WHEN I read in the FORBES recently that  ”democracy is delivering impossible results,” I didn’t understand until I met the indefatigable governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai. Call privitisation czar or Mr. Demolition, El Rufai is ostensibly a sharp departure from the behavioural instincts of some state Governors in Nigeria who have creamed out the finances of their various states.

His humble and humanitarian mien has endeared him to the hearts of his people. He has, nonetheless, incurred the wrath of many who labelled him as religious and ethnic bigot for promoting divisive politics. However, he shocked many more on assumption of office when he reduced the number of commissioners from twenty four to thirteen as part of reducing the cost of governance.

Again, after the historic launch of the free school feeding programme early this year, the governor revealed that the programme has increased enrolment in schools by 60 percent. I was not surprised or thrown into my self because with his intimidating antecedents that can only be El Rufai.

The school feeding programme in its particularity should be celebrated for many obvious reasons. First, good nourishing food has cognitive mental impact on the physical body build of the child, including emotional and volitional perception of a growing pupil. Second, the programme certainly would boost the economy of the state. Third, jobless youths who have been granted loans for the production of all kinds of food stuff for the feeding programme can no longer bestride the streets of Kaduna or conscripted in any northern parts of the country for the purpose of extinguishing innocent souls in the name of religion. Fourth, children of school age, expecially girls, who have  been enlisted into the suicide bombing-hood by the deadly Boko Haram militias will now find it difficult to recruit idling minds/hands to be indoctrinated into the bloodbath battle of nihilism.

Now, this. The school feeding programme has been targeted at feeding at least 1.5million pupils in the state! Presently, UNESCO statistics has shown that 10. 8million Nigerian children of school age are roaming,hawking, labouring and begging on the streets, particularly in northern Nigeria, where more than 90 percent of that figure is domiciled!

Again, as a stoic advocate against sexual violence towards women and a canvasser of gender equity, El Rufai has expressed displeasure over the rampant cases of rape of minors, describing it as repulsive. On the arraignment of a suspected serial rapist, Haruna Tukur in Kaduna recently for forcefully having carnal knowledge of a five year old girl, Governor El Rufai has vowed that such culprits can never evade justice and must be made to face the full wrath of the law. As a father, the Governor wants to ensure that no one would destroy the future of a minor, or any girl or lady in Kaduna State.

As a promoter of the notion of freedom of worship, Governor El Rufai has swiftly condemned the attack on one Francis Emmanuel a christain and a carpenter in the Kakuri Kaduna area of the state who was stabbed by unknown youths for eating during the Ramadan fast. The Governor’s swift reaction barely 24hours after the incident and subsequent visit to the victim calmed frayed nerves.

It is also a testament of his resolve not to tolerate religious violence  and criminality in the state. As a true reformer, who believes in the saying that ”if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us,”  the Governor made a shocking revelation of over 13,000 suspected ghost workers in the state’s civil service, promising to deal decisively with those who have swindled the state.?                                    On the controversy generated by the state’s religious bill that has attracted negative responses from both christain and muslim scholars, El Rufai has been listening and discussing with relevant stakeholders, noting that what is being done is with clear and honest intentions. He has stressed that no sensitive government will take decisions contrary to the religious beliefs of the people.

He has further demonstrated that government must be peopled centred, devoid of any religious colouration. The State has saved a whopping sum of N221million by stopping sponsorship of pilgrimage, blocked multiple taxation, commenced renovation of over 4,000 schools and other massive urban renewal and developmental strides. These speak volume of his avowed commitment to good governance, equity and social justice.

Everyone knew governance would be a cakewalk for him when he was elected en masse last year by his people, except, of course, the perennial challenges associated with politics of a Third World Nation.

The entire north is too poor to be left without a tangible development stride, that is why El Rufai needs the support of all. The gain in Abuja today is the courage of El Rufai. The strong word of advise to those spreading campaign of calumny against him is that ‘we are who we are’.

Mr. Erasmus Ikhide, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.