Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna State, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration at a weekend event, calling it more oppressive than any military government Nigeria has endured. This statement came during a solidarity visit from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar following an attack at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) inauguration.
During the meeting in Kaduna, El-Rufai described the current government as a “disgrace to democratic ideals”, accusing it of centralizing power instead of promoting federalism. He compared Tinubu’s leadership style to that of Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya. The former governor expressed concern that the administration is behaving in an authoritarian manner, undermining the democratic principles Nigeria once fought for.
The confrontation intensified after thugs disrupted ADC’s event, prompting accusations between El-Rufai’s faction and the Kaduna State government over responsibility. The police subsequently summoned key ADC figures and El-Rufai for questioning about the incident.
El-Rufai emphasized that the government’s approach contradicts past democratic struggles, suggesting that the promises of true federalism were merely superficial. He warned of a dire future if the administration remains in power beyond 2027, predicting a scenario similar to Biya’s prolonged rule in Cameroon.
El-Rufai commends Atiku Abubakar’s historic role in Nigeria’s democracy. He appealed to him to unite opposition forces in order to remove the current leadership at the next election. The former governor recounted on past periods under Atiku and former President Obasanjo where political dissent was respected, contrasting it with today’s climate of harassment under a civilian government.
Atiku, in response, lauded El-Rufai’s courage and stressed the urgency of collective action to ensure a peaceful transition through the ballot in 2027. He urged opposition leaders to stay focused and reinforce the democratic process by rallying Nigerians to vote for change.
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