by Titilayo Ade-Ogbo
“The memo written by Kaduna Governor which tends to belittle the contribution of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the South-West is sad and unfortunate. It is perfidious and the height of ingratitude.
“We must accept the stark truth that without Bola Tinubu and the principled position of the South-West, dislodging Goodluck Jonathan and the then ruling PDP could have still remain a pipe dream, a hollow hope or a political mirage. El-Rufai defecates on a broom that is supposed to clean the littered floor of the nation.
“El-Rufai should publicly apologise to Tinubu and the South-West. To insult a man publicly and apologise to him privately is to eat your cake and have it. Those heavily drinking from the liquor of power should know that they will later or lately have to drive back home.”
The above quote is from the latest tirade by Kano State Senator Shehu Sani, directed at Kano State Governor Nasir el-Rufai. It’s been over a week now since the newest entry in the long list of barbs the Senator has thrown the way of the Governor but it still has us thinking – what is really going on? Here are a couple of things we can gleam for sure.
1. Shehu Sani is a man of incredible resilience
Seriously. This man has been going at el-Rufai for far too long to count now, and he shows no inclination towards stopping or even slowing down soon. Whether or not this is a good thing is something we’ll say the jury is still out on. Although we can say with certainty that it would be a great thing if said resilience were directed more directly towards the business of nation building, which is the primary mandate of members of the Senate, after all.
2. Nasir el-Rufai is more patient than people would like to admit
The fact that this thing hasn’t turned into a full on tit-for-tat situation is proof that, at least, el-Rufai has some level of restraint he’s capable of exercising. Of course that is at odds with the brash and vindictive picture that’s cut for him among certain circles, but if there’s one thing Shehu Sani has unwittingly confirmed, it’s that el-Rufai is a man who knows how to pick his battles.
3. Shehu Sani might be one of our most creative politicians
… with his jabs, at least. Because how many people throw lines like “those heavily drinking from the liquor of power should know that they will later or lately have to drive back home” and “defecates on a broom that is supposed to clean the littered floor”?
4. The worst is still yet to come
Not because of any particular qualities of Shehu Sani and/or el-Rufai, but because this is Nigeria, and things invariably always get worse, especially when they have to do with our leaders. So we should probably still be thankful right now. Seriously, at least no one is singing or putting on live performances for the other, yet.
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