Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has once again spoken out against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu’s government. He responded to Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, who questioned whether his criticism of the APC would have been different if he was part of Tinubu’s cabinet.
At a recent national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai openly criticized the APC, saying the party has lost its core values. He expressed his disappointment, stating that the party no longer holds meetings or functions as a political organization.
“I am a founding member of the APC. But frankly, I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years — no caucus, no NEC, nothing. I don’t even know if it is a one-man show. It is a zero-man show,” he said.
In reaction, Bwala questioned whether El-Rufai’s opinion would have remained the same if he had been appointed as a minister. It is worth noting that El-Rufai was initially considered for a ministerial position in Tinubu’s government but was not confirmed by the Senate due to security concerns.
Responding on X (formerly Twitter), El-Rufai dismissed Bwala’s remarks, saying that those defending the Tinubu government lack moral integrity. He insisted that even if he had remained in government, he would have voiced the same concerns.
“The pathetic manner in which 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 wrote.
He further explained that if he had been in the government, he would have first raised concerns privately. If no corrective action was taken, he would have spoken out publicly.
El-Rufai’s comments have fueled discussions about the APC’s internal struggles and the direction of Tinubu’s government. Many Nigerians are now questioning the leadership and unity within the ruling party.
As the political landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen whether APC leaders will address these concerns or allow the party to drift further from its original values.
