Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu, stating that despite backing his presidential ambition, Tinubu has failed Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, which began trending on Saturday, El-Rufai dismissed claims that he betrayed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, emphasizing that his decisions were based on competence rather than political loyalty.
“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we believed that if he could replicate his work in Lagos, Nigeria would benefit. However, he failed,” El-Rufai said.
Recently leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai urged opposition leaders—including Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to unite under the SDP.
Addressing accusations of betraying Atiku, he insisted, “I never betrayed him. We met at work, not in politics. If I see someone failing, I will say it, no matter who they are. I told Buhari the same and even took him to court over the naira redesign policy.”
As the political landscape shifts, El-Rufai’s statements signal a call for a stronger opposition and a new political direction for Nigeria.
