Nigeria has been moving backwards since Tinubu assumed office, says El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of incompetence, nepotism, and a betrayal of the founding ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa, El-Rufai — who recently dumped the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — claimed Nigeria has been “moving backwards” since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

Once a key ally of Tinubu and a central figure in the APC’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, El-Rufai said the party has abandoned the values it was built on.

“Ever since Tinubu became president, insecurity has increased, the economy is dwindling, affluent people are now poor, and ethnic profiling is on the rise,” he said.

El-Rufai accused the current administration of favouring individuals from Tinubu’s ethnic group and inner circle, stating that appointments are now based on personal connections rather than merit.

“Whoever gets appointed must be someone from his tribe or someone he knows. They can deny it, but Nigerians are not stupid,” he said.

He expressed regret over the direction the APC has taken, saying it no longer stands for justice, equity, and national integration — ideals that inspired its founding.

“This injustice and ethnic profiling is not what we built APC on. It was supposed to be a party of competence and fairness,” he said.

Responding to critics who questioned his shift to the SDP, El-Rufai said it was the APC that deviated from its founding principles, not him.

His words: “I did not leave the APC. It left me. Since Tinubu became president, they stopped listening. They act like nobody can advise them.”

He also accused the APC of sidelining internal democracy, pointing out that the party hadn’t held meaningful meetings in two years.

“Even a child, if he goes astray despite all efforts, you let him go. That’s what I did. I’ve left the APC for good,” El-Rufai declared.

El-Rufai also addressed the APC’s recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, which he described as politically motivated and a reaction to his defection.

He said he had informed Buhari about his decision to leave but did not seek his approval.

“I’m 65. I didn’t go to beg. I just informed him. Two days later, I left the party,” he said.

El-Rufai claimed that the SDP is rapidly gaining support across the country, with Nigerians tired of both the APC and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

His words: “In every state, people are lining up for SDP tickets. They believe we will bring justice, accountability, and help end poverty.

“With God’s help and the people’s prayers, a storm is coming that will sweep away these bad leaders. SDP will form the federal and many state governments.”