Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Policy Communications to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday responded to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after he was labelled a “latter-day convert” by the APC chieftain.
The exchange comes amid growing tensions regarding internal party structures and democracy within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the APC, recently drew attention for publicly criticising the party’s lack of internal democracy and its fractured organisational structure.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja, the former governor stated, “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.”
Bwala, who is a strong supporter of President Tinubu, had previously questioned whether El-Rufai would still hold the same opinion if he were part of the Tinubu-led administration. In response, El-Rufai reaffirmed his stance, asserting that he had no interest in serving in the current government.
Through a series of tweets on his X handle on Thursday, El-Rufai clarified his position, saying, “I was a cabinet minister 22 years ago and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government. 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.”
Bwala, in turn, pushed back at El-Rufai’s comments, noting their shared history in the APC and his own role in supporting Tinubu’s presidential candidacy.
Bwala stressed, “With respect, I am not a latter-day Asiwaju supporter. We both played our roles in his emergence as the candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 elections.”
He added that while El-Rufai was from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) faction of the APC, Bwala himself came from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
This background, Bwala explained, saw him working closely with former APC Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to protect the interests of Tinubu, whom El-Rufai and others had once vowed to retire from politics.
Bwala, who continues to hold respect for El-Rufai, expressed concern over the tone and motivations behind the former governor’s remarks, suggesting that his criticisms were rooted in a desire for vengeance rather than genuine patriotism.
“I still think you don’t need all these melodramatic activities or a vengeance mission. Come back and resolve whatever you think are your grievances like the dignified man that you are,” Bwala tweeted.
He also defended the APC’s organisational structure, describing it as the “only organised party with identifiable structures across the country.”
Bwala appealed to El-Rufai to reconsider his stance and return to the fold, saying, “Our party APC as of today remains the only organised party with identifiable structures across the country. So, if you are looking for any symbol of democracy, it is still in your party. Please senior, come home; you have toiled all night.”
In a related development, during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today in November 2024, Bwala had addressed questions regarding his own role in the current government. He denied lobbying for a position, saying that his support for President Tinubu had been based on genuine commitment to the cause. Bwala explained, “No, I didn’t lobby. The last time I was here, I told you when I met him (President) that I had made up my mind to support his cause.”
He further expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve under President Tinubu and reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling the expectations of the President and the Nigerian people.
As tensions within the APC continue to rise, it remains to be seen how the party will address internal divisions and the concerns raised by figures like El-Rufai, whose critiques of the party’s leadership structure have ignited public debate.
