Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has been advised to talk like a responsible a person and not like a street boy. The advice is coming from the Middle-Belt Forum and in reaction to the ex-minister’s recent outbursts, the latest coming last weekend against the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

The Middle-Belt Forum in a statement released yesterday in Abuja and signed by its National Youth Leader, Hon. Jonathan Asake, reminded El-Rufai that “a man that was given the opportunity to serve in a responsible position is expected to act and talk responsibly, especially on issues concerning national challenges like insecurity.”

According to the Forum, “This is the time we need people to exhibit their patriotism and commitment to national unity and find solutions to the challenges which affect the country so that Nigeria can move forward.

“But what we see is that people who are expected to exhibit decent behaviour like El-Rufai are instead worsening the situation with their utterances. The last time on Liberty FM in Kaduna, he spoke with denigration on the person of the Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammed Namadi Sambo, and his office and he didn’t stop there. The recent one is about Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor where he referred to CAN President as the PRO of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That is a libelous statement.”

The statement accused El-Rufai of embarking on “rascality and irresponsibility,” saying that “it is about time he controlled his mouth and allowed solutions to be found for the challenges of insecurity in the country which is affecting this nation, instead of resorting to insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.”

The Forum told El-Rufai that “the fact that he lost out in the game of power and is no longer in service does not make him embark on this retaliatory attacks and ambiguous adventure,” adding: “Nigerians have given him the opportunity to serve the nation as FCT Minister and a lot of Nigerians thank him for the efforts he put in building the FCT. Let him not destroy what he has done just because he is no longer part of government. Frustration should not be used as an avenue for the destruction of government.

“He is bent on destroying the government because he has lost out of power and political relevance. El-Rufai should stop talking like a street boy or like an Aarea boy but like a responsible person.”

•Photo shows El-Rufai.