Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai,
has emphasised that his political loyalty has always been to Nigeria rather
than to individuals or political parties.
Speaking during a visit to Kano, where he met the Emir of
Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),
El-Rufai said his decision to join the SDP was aimed at supporting the creation
of a credible political alternative.
According to him, the SDP offers a fresh platform free from
the “godfatherism” and dysfunction that, he claimed, have plagued the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Twelve years ago, we formed the APC and unseated an
incumbent president, but today’s circumstances demand a different strategy. We
are rallying disillusioned Nigerians under the SDP, which stands for fairness
and internal democracy,” he stated.
El-Rufai dismissed suggestions that his recent political
moves were driven by personal grievances, maintaining that he has no further
ambitions to prove.
“I’m 65 years old. I could retire comfortably, but Nigeria
is facing an existential crisis. My actions are about saving the country, not
personal advancement,” he said.
Addressing the issue of leadership, the former governor, who
previously advocated for a power shift to the South, stressed that Nigeria’s
urgent challenges required capable leadership over regional considerations.
“Our problems are too deep for us to be fixated on where the
next president comes from. What matters now is competence, vision, and the
capacity to fix Nigeria,” he asserted.
On recent defections to the APC, El-Rufa’i said the SDP is
focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than wooing high-profile politicians.
“A governor has just one vote. It is the people, not
politicians, who win elections,” he noted.
He also rejected claims that the SDP’s growth was limited to
certain regions, revealing that nationwide coalition-building efforts were
ongoing.
“We are building quietly across the South as well. Real
nation-building happens at the grassroots, not in media spectacles,” he said.
Defending his criticism of the APC, El-Rufai pointed out
that he had consistently spoken out when things went wrong under President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, particularly during the controversial naira
redesign policy.
“When policies hurt Nigerians, I raised my voice — even
against a government led by my party. I have never placed loyalty to
individuals above loyalty to Nigeria,” he said.
El-Rufai called on young Nigerians not to lose hope and
urged them to join the movement for a better future.
“Nigeria gave me opportunities, even though I was orphaned
at the age of eight. We cannot abandon it to corrupt politicians. It’s time to
rebuild a country where every child can dream and achieve,” he added.
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