Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized his successor, Governor Uba Sani, for what he described as excessive and insincere defense of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. El-Rufai and Sani, both members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been at odds since Sani assumed office in 2023. Their political disagreement has been escalating, with El-Rufai becoming more vocal in his criticism of the government.
El-Rufai, who was blocked by the Senate in 2023 from becoming a minister due to security concerns, has grown increasingly disillusioned with the APC leadership. In a recent television interview, Sani responded to the criticisms from his predecessor, claiming that El-Rufai’s comments were motivated by selfish interests. Sani also took the opportunity to challenge those who claim they could defeat President Tinubu in the 2027 elections, urging them to work hard and present themselves as strong contenders.
“Most of these politicians that came out and say they are coming as a coalition, they are politicians that were in government only less than two years ago,” Sani stated. “What did they do when they were in government? They were only fighting for power, not because they could do anything better.” He further added that anyone looking to defeat Tinubu or the APC in 2027 would need to demonstrate significant effort and preparation.
In response to Sani’s comments, El-Rufai took to social media, expressing his frustration with the governor’s apparent loyalty to the current administration. He specifically pointed out that over N150 billion in federal reimbursements, interventions, and grants had been selectively allocated to Kaduna State in the last 18 months under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why? However, confirming that Federal Government ‘reimbursements, interventions and grants’ in excess of N150bn have been given selectively to Kaduna by Tinubu, in the last 18 months, now explains everything,” El-Rufai said in a post.
El-Rufai also referenced a quote from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which he believes encapsulates the challenges faced by citizens in developing nations like Nigeria.
Blair had said, “In a developing nation, where people struggle to put food on the table, go to school, get rudimentary healthcare, eke out an existence not a career, (social services) delivery can be the difference between life and death; or at least the difference between a life with hope and one without it.”
El-Rufai noted that citizens are seeking solutions to the problems affecting their lives, such as access to healthcare, education, and security.
