By Muhammad Mamman
In a fiery address during his Sokoto State visit on Saturday, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai unleashed a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, labeling it “incompetent and clannish” and warning that its re-election in 2027 could spell doom for Nigeria. Once a key ally in Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, El-Rufai now leads a charge against the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Nigerians to rally behind the African Democratic Congress coalition to halt what he calls a “catastrophic misrule.”
“This is no ordinary fight—it’s a battle for Nigeria’s soul,” El-Rufai declared, sounding the alarm on the nation’s fraying social fabric. “If the APC secures another term, we risk losing what little remains of our unity and progress. This government has failed to tackle our pressing challenges, and we must act now to change course.”
The dramatic fallout between El-Rufai and Tinubu traces back to the Senate’s rejection of El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination, a move he attributes to the president’s influence. Once a founding APC member, El-Rufai now brands Tinubu a “disaster” he regrets helping to power. “I entered politics to serve, not to enrich myself,” he said. “When a government betrays the people, it’s my duty as a patriot to fight for change.”
Calling for grassroots momentum, El-Rufai’s bold stand signals a seismic shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown as 2027 looms.
