By Adeniyi Yusuf
The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, Zaid Ayuba, has said the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai does not have the capacity to influence the northern youths’ decision against President Bola Tinubu.
This followed El-Rufai’s interview, condemning the president’s economic reforms.
He narrated, “I support some of (Tinubu) policies; most of the economic policies are the right orthodox policies, but the sequencing is wrong, and the quality of the people implementing the reforms leaves much to be desired. And I think that some of the reforms are just wrong.
“You don’t address food inflation by destroying domestic agriculture. Food prices may be going down, but farmers are being impoverished because they are being made to compete with subsidised agricultural products from Europe and other countries.
“So, I have issues with many of them, and I’m in touch with many senior officials of the administration, and I give them my opinion privately.”
While speaking, he pointed out that the President cancelled him as a ministerial nominee and not the National Assembly, as initially stated.
He said, “Since I left office and the President begged me publicly to come and serve in his government, I had my plans and told President Tinubu from day one when he asked me to support him, I said would, but I don’t want anything because politics in Nigeria is always about what do I get for giving you support.
“I’m not in politics for that reason. I’m not in politics to get anything. I have a surname, and I’m a self-made man. I’ve made money before coming into public office.
‘’I don’t need anything. After eight years in Kaduna, I was nearly burnt out. I was struggling for eight years, and I wanted to take a break, and I had my private plans.”
Reacting in an exclusive interview with The New Daily Prime, Zaid noted that El-Rufai did not have the backing of northern youths.
He added that there was no section of the north that would succumb to his calling.
Zaid stated, “I am not saying that the north will support President Bola Tinubu come 2027 or not. I am saying that as far as I am concerned, El-Rufai does not have the capacity to influence the decision of the northern youths.
“Everyone knows that he is saying what he is saying because he missed out on the political appointments.
“Although, there are a lot of unfavourable policies under this government that have plunged the life of ordinary people. They have affected the people negatively despite that he said he is doing it for the good of the nation.”
The national president stressed that El-Rufai was trying to take advantage of these sufferings because the masses were not happy.
He noted, “For instance, the removal of fuel subsidy, refusal to open the border for continuous inter-border trade and others.
“By 2027, it will be seen that he does not have a capacity to do anything. The president must try to do something that is directly affecting the socio-economic life of the people, this will make people support him. Northern Nigeria has govern for eight years by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have political integrity in the north. We believe that the south deserves to rule for eight years. But these policies by the federal government we are not happy with it. He should refine these policies and let them yield goodness for the people.”
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