APC tells Kaduna ex-gov to quit sulking
The South South/South West Alliance has urged the 2023 presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, to distance themselves from the “deceptive politics” of former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Relatedly, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) called on el-Rufai to quit sulking, get a grip on himself and salvage some respectability, after losing out on ministerial appointments in the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
According to the alliance, Obi must recognise the potential damage associating with el-Rufai can do to his reputation and political aspirations. In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Ifeoma Efe, and Secretary-General, Ayodele Toluwa, the alliance warned that el-Rufai had built a reputation for employing misinformation and manipulation, posing a risk to both Obi and Atiku’s political credibility.
It called on all political actors to uphold truth and responsible leadership, warning that any affiliation with those who thrive on deception could erode public trust and weaken the nation’s democratic foundations.
The statement reads: “El-Rufai’s political career has been marred by a series of deceitful tactics and misleading narratives that seek to undermine the democratic process and manipulate public sentiment.
“As a leader committed to transparency and accountability, Obi must not allow himself to be dragged into this quagmire of deceit. Nigerians deserve honest leadership, and any association with figures who thrive on misinformation will only tarnish his image and the ideals he represents.”
It also called upon Atiku to unequivocally dissociate himself from el-Rufai’s antics, adding: “Political leaders must rise above the fray of petty politics and focus on the good of the nation. By distancing himself from el-Rufai, Atiku will demonstrate a commitment to integrity and the values the Nigerian populace yearns for.”
NATIONAL Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, in a statement, yesterday, faulted el-Rufai over the claim that he exited the party because it deviated from its progressive ideology.
Insisting that el-Rufai’s claim remains a smokescreen used to garb personal grievance in principled dissent, APC maintains that the former governor appears traumatised by his failure to land a ministerial position, which bruised his ego, causing him to lash out at the party on which he rode to political prominence.
APC asserted that its commitment to its founding values and ideals remained as valid and progressive today as they were then, adding that el-Rufai’s allegation of a drift from the party’s founding values existed only in his foggy imagination.
The party contended that el-Rufai’s call for opposition members to join him in SDP was nothing short of an invitation to drink from a chalice poisoned by selfishness, vengefulness and delusion of grandeur.
Morka asserted: “Nigerians are far more savvy than el-Rufai thinks, and they know that he is driven by raw self-interest rather than a genuine concern for the country.
“Our great party is unfazed by el-Rufai’s grudge-laden tirade. We continue to welcome millions of new members across the country, who are joining to identify with the party’s lofty values and President Tinubu’s bold and transformative policies now birthing sustainable growth and prosperity for our country.”
