Former Governor of Jigawa State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has criticised his erstwhile Kaduna colleague, Nasir el-Rufai, for reportedly urging opposition politicians to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
el-Rufai, recently announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, imploring opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join him in his new political party.
But Lamido in an interview with the BBC, faulted el-Rufai’s invitation, questioning his political ideology and commitment to national development.
He said: “With all due respect, how does he expect us in PDP to leave and join another party? The PDP that we built is the same party that made him who he is today. How can a grandson claim his grandfather knows nothing?”
Lamido claimed that el-Rufai once declared there were no political elders in Nigeria, insisting that he and his allies were the true power brokers.
“But now he claims he advised Buhari. If he truly had the power he once boasted of, why did he have to seek Buhari’s counsel?” the ex-governor queried.
He stressed that, despite PDP’s internal challenges, it remained his political home.
SIMILARLY, the immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has foreclosed any move of joining the SDP.
The (APC: Yobe North) representative stated that he had no plan of dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress for the SDP.
Lawan said he continues to be a steadfast and loyal member of the APC, a party he has proudly associated with and contributed to since its formation.
A statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ezrel Tabiowo, read: “The attention of the Office of Senator Ahmad Lawan, the President of the 9th Senate and Distinguished Senator representing Yobe North Senatorial District, has been drawn to misleading reports and posters circulating in some quarters, insinuating that he is set to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“We wish to categorically state that these reports are entirely false, baseless, and without merit. Senator Ahmad Lawan remains a steadfast and loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he has proudly associated with and contributed to since its formation. He remains a key stakeholder in the APC and will continue to work with the party and the government to ensure the success of their collective goals.”
