Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, has responded to a sharp rebuke by Doyin Okupe, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs. In a recent statement, Mr. Okupe, who is a medical doctor, berated the former for constantly describing the Jonathan administration as a failure.

In a statement released today, Mr. el-Rufai’s media advisor, Muyiwa Adekeye, stated, “After the needless drama at the Lagos airport when the SSS tried to truncate his trip abroad, Malam Nasir el-Rufai was greeted at his destination with evidence of further misguided action by the Jonathan government. That was the spectacle of the recycled Dr. Doyin Okupe providing a specious political thesis that confirms the crisis of thoughtlessness in government. Dr. Okupe asked that critics of the government should tell it what to do, wrapping his defense of incompetence around a false patriotism.”

Mr. Adekeye’s statement continued: “It bears repeating that the duty of patriots is to stand up for their country, not necessarily for its government, especially one as uninspiring as the incumbent. Had more patriots stood up in Nazi Germany and Apartheid South Africa, millions of lives would have been saved. Service to one's country includes being able to acknowledge when the responsibilities of office seem beyond the ken of its government.

“The federal government is failing to tackle terror, kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of insecurity.

It is right that it be held to account for these failures. The best response the government can give its critics is performance, not cheaply questioning their patriotism. The Jonathan government cannot outsource to others the duty to provide good governance and the quality of leadership that can inspire the country.”

The former minister, who is now a top member of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC), also stated that he and the likes of Pastor Tunde Bakare worked hard to ensure that Mr. Jonathan became acting President during the prolonged hospitalization of then President Umaru Yar’Adua, now deceased. The statement noted that Mr. el-Rufai’s support for Jonathan’s ascension as acting president was borne out of sheer patriotism. “It was the patriotism of many citizens in the Save Nigeria Group, including Pastor Tunde Bakare and Malam Nasir el Rufai, that helped make Goodluck Jonathan acting president against the machinations of the Yar'Adua cabal,” the statement argued. “It was the patriotism of citizens, expressed in the discourse and agitations against fuel subsidy removal that exposed the trillion naira subsidy scam.

Better still, it was the patriotism of these citizens that pressurized (sic) the government to reluctantly indict their friends and financiers that were found wanting by the National Assembly probe into the worst corruption saga in our checkered history.”

Mr. el-Rufai’s spokesman suggested that the Jonathan administration was bereft of ideas. “When the government is not begging the opposition for ideas, it is busy trying to cocoon clerics. Nothing stops priests from caring about the conditions of living of those to whom they provide moral and spiritual leadership. And their status as priests neither abrogates their citizenship nor constrains their right to free speech. Tunde Bakare is not the first priest to perceive his responsibilities as embracing a concern for his country's fate. He is following the illustrious examples of the Reverend Martin Luther King in the pursuit of civil rights in the United States, and Bishop Desmond Tutu in fighting racism in South Africa. The courage of these clerics helped make their countries freer and more equal, and the world, a better place.”

The former minister blasted Mr. Okupe, a recently appointed presidential aide, for excessive enthusiasm. The statement accused the presidential aide of seeking “to impress in his new job.” It then cautioned him to serve the president “with fidelity to history, and cease calling patriots that stand on principles his brothers just so he can smear them.” The statement added: “If the Jonathan administration wants El-Rufai to provide them a manual on governing Nigeria, they should do so nicely without violating his civil rights, harassing him incessantly or suggesting that the man wants to run for an office now being desecrated by an occupant who blames everyone but himself for his zero performance.”

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/el-rufai-okupe-governance-cannot-be-outsourced

Mr red-eyed Rufai. Dr Doyin Okupe simply asked you what solutions you profer as a Nigerian with a stake in the country, instead of being a loudspeaker of bad news like a subversive.

Sir, prove that you are more than simply a winshes hero. Prove that you are not a boko haram hurrah singer.
That can't be too hard, can it?

@Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

that malam has nothing more to say i guess okupe did the job very well,surprisinly the gej prpaganda machines seems to have gathered momentum since okupe joined ,hich is good,abati was too dull for the job

U can see the difference of aving intelligent advisers by Ɣou & avin the likes of okupe n abati, 40 laptop crew by you

Isn't it interesting dat this same "suppposed bigot" has a yoruba woman under his employ, anϑ this same "suppposed bigot" facilitated the call fσr GEJ ϯo become acting President wen Yar'adua (his kinsman) was ill

Gotta love El-rufai i tell you

a whole govt can't even handle a "supposed bigot"

1 word-Clueless

Lmaooo...

You dont browbeat or intimidate your opponents into helping you solve problems. If you dont have the answer and you think your opponents have it, you reach out to them, not blackmailing them. And of course you dont assume a standoffish posture, blame your opponents for your inadequacies and expect them to assist you. This is the truth Team Jonathan must accept. Jonathan is the President; he either applies the full military option or the polical option. All Nigerians are saying is that the mindless killings and bombings must stop. It is his responsibility to see this happen, not IBB's, El Rufai's, Bakare's or Buhari's. Who does not believe that the opposition would want to see him fail? Mr. President do somthing!

we beg this Jonathan government to pls do one thing, just one thing to prove to his critics that he is not bereft of ideas! rather than responding to criticisms, please perform ur duties. Everyday na spokesman u dey recruit, more talks no action. Abi na talkshow president u be?

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

Your argument is that of an enemy of Nigeria.

The fact there there is a President does not stop each of us being patriotic. Even worse, it is not an excuse for subversives, desperados and lovers of the status quo like El Rufai to shout gleeful alleluya's each time a boko haram bomb takes another innocent life.

If anyone wants to be an observer in our own country, then they might as well apply for a Chadian or Sudanese passport.

El-Rufai, a patriot?

” The statement added: “If the Jonathan administration wants El-Rufai to provide them a manual on governing Nigeria, they should do so nicely without violating his civil rights, harassing him incessantly or suggesting that the man wants to run for an office now being desecrated by an occupant who blames everyone but himself for his zero performance.”

The type of manual he gave to his ex-boss Obj abi?

Criticism is cheap especially when the critic is clueless. Doyin's admonition is crystal clear. If you feel that government is not doing anything, you adduce reasons why and proffrer alternative solutions. That way people will take you more serious. That is the foundation upon which credible opposition is built.

You can't just call your self an opposition leader and you repeat the same pedestrian lines that an arm chair critic in a local bar will do.

El Rufai should tell us how better he could tackle the Boko haram challenge. He should be able to say GEJ was wrong in appointing the NSA OR the CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF or the new IG of Police.
El Rufai should be able to tell us that, if we had the misfortune of having him as our president in these trying times, he would have sacked all the policemen and recruit new ones so that Boko Haram will stop.
El Rufai should tell us whether he will mount roadblocks on every street in Nigeria so as to prevent suicide bombers from killing themselves and other Nigerians on the process.
EL Rufai should come out and tell us that he wouldn't have charged Senator Ali Nfume to court or he will just shoot him directly.
El Rufai should tell us whether the setting up of JTF is wrong or not.
El Rufai should tell us that he will not be resident in Aso rock while the people are dying hence he will relocate to the streets of Maidugri and govern Nigeria from there.
El rufai should tell us that he will send drones to destroy the people of Maidugri because Boko Haram is in their midst.
Arm chair criticism never brings power. It may be popular in the interim but it has a way of leaving the person hollow at the long run.

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

...and what are you or elrufai are in the polity? Government is a collective responsibility and it is vested on all citizenry to play a role in ensuring good leadership... In a nutshell, elrufai is part of government, even as an opposition leader and a former federal cabinet minister, should profer a solution if he has a strategy or information on how to tackle some of the challenges facing our nationhood instead of endless rantings like a stray dog. It only goes to show how immature a politician he is

When a govt cant solve the problems of the governed the honourable thing is for gej and his crew to resign.

Boko haram is a political tool to the likes of El Rufai and that is why they behave as if they are not from the region being affected by it.

Just a couple of days ago, the Arewa spokesman, Antony Sani asked GEJ to make a public announcement that he wouldn't contest the 2015 elections in order for peace to come to Nigeria. Incredible!
Quite clearly, El Rufai is of the same mentality, otherwise he would have responded positively to Dr Okupe's suggestion, afterall it isn't Dr Okupe's kinsmen who are directly affected. Indeed, it is quite strange for Southerners and foreigners to care more about the boko haram scourge than some of the shameless core-Northern elite like El Rufai do.

Beaf: Mr Rufai.

Sir, you have proven over time that you are more than simply the people's hero.Although I belong to the 40-man laptop brigade, I have to agree with you on this one.

Beaf,this is a good start. By the time your other 39 thieves brothers begin to see the light like you,We will make progress in Nigeria

mr doyin okupe alias am not an attack dog,it seems you have become an attack lion for jonathan

dedeike: Criticism is cheap especially when the critic is clueless. Doyin's admonition is crystal clear. If you feel that government is not doing anything, you adduce reasons why and proffrer alternative solutions. That way people will take you more serious. That is the foundation upon which credible opposition is built.

You can't just call your self an opposition leader and you repeat the same pedestrian lines that an arm chair critic in a local bar will do.

El Rufai should tell us how better he could tackle the Boko haram challenge. He should be able to say GEJ was wrong in appointing the NSA OR the CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF or the new IG of Police.
El Rufai should be able to tell us that, if we had the misfortune of having him as our president in these trying times, he would have sacked all the policemen and recruit new ones so that Boko Haram will stop.
El Rufai should tell us whether he will mount roadblocks on every street in Nigeria so as to prevent suicide bombers from killing themselves and other Nigerians on the process.
EL Rufai should come out and tell us that he wouldn't have charged Senator Ali Nfume to court or he will just shoot him directly.
El Rufai should tell us whether the setting up of JTF is wrong or not.
El Rufai should tell us that he will not be resident in Aso rock while the people are dying hence he will relocate to the streets of Maidugri and govern Nigeria from there.
El rufai should tell us that he will send drones to destroy the people of Maidugri because Boko Haram is in their midst.
Arm chair criticism never brings power. It may be popular in the interim but it has a way of leaving the person hollow at the long run.

M[b]r. Liar so you are already here? Very soon you will remind them that your family paymaster has constructed a new bridge across the Atlantic Ocean.
Remember God is watching you![/b]

So this arabian goatie mallam is still talking..can elrufai swear that he dosent know anything about BH. So bad!!

Everyday I challange the Goddy boys to show us 1 sector besides ministry of corruption that is functioning, yet they feel offended when a clueless government is critisized. Illiterate people with a sick mind, if people can boldly justify the current state of this country and see nothing wrong with this present administration, then surely our biggest problem is mental illness

Beaf: Mr red-eyed Rufai. Dr Doyin Okupe simply asked you what solutions you profer as a Nigerian with a stake in the country, instead of being a loudspeaker of bad news like a subversive.

Sir, prove that you are more than simply a winshes hero. Prove that you are not a boko haram hurrah singer.
That can't be too hard, can it?

At least for once i can agree with the submission of Beaf kudos to your Doctors who are ensuring that you take your drugs at the appropriate time. The response of El-rufai is a sheer illogical brouhaha to a well thought provoking response of Doyin Okupe on his unguarded utterances to gain cheap political popularity.

Megabyts: When a govt cant solve the problems of the governed the honourable thing is for gej and his crew to resign.

No government in the world resigns because of terrorism. Last month we saw Isreali tourists killed by a suicide bomber in Europe, no body called for the resignation of the Bulgarian president.
Till tomorrow, suicide bombings occur in parts of Isreali territory despite their sophistication in intelligence. No body called for resignation of Isreali prime minister.
When US was attacked from outside, not this our home grown terrorism, the whole America stood behind Bush. Both democrats and republicans alike. No body called for Bush's resignation.
It took America almost a decade to track the perpetrator Osama.
Even in Kenya, recently suicide bombings have been going off in parts of Kenya. No body has called for the resignation of the president.
All over the world, terrorism is considered a global threat which must be confronted by all and not playing politics with it.

If it were genocide or internal rebellion which the govt can't contend with, the international community will be calling for GEJ's resignation.
But have you ever wondered why no other country or UN or international community has not condemned GEJ talkless of asking him to resign?
It's food for thought

El-rufai is jst a yellow snake in dark skin. If his assistants can put up such wonderful response to Okupe, i believe they can produce better ones telling Boko Haram dat dia actions aint doin nobody any good, and dat way we may really know who's for wat. But his negatively skewed mind wil never go there.
Oga rufai, pls grow up, cos its obvious dat u havnt still gotten used to being out of power. Nothing lasts for ever.
Did u honorably quit or resign wen u were selectlively destroying peoples houses in Abuja, and evn went to d extent of alloting houses to ur friends and friends of friends? No, u didnt!
If u cant wait to be shamed in 2015 elections, go get ur bloody soldier brothers to do it d hard way, cos its obvious dat ur Boko Brothers dont seem to be achieving anything in dat regard.
Mr Rufai, u know what u remind me of? .......... A kid whose ice-cream melted away and he goes around wit lit candle trying had to melt evry kids'.
If u wanna shoot ur trap, hit Boko haram pls. Gej is the wrong target.

This rejoinder is classic. I bet you beaf, you and your 40- Man Gang have a difficult job to do here. Goodluck

Imagine a man from a certain village.
Imagine the women and daughters from his village being ra'ped by armed robbers who are also from his village.

No, picture that man jumping in glee each time there is a violation. Now draw your conclusions about the man who rather than profer solutions to the violation of the women in his village, screams "keep away from 2015 or no peace!"
...In the meantime, yet more daughters and women are ra'ped by armed robbers who are from his village.

That man is El Rufai, he is IBB, Ciroma, kaita and the other core-Northern elite vultures that see the innocent blood of even women and kids as tools to coerce positions in the 2015 elections.
Core-Northerners have suffered enough under these beasts.

Am confused with some things here. 1st i keep reading bout 40 man laptop brigade,are people here senile and childish that they have to resort to name calling coz of a person's view? Makes u no different from boko haram. Secondly El Rufai keeps blabbing his mouth around and yet he has failed to proffer a single solution,and he is living in the past. Of what concern is it to us that he clamoured for gej to be made president during the yar'adua saga. Thats like telling me the story of how Abraham almost sacrificed his son. A wise individual once said yesterday is gone,peter rufai,so el rufai better get that into his skull. @beaf,you sef don dey gree say you be 40 man brigade,u no be man? Abeg hold onto your belief n views,anybody way dey vex fit jump in front of moving train.

From the statement ,it is obvious that el Rufai is having a laugh at the precarious security situation in the north even when the trend is culminating in wanton destruction of the lives and property of the people he( elrufai) claims to love and care about more than the sitting govt... In the face of grave danger and national challenge true patriots stand up in defense of their coutry's interest first before partisanship,. This was Okupe's position and he was very right until elrufai punctures this position and proves otherwise, he remains guilty of finding a cheap popularity in nigeria's misery



http://saharareporters.com/news-page/el-rufai-okupe-governance-cannot-be-outsourced[/quote]

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

I now understand you guys. OK. The citizenry's duties is to spoil the country while Government's duty is to repair it? No.
If you had understanding of what makes great countries, you would have known that citizen participation is the most critical factor that influences development.
There is a strong correlation between citizen participation and community development.
It is not the governments responsibility to solve problems. Its is the Governments responsibility to coordinate our effort at solving problems.

It is your type that expects government to put food on peoples tables.

Clerverly:
M[b]r. Liar so you are already here? Very soon you will remind them that your family paymaster has constructed a new bridge across the Atlantic Ocean.
Remember God is watching you![/b]

This is exactly the problem Okupe has with El Rufai. You just come and rant rubbish without offering any logical or coherent response to the subject matter of discourse.
Pray how does this your tantrums address the topic at hand.
This is just an escapist strategy to distract us from the cross pollination of ideas in this botanical garden of Intellectuals. But I won't oblige you
It's understandable that you may not have the intellectual and mental ability to sustain a healthy debate on this score.
It's better you just keep quiet and learn from the sidelines.

delvinmaya: Am confused with some things here. 1st i keep reading bout 40 man laptop brigade,are people here senile and childish that they have to resort to name calling coz of a person's view? Makes u no different from boko haram. Secondly El Rufai keeps blabbing his mouth around and yet he has failed to proffer a single solution,and he is living in the past. Of what concern is it to us that he clamoured for gej to be made president during the yar'adua saga. Thats like telling me the story of how Abraham almost sacrificed his son. A wise individual once said yesterday is gone,peter rufai,so el rufai better get that into his skull. @beaf,you sef don dey gree say you be 40 man brigade,u no be man? Abeg hold onto your belief n views,anybody way dey vex fit jump in front of moving train.

When people read this sort of drivel and rightly call you stup!d, you will begin to take offense like a dispossesed nanny goat.
Don't post when you have nothing to say, it only reveals emptiness.

[quote author=wrexs]



http://saharareporters.com/news-page/el-rufai-okupe-governance-cannot-be-outsourced[/
government is a collective resposibilty, that is why countries like Ghana keep moving forward while ours is retrogressive. why should these people be sponsoring these sects and come out to castigate the president. they use thier filthy and corrupt wealth ( el rufai n co) to sponsor political dissents which has snowballed into something they can't control any more. anyways I see these as signs of the end time when brothers will kill brothers for selfish gain and power. I hope they remain immortal to enjoy these power they r killing for....IBB, Atiku n co.

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat[i]

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat[/i]

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat

monkeyleg: Everyday I challange the Goddy boys to show us 1 sector besides ministry of corruption that is functioning, yet they feel offended when a clueless government is critisized. Illiterate people with a sick mind, if people can boldly justify the current state of this country and see nothing wrong with this present administration, then surely our biggest problem is mental illness

The only problem you have is you have refused to commit yourself to reading,listening to news and stop taking weed,otherwise,you would have understood that the Government is performing in some areas by putting up policies that will bring progress to the nation though not in the short run and also taking action in pursing some projects where necessary(Road construction,improved electricity supply etc).It also understandable that the Government is doing woefully in some areas especially in security and the fight against corruption but a total condemnation of the Government performance as you have done can only be expressed by illiterates like you with unsound mind.

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat[i]

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat[/i]

wrexs: @Beaf...and why should the citizenry be the one solving the problem for the Government. what is the essence of having a Governement if they cant solve /profer solutions to problems threatening the lives of the people that elected them into power? Being a C-in-C gives such person the power to take decision that protects his people and not begging/intimating oppositions for advise or even pointing fingers at them...if you cant handle it, simply quit.

wrexs who told u dat citizens of a country can profer solution to d govt of their country when d need calls for dat