Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed his approach to governance, stating that he does not engage in political pretense. He made this remark while responding to a social media post praising his straightforwardness.
A user on X (formerly Twitter), Ira Habib, shared their thoughts after reading El-Rufai’s book, The Accidental Public Servant, expressing admiration for his no-nonsense leadership style.
“The day I read El-Rufai’s book titled Accidental Public Servant, I concluded that no politician would want #elrufai in their cabinet unless they genuinely intend to develop this country. He doesn’t know how to pretend,” Habib tweeted on Friday.
In response the following day, El-Rufai acknowledged the compliment and noted his commitment to sincerity in governance.
“Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not some of us,” he wrote.
He also referred to a statement by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pointing out the contrast between political opposition and governance: “In opposition, it matters what you say. In government, it matters what you do. And saying is a lot easier than doing.”
Beyond addressing his leadership style, El-Rufai also voiced concerns over the current state of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He criticized the party’s internal structure, stating that it has become inactive and lacks proper leadership.
“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he said.
His comments drew a sharp response from the presidency. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, dismissed El-Rufai’s remarks, accusing him of acting out of resentment.
Bwala suggested that the former governor should address his concerns privately instead of engaging in what he described as “melodramatic activities.”
