APC’ll Ask Looters to Refund Money – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor-elect and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, said, on Tuesday, that the in-coming administration of President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, would inherit huge debt from the President Goodluck Jonathan government.

He said Buhari would ask politicians both at the state and federal levels, who had dipped their hands into the nation’s purse illegally, to refund such money.

El-Rufai, who spoke to executive members of the National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy visit, in Kaduna, believed such politicians must be ready to refund ill-gotten money after May 29.

He specifically said those who had clean hands, had no cause to fear.

He said the measure had become necessary, since it was obvious that the All Progressive Congress-led government would be in a dire financial strait on assumption of office.

El-Rufai said: “We will politely ask those who stole government money to return them.
“This is because people, who are in government now, are there not to work for themselves, but the APC government is made up of people who are ready to work for the masses and the betterment of the country.

“We will work with the textile union to ensure that the life of the average Nigerians get better.”

The ex-minister also decried the parlous state of the textile industry, in Kaduna State, noting that his administration would revamp the industry.

He lamented the current employment figure of 1,600 employees in the textile sector, describing the situation as unacceptable, adding that the textile industries in Kaduna used to employ about 33,000 workers.

According to El-Rufai, the APC government would revive the textile industries, saying the sector would generate employment and impact on the lives of the people.

He said: “We have met at a forum of northern governors-elect and we decided to ensure the revival of the textile industries.

“It is a shame that the largest economy in Africa imports textile materials from Senegal and other countries.”

The President of the union, Oladele Hunsu, recalled el-Rufai’s feat as minister of the FCT, which he described as “indelible,” urging him (El-Rufai) to take steps towards reviving the textile industries.