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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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El-Rufai and the Senate
SIR: I have followed with utter consternation the demand by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the President must sack Nasir El-Rufai, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory over his remarks "that silence is the best answer to fools", apparently referring to the Senators as fools. To make matters worse, the Senate was reported to have suspended its work until the President carried out their demand.
To be candid, many ordinary Nigerians do not hold the Senate in very high esteem, not because they are fools, but because they believe the Senate has not risen to its duties in dealing with issues of national importance (including earlier charges of corruption against some of its members). El-Rufai is wrong to have made such public remarks. However, his apology should be accepted by the Senate. The Senate should direct its attention to more important matters. For them to threaten to abdicate their primary constitutional responsibility until the removal of the Minister is to say the least, absurd!
El-Rufai's brash style may not appeal to many. However, he does represent in many ways the new face of Nigeria's public officers we long to see: young, dynamic, forthright, honest and intensely patriotic. We support him. The President should not succumb to this demand from the Senate. The Senate should be more serious please.
A.B. Mahmoud,
Texas, United States
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