The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, accusing him of attacking the party out of personal resentment following his unsuccessful bid for a ministerial role in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a recent interview, El-Rufai expressed disappointment, stating that he and his associates had anticipated that President Bola Tinubu would bring his successes in Lagos to the national stage, but this expectation was not met.
El-Rufai further noted that despite the controversies surrounding Tinubu’s alleged certificate forgery from Chicago State University during the 2023 presidential election, they chose to support him, believing he had the potential to bring about significant change in Nigeria, similar to his accomplishments in Lagos State.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well, because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” El-Rufai told reporters in an interview on Saturday.
“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”
He subsequently urged opposition leaders, such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to come together under the banner of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in order to rescue the nation.
“What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP,” he added.
On Monday, the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by its spokesperson Felix Morka, refuted El-Rufai’s assertions, characterizing them as an emotional response to his unsuccessful attempt at securing a ministerial position. Morka indicated that El-Rufai’s criticisms stemmed more from personal disappointment than from any substantive ideological disagreements with the party.
APC stated, “Today, El-Rufai stands diminished as the epitome of a self-interested politician, blinded by ego, driven by untamed emotion, and brimming with a vengeful desire to ‘collapse the system’.
“In his interview under reference, El-Rufai supplied the real reason for his soreness, stating that he was disappointed by the way he was treated by President Bola Tinubu and his administration, in ostensible reference to his failed ministerial bid. His claim that he exited because the Party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponise personal grievance garbed as principled dissent.
“El-Rufai appears traumatised by his failure to land a ministerial position. Nursing a bruised ego, he now lashes out at the platform on which he rode to political prominence.”
The APC has also criticized El-Rufai’s invitation for opposition leaders to unite under the SDP, characterizing it as an appeal for others to partake in a “chalice tainted by self-interest, vindictiveness, and an inflated sense of importance.”
The party charged El-Rufai with misjudging the Nigerian populace, asserting that they are fully cognizant of his true intentions.
“Nigerians are far more savvy than El-Rufai thinks, and they know that he is driven by raw self-interest rather than a genuine concern for the country,” APC added.
“Our great party is unfazed by El-Rufai’s grudge-laden tirade. We continue to welcome millions of new members across the country, who are joining to identify with the Party’s lofty values and support President Tinubu’s bold and transformative policies now birthing sustainable growth and prosperity for our country.”
In reaction to El-Rufai’s assertion that President Tinubu has not succeeded, the APC expressed its disagreement, characterizing the allegation as both “outrageous and baseless,” as well as a significant misrepresentation of the current situation.
The party emphasized that in various sectors, Nigerians are observing substantial advancements in the fulfillment of the president’s campaign commitments, highlighting that “Indisputably, Nigeria is better off today than when he took office.”
