El Rufai’s Administration in Distress: Power Tussle & Coronavirus Ravages Executive Council

Kaduna State government finds herself at the chopping board of greed and manic ambition. The import of the spreading pandemic into the kitchen cabinet of the executive governing council of the Nasiru El Rufai administration has introduced a creepy struggle for power and relevancy.

Information available to 247ureports.com indicates the Government House in Kaduna presently seats on a powder keg owing to unexpected power vacuum created by coronavirus disease infections within the executive council.

On the first level, the El Rufai administration was recently hit by the news of the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El Rufai testing positive for the coronavirus. The news was followed by other hits.

Three other insiders within the administration tested positive for the deadly virus. Among the effected were the Chief Press Secretary [CPS] and a close ally of the Governor, Muyiwa Adekeye; the Abba Kyari of the Kaduna State Government who serves as a Special Adviser on Investment and a very close ally to the Governor, Jimi Lawal; the second personal driver to the Governor [name unknown].

According to a source who claims to be a player conversant of the goings on within the El Rufai administration revealed that a “power tussle” has overtaken the Kaduna government house as a result. The source indicates a latent tension sweeping the inner circle of El Rufai’s governing body.

“El Rufai was careless about his movements in the government house. A lot of people now has the virus at the government house”.

The direct consequences of the positive results in a sense posed unfortunate outcomes for the El Rufai gang. Particularly, the impact on the expected isolation of the Special Adviser on Investments, Jimi Lawal who is considered the most powerful individual in the Kaduna State Government outside Nasiru El Rufai. Jimi Lawal is a former Banker of a failed bank and a renowned and controversial financial expert who had had stints in the United States of America which many believe may have not gone well.

Jimi Lawal’s role in the El Rufai administration is reported as overbearing and similar to Abba Kyari’s role in the Buhari administration. “Nothing moves in Kaduna State without Jimi Lawal”. A source alleges all foreign investments must pay a “private” visit to Jimi Lawal.  “He decides who sees the Governor”.     

“The amount of power yielded by Jimi Lawal is too much – he is in charge of everything investment – and receives a cut from everything”. 

The source revealed that the indigenous Hausa/Fulani community dislikes him and the position he occupies. “They don’t want him around because he is Yoruba”.     

Against this background, Jimi Lawal and Muyiwa Adekeye’s isolation has thrown the administration into a quagmire. Some have thrown their interest to fill the expected gap – ahead of the good of the El Rufai administration. Many have taken the non-indigenous status of the two individuals as the key selling point.

But it is gathered that El Rufai had prepared his government against such situation. He had empowered his Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe beyond what most governor usually do. Governor El Rufai placed about eight powerful ministries under the deputy governor’s care and management. In the absence of E Rufai, the deputy governor could handle the affairs of the state.

El Rufai had empowered the deputy governor – owing to his presidential aspirations. El Rufai’s criteria for choosing his deputy governor was based on his desire to contest for the Presidential elections of 2023.

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