SPIN AND SUBSTANCE

El-Rufai’s claims in Kaduna are unfortunate, argues ADAMSON SHEHU

In the world of politics, legacy matters. For some, it’s a silent testimony of selfless service. For others, it becomes a desperate attempt to cling to relevance long after the applause has faded. This aptly describes the recent outburst by former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who tried to appropriate the achievements of his successor, Governor Uba Sani, as his own. In a television interview that has since gone viral for all the wrong reasons, El-Rufai claimed that the projects recently inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Kaduna State were conceptualised and executed during his tenure.

It was a predictable, albeit disgraceful, attempt to rewrite history, divert credit, and reinsert himself into the national political discourse after months of relative silence and growing irrelevance. But the facts: cold, stubborn, and irrefutable, tell a different story. And they expose el-Rufai not as a visionary former leader, but as a drowning man, grasping at straws in an ocean of fading influence. Three major projects were commissioned by President Tinubu during his recent visit to Kaduna: The Institutes of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru Kataf; The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, and the launch of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. These are not continuation projects. They were not part of a long, drawn-out master plan carried over from el-Rufai’s days in office.

They are the bold, independent initiatives of a forward-thinking governor, Uba Sani, determined to address urgent developmental gaps left behind by his predecessor. The Institutes of Vocational Training, in particular, are designed to empower over 36,000 youths annually with practical, market-ready skills. They are a response to the chronic unemployment and skills mismatch in the state — a crisis that was conveniently ignored under el-Rufai’s watch. The conception, planning, execution, and completion of these institutes were entirely carried out by Governor Sani’s administration, and the records are publicly available to back this up.

The CNG buses are another example of responsive governance. In the wake of petrol subsidy removal, the Kaduna State Government, under Uba Sani, moved swiftly to provide cleaner, affordable alternatives for public transport. Where el-Rufai offered rhetoric and harsh economic policies, Sani has delivered practical relief and economic sustainability. And then there is the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, a facility that el Rufai claimed as part of his legacy. Yet, when Governor Sani assumed office, the hospital was 53% complete, a dilapidated structure without equipment or a working plan for operation.

Sani didn’t just finish the job — he revived a dead project and gave it life. Today, it is a fully functional, well-equipped specialist hospital that serves the people of Kaduna, not the ghosts of political ego. Let’s be clear: Mallam el-Rufai is no stranger to grandstanding. During his time in office, he marketed himself as the archetype of efficiency and urban renewal. But beneath the surface was a record marked by elitist policies, widespread displacements, and poor attention to rural development. El-Rufai’s administration left behind numerous uncompleted projects, including roads, hospitals, and housing units.

His approach was often top-heavy — flashy in announcements but shallow in execution. His administration was marred by authoritarian tendencies, stifling dissent, and ignoring stakeholders in decision-making processes. The promise of inclusive growth gave way to a governance style that alienated large segments of the state’s population. If he had completed the Tinubu Specialist Hospital in his eight years, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. If he had addressed youth unemployment with vocational education, he wouldn’t now be scrambling for credit. And if he had built sustainable infrastructure for public transport, there’d be no need for a CNG revolution under his successor. So, why lie? Why distort facts so blatantly? The answer is simple: relevance. El-Rufai is rapidly discovering that Nigeria has moved on. He is no longer in the corridors of power. His controversial ministerial nomination was withdrawn amidst allegations of religious extremism and security concerns. He has since retreated into the shadows, making the occasional noise to stay afloat in the public imagination. But the Kaduna of today is no longer his playground.

Governor Uba Sani has refused to be a puppet — a refreshing deviation from the script many political godfathers have tried to impose on their successors. Sani’s government has quietly but steadily redefined governance in Kaduna, away from noise and drama and toward results and impact. This threatens whatever remnants of political capital el-Rufai still clings to.

Hence the need to rewrite the story and paint himself as the architect of Kaduna’s progress — a role he had every chance to fulfill but ultimately failed. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, facts are sacred. The fact is that el-Rufai did not complete the Tinubu Hospital. He did not initiate the vocational institutes. He did not launch the CNG buses. These were not his ideas, and they were certainly not his accomplishments. No matter how often he repeats these falsehoods, they won’t become truth. Governor Uba Sani’s record is public, verifiable, and tangible. And the people of Kaduna — not TV audiences or Twitter fans — are the real judges. El-Rufai’s latest attempt at revisionism should be seen for what it is: an act of desperation.

A man once seen as a reformer, now scrambling for relevance, hoping that by shouting loud enough, he can drown out the sound of his own fading legacy. Governor Uba Sani deserves commendation, not confusion. He inherited an uneven foundation and chose not to complain but to build. He responded to economic shocks with innovation. He prioritized youth empowerment and healthcare not as slogans, but as realities. Leadership, as they say, is about delivering results — not just telling stories. As Nigerians, we must resist the temptation to idolize past leaders without interrogating their records. And we must encourage current leaders who are doing the hard, quiet work of transformation, without waiting for applause. Let Mallam el-Rufai shout from the rooftops. Let him claim what he never built. But let the people of Kaduna and all Nigerians remember: history cannot be edited, and legacy is earned — not stolen.

 Shehu writes from Kaduna State