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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, over his comments against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, claimed that it was el-Rufai’s infantile politics that posed the real threat to the progress of Nigeria.
The party argued that it was obvious that el-Rufai and his cohorts in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were on a mission to upend the presidential rotational principle designed to promote national unity and cohesion in the country through the imposition of Atiku Abubakar as party’s presidential candidate in the middle of a southern presidency rotation.
He further noted that the rejection of el-Rufai as a minister cannot justify his allegation of clannishness against Tinubu’s administration, adding that for a former governor who left a sordid legacy of obnoxious marginalisation of ethnic and religious minorities in Southern Kaduna; sponsored sectarian violence and weaponised demolitions against innocent citizens; and hung debt profile of N284 billion on taxpayers, he lacks the rectitude to make such claim.
While describing him as the poster boy of bad governance, the ruling party noted: “Since his failed bid for a ministerial appointment, the former governor of Kaduna State has gone into a political tailspin.
“His speedy fall from commanding heights to the political clown he has become needs forensic study.
“His attack on President Tinubu-led administration as incompetent, clannish and undeserving of a second term, at a meeting in Sokoto last Saturday, is yet another outburst of a waspish politician.
“El-Rufai and his partners in the ADC are the most confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful opposition politicians our country has ever known. They bring nothing to the political table except their oversized ego, wild entitlement mentality, obscene desperation and predatory presidential ambitions.
“Beyond baseless headline attacks against the present administration and the APC, el-Rufai and cohorts have not presented and, quite frankly, cannot present policy prescriptions with potential for more effectiveness than those already being implemented by the Tinubu administration, with strong indicators of success.
“All three major contestants in the 2023 presidential election campaigned to remove fuel subsidy and harmonise multiple foreign exchange regimes in recognition of the urgency and seriousness of the country’s economic challenges.”
“Upon his election and inauguration, President Tinubu swiftly implemented policy reforms as he promised. After their crushing defeat at the polls, Atiku and Peter Obi, seemingly, recanted their policy reform positions in order to justify sitting shamelessly at the table of hypocrisy and hurling invectives at President Tinubu and APC for implementing reform policies they also promised Nigerians.
“If el-Rufai and his cohorts detest the administration’s policy reforms as much as they claim, why have they not presented policy proposals to restore fuel subsidy as it was and return the country to the ruinous era of fixing Naira’s value and operating multiple foreign exchange regimes that fed the greedy and insatiable appetite of the likes of el-Rufai, Atiku, Obi and Rotimi Amaechi for decades?
“And while at it, to tell Nigerians how they would finance the resultant massive deficit that would ground the economy to a devastating crumble.
“el-Rufai’s claims are as mischievous as they are hollow. With a steady rebound in our economy and other indicators of verifiable progress in all sectors, including the ongoing revolution in agriculture; high performing stock exchange market; improved power generation and transmission.
“There is increased oil production at nearly 1.8 million barrels per day; consistent trade surpluses; unprecedented infrastructural development, with 420 roads and bridges underway; strategic retooling of our military capabilities with 49 advanced aircrafts; unprecedented NELFUND for students, with fast declining inflation and rising consumer confidence, and more.
“el-Rufai’s verdict of poor governance and failed leadership falls flat as no more than the rants of an inconsolable sulker.
“The rejection of el-Rufai as a minister cannot justify his allegation of clannishness against the administration. A senseless claim like that can only come from someone who haughtily equates his selfish interest with the interest of an entire ethnic nationality. President Tinubu is easily one of the most detribalised and patriotic Nigerians alive. No tribe, ethnic or religious group has been sidelined like el-Rufai wants Nigerians to believe.
“For a former governor who left a sordid legacy of obnoxious marginalisation of ethnic and religious minorities in Southern Kaduna; who sponsored sectarian violence and weaponised demolitions against innocent citizens; and hung a debt profile of N284 billion on taxpayers, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO), el-Rufai is the poster child of bad governance and failed leadership.
“It is now clear to all Nigerians that el-Rufai and his cohorts in ADC are on a mission to upend the presidential rotational principle designed to promote national unity and cohesion in the country through the imposition of Atiku as presidential candidate of ADC in the middle of a southern presidency rotation.
It was Atiku’s selfish and obdurate refusal to respect the rotation principle during the 2023 PDP presidential primary election that directly resulted in PDP’s virtual cremation.
“el-Rufai and Atiku want to do to Nigeria what Atiku did to PDP. el-Rufai, Atiku and the hijacked ADC constitute a clear and present threat to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria,” APC noted in the statement.
