty God punish me. If not, may the Almighty Allah continue to bestow His blessings upon me, my family and loyal friends; especially Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.”