Ex-Gov El-Rufai: ‘In Nigeria, When You’re In Government, You Eat And Keep Quiet’
Ex-Gov El-Rufai: ‘In Nigeria, When You’re In Government, You Eat And Keep Quiet’
El-Rufai made this remark on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of a memoir written by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian oil block.”
Former Kaduna State governor and member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, Nasir El-Rufai, has noted that many Nigerian politicians have the habit of “eating and keeping quiet” while in government, instead of sharing their experiences for the benefit of future generations.
El-Rufai made this remark on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of a memoir written by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, titled “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian oil block.”
He said that the tendency of public officials to enjoy the privileges of office in silence has weakened the culture of accountability and record-keeping in Nigeria.
Urging those in authority to break this cycle, the former governor emphasised the need for leaders to document and pass down their experiences to guide younger politicians.
“I appeal to those in power today to remember that their turn will come. Our turns always come but go. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate my brother, Mohammed Adoke for his second book.
“I enjoyed the first book thoroughly, and I look forward to reading the second book. Books like this are necessary. Not only to give the opportunity of those persecuted to vent and put things in perspective, but also to encourage a culture of memoir writing in public service,” El-Rufai said.
He regretted that few politicians make the effort to share the lessons they learned in power, leaving the same mistakes to be repeated.
“We don’t write enough in this country. We don’t pass enough of our experiences, both good and bad, to the next generation. So I want to congratulate you. Thank you for your second effort. I’m working on my own second book, as well,” he added.
Recalling the launch of his own memoir more than a decade ago, El-Rufai described the backlash he faced for refusing to stay silent after leaving office.
“About 12 years ago, in this hall, I presented The Accidental Public Servant, which was a record of my experience in public service at the time, which showed how friends abandon you, betray you, how those that you’ve been good to turn around against you, and everyone told me I made a mistake, that I will never go near public service again, because in Nigeria, when you are in government, you eat, you keep quiet, and you come back and you remain silent.”
The former governor maintained that both he and Adoke had nothing to hide from their years in public service.
El-Rufai also said he is keen to understand the events detailed in Adoke’s book, especially the role Adoke played in persuading then-President Jonathan to concede defeat in 2015.
“I want to congratulate my brother for this. I’m looking forward to reading the book because I really want to understand the role of various actors in this. Because I’ve had discussions on 2023 polls several times with President Buhari.
I had a special relationship with him, I had access to him, everyone knows, and everyone also knows that Mohammed Adoke was one of those that stood and persuaded President Jonathan to actually concede the 2015 election. We should actually thank him as the APC government of 2015, not persecute him.
So I want to understand, because I’ve had discussions when this was going on several times with President Buhari, and I did not have the impression that he had any interest in the matter other than allowing due process to proceed.
“So I want to understand, I want to read it, and I want to learn as well. But my brother, congratulations for an excellent job.”
El-Rufai is a key member of the opposition coalition under the ADC which aims to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The coalition, led by Alhaji Buba Galadima (Chairman), Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmed (Secretary-General), and other prominent political figures, has so far embarked on grassroots mobilisation, held strategy meetings with other opposition parties, and is building alliances to present a strong, unified front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
