Nigeria has been declining since Tinubu took office – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of incompetence, favoritism, and abandoning the core values that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was founded upon.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa, El-Rufai — who recently left the APC to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — stated that Nigeria has been “moving backwards” since Tinubu became president on May 29, 2023.

Once a close ally of Tinubu and a key player in the APC’s electoral successes in 2015, 2019, and 2023, El-Rufai expressed disappointment at the direction the party has taken under the current administration.

“Since Tinubu assumed office, insecurity has worsened, the economy is struggling, the affluent are now impoverished, and ethnic profiling has become more prevalent,” he said.

El-Rufai accused the administration of prioritizing individuals from Tinubu’s ethnic group and inner circle for key appointments, claiming that the focus has shifted from merit to personal connections.

“Appointments are now based on tribal affiliation or personal relationships. They can deny it, but Nigerians are not foolish,” he added.

Reflecting on the changes within the APC, El-Rufai expressed regret, stating that the party no longer represents the values of justice, fairness, and national unity on which it was originally built.

“This is not the APC we formed. The party was meant to stand for competence and equality, not for injustice and ethnic bias,” he said.

Responding to questions about his defection to the SDP, El-Rufai insisted that it was the APC that had strayed from its founding principles, not him.

“I didn’t leave the APC; the APC left me. Since Tinubu became president, they stopped listening to advice. They act as if no one can offer counsel,” he said.

El-Rufai also criticized the APC for neglecting internal democracy, pointing out that the party had not held any meaningful meetings in the past two years.

“Even a child must be allowed to go if he refuses to listen, no matter the efforts made to guide him. That’s why I left the APC,” he stated.

El-Rufai also addressed the APC’s recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling it a politically motivated move in response to his defection.

He clarified that he had simply informed Buhari of his decision to leave the party and did not seek his approval.

“I’m 65 years old. I didn’t go to beg; I just informed him, and two days later, I left the APC,” El-Rufai explained.

According to El-Rufai, the SDP is gaining traction nationwide, as many Nigerians have grown disillusioned with both the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“In every state, people are flocking to the SDP, believing we can bring justice, accountability, and tackle poverty,” he said. “With God’s guidance and the people’s support, a change is coming that will sweep away the current leaders. The SDP will form the federal and many state governments.”