Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed that his stance on the current state of governance in Nigeria would remain unchanged, even if he were still serving in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
This declaration came in response to a remark by the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, on Thursday, January 30.
El-Rufai, speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, January 27, described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
He also expressed concerns over the lack of internal democracy within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
In response, the APC accused El-Rufai of betraying the party and government, labelling him as treacherous for his public criticisms. This prompted Bwala to challenge the former governor’s position, asking whether he would have held and expressed the same views had he remained in government.
Bwala’s query on X (formerly Twitter) read, “My Senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana.”
In his reply on Thursday, El-Rufai defended his earlier statements and maintained his unwavering stance, dismissing claims that he ever sought a position in the current government.
He reminded Bwala of his earlier position, stating, “Good morning, #BwalaDaniel, I was cabinet minister 22 years ago and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government.”
The former governor continued by criticising individuals who, in his view, had opportunistically aligned themselves with the Tinubu administration, accusing them of moral flexibility.
He added, “The pathetic manner all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government make an issue of something that I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of the level of your moral flexibility.”
El-Rufai also outlined how, had he remained in the administration, he would have addressed the party’s internal issues both privately and publicly.
He stated, “If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I will say or do the same on the tragedy within a party I was a founder, and the government that emerged from it – first in private sessions with those concerned, and then go public if no remedial actions are taken.”
The former governor concluded his remarks by criticising those he viewed as political opportunists, claiming that they were financially rewarded for defending the government, regardless of its actions or failures.
He addressed Bwala directly, saying, “Enjoy your special adviser position, my brother, but remember that allegiance to God and country comes first in the human scale of accountability, before any person or authority.”
This public exchange underscores the ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political elite, particularly between former allies in the APC and the current administration.Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed that his stance on the current state of governance in Nigeria would remain unchanged, even if he were still serving in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
This declaration came in response to a remark by the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, on Thursday, January 30.
El-Rufai, speaking at a national conference in Abuja on Monday, January 27, described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
He also expressed concerns over the lack of internal democracy within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
In response, the APC accused El-Rufai of betraying the party and government, labelling him as treacherous for his public criticisms. This prompted Bwala to challenge the former governor’s position, asking whether he would have held and expressed the same views had he remained in government.
Bwala’s query on X (formerly Twitter) read, “My Senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana.”
In his reply on Thursday, Janaury 30, El-Rufai defended his earlier statements and maintained his unwavering stance, dismissing claims that he ever sought a position in the current government.
He reminded Bwala of his earlier position, stating, “Good morning, #BwalaDaniel, I was cabinet minister 22 years ago and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government.”
The former governor continued by criticising individuals who, in his view, had opportunistically aligned themselves with the Tinubu administration, accusing them of moral flexibility.
He added, “The pathetic manner all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government make an issue of something that I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of the level of your moral flexibility.”
El-Rufai also outlined how, had he remained in the administration, he would have addressed the party’s internal issues both privately and publicly.
He stated, “If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I will say or do the same on the tragedy within a party I was a founder, and the government that emerged from it – first in private sessions with those concerned, and then go public if no remedial actions are taken.”
The former governor concluded his remarks by criticising those he viewed as political opportunists, claiming that they were financially rewarded for defending the government, regardless of its actions or failures.
He addressed Bwala directly, saying, “Enjoy your special adviser position, my brother, but remember that allegiance to God and country comes first in the human scale of accountability, before any person or authority.”
This public exchange underscores the ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political elite, particularly between former allies in the APC and the current administration.
