Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State and a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declined an invitation from former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, who recently transitioned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, extended this invitation during a BBC Hausa interview, encouraging notable opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to follow his example.
In response, Lamido characterized the invitation as an affront, asserting that the PDP, which he played a significant role in establishing, was instrumental in El-Rufai’s political advancement.
“The PDP is the party that facilitated El-Rufai’s rise. He lacks the authority to suggest we abandon it,” Lamido stated.
Additionally, the former governor criticized El-Rufai’s approach to leadership, emphasizing that governance should be characterized by patience and a sense of national duty, rather than driven by personal ambition or resentment.
“If I had intended to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was created,” he affirmed, reiterating his loyalty to the party.
Lamido also questioned the rationale behind El-Rufai’s defection, pointing out inconsistencies in his political views.
“He previously asserted that there were no mature individuals in Nigerian politics, yet he now urges us to join him,” he noted.
As the PDP strives to recover from its electoral defeat in 2015, Lamido asserted that the party remains a formidable political entity and dismissed El-Rufai’s invitation as insignificant.
