Godfatherism comment: el- Rufai should mind his business ― Salvador

A chieftain of Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Moshood Salvador, on Sunday, condemned the recent comment made by the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai concerning the issue godfatherism in Lagos, describing the governor’s comment as unnecessary trespass, just as he told him to mind his business.

Salvador, who is a former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, said while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the annual Ramadan Lecture he organised at his residence in Surulere area of Lagos.

The Kaduna State governor had while reacting to a question at a recent forum, noted that godfatherism had been the bane of development in Lagos, recalling how had gotten rid of about four so-called godfathers in the state, while mapping out ways Lagosians could also do away with such in Lagos ahead of 2023 polls.

Salvador, while noting that Asiwaju Tinubu was obviously the target of el-Rufai’s comment, said the people of the state never complained of the problem of godfatherism, describing the APC National Leader as the most influential figure in the state’s political firmament.

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The APC chieftain urged all well-meaning residents to condemn the governor’s comment, just as he further described Asiwaju Tinubu as a gift not only to the South West but the entire nation.

According to him, Tinubu, who is former governor of the state, had contributed immensely to the development of Lagos particularly and the progress of its residents, adding that there was no way anyone could divorce the exponential growth the state had recorded since 1999 from the vision of Tinubu.

This was just as he affirmed that there were many issues begging for attention in Kaduna State, urging Malam el-Rufai to address them rather than coming to Lagos to talk about godfatherism.

”It is important to let the governor of Kaduna know that it is wrong for him to come to Lagos and start talking about godfatherism.

”We do not have any problem with leaders in Lagos and el-Rufai should mind his business rather than coming here to tell us what is not.

”We hear of serious issues in Kaduna; the issue of unpaid salaries, the issue of killings and attacks on innocent people. el-Rufai has not addressed all these and he is talking about a state that is working.

”We would not condone unnecessary attacks on our leaders. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done extremely well for the nation and the state particularly.

”He laid the foundation for the growth of the state’s IGR from N400million in 1999 to the billions that it is today.

”There is no way we can talk about a modern Lagos without mentioning Tinubu. He is a gift to the Yoruba race, second only to Awolowo. We respect him a lot and would not condone attacks on him,” the APC chieftain said.

Speaking further, Salvador maintained that peace was a precondition for progress and urged Nigerians to eschew acts that could breach the peace in the country, even as he called on the leaders to use the opportunity of the holy month of Ramadan to move close to the people and address their needs.

According to him, it was out of the need to rejuvenate the people around him spiritually and put smiles on their faces that made him organise the lecture and gave out gifts to attendees, saying the world would be a better place if leaders were accountable to the people and care for them as they cared for themselves.

Speaking on the crisis rocking the state chapter of PDP, Salvador maintained that the party was dead, saying what was currently happening to the platform was a clear proof that the party was finished in the state.

Also speaking, APC chairman in the State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, urged leaders and the led to make peace their watchword.

He commended Salvador for organising the Ramadan lecture, saying it would impact on spiritual lives of those who attended.

In his sermon, Alhaji Aminulahi Seriki urged Muslims to use the holy month to move closer to God and obey His commandments.

Seriki, who is the Imam of the Fadeyi branch of Ansarul-deen Society of Nigeria, also said Muslims were expected to perform good acts during the months and beyond and be their brothers’ keepers.

”God expects us this month and beyond to abstain from things that are sinful and obey His commandments.

”We are expected to do good to our fellow men and support those who are in need,” he said.

The Muslim cleric further urged leaders to use the opportunity of the month to attend to the needs of the people and commit themselves to their service, just as he commended Salvador for organising the annual lecture as it would help to raise the consciousness of Moslems on the need to move closer to God.

The APC chairman, Alhaji Balogun, as well as clerics at the lecture, later joined Salvador to commission a mosque he had just built at his Salvador Tower residence.