By Ismaeel Aleem
Former Zamfara Central Senator Kabiru Marafa has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a “use-and-dump” leader who discards loyal allies once in power.
Marafa, who recently resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television yesterday.
The former coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Council in Zamfara said his decision to quit the ruling party stemmed from widespread injustice, neglect, and worsening insecurity in the state.
READ ALSO: 2027: “Tinubu won’t make top two” – El-Rufai
He argued that Zamfara, despite delivering crucial votes for Tinubu in the 2023 elections, had been sidelined in federal appointments and resource allocation.
“Thank you for alluding to the fact that because I didn’t get what I wanted, I dumped him (Tinubu). I want to ask you, is politics slavery? Why do you think I joined politics?” Marafa said, rejecting claims that his resignation was motivated by personal disappointment.
He stressed that his involvement in politics was driven by a desire to improve the lives of his constituents, not to serve any leader.
“My parents were not slaves. I have never been a slave to anybody. I am in politics to impact the lives of my people,” he added.
Marafa accused Tinubu of favouring Lagos, where he lost the 2023 presidential election, with more than N3 trillion in resources and several top appointments, while Zamfara — one of only two North-West states (alongside Jigawa) that supported him — was allocated just a single ministerial slot.
“The Constitution says every state must be represented in the Federal Executive Council… Yet most states got two ministerial slots, while we were left with only the Minister of State for Defence. We felt slighted by that position,” he said.
He also extended his criticism to the treatment of other senior APC figures, including former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
“Looking at the treatment meted out to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, looking at the treatment meted out to Abdullahi Ganduje, looking at the treatment meted out to me, we are now convinced that Mr President is a use-and-dump leader,” he declared.
Reaffirming that his grievances were rooted in equity rather than ambition, Marafa maintained: “Anybody can call me names, but I am in politics to get positions and to impact the lives of my people.”
READ ALSO: Tinubu assures Colombia of swift action on bilateral agreements
He clarified that he had not yet decided to join the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other platform, saying he had only “stepped aside” from the APC to “figure things out” after consulting his political base.
His outburst comes amid rising discontent within the APC’s northern bloc, raising concerns about possible fractures in the party’s unity ahead of future elections.
