Although now a party ‘without ideals’, “I have no intention of leaving APC”, says immediate past Kaduna Governor
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has explained his attacks on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), of which he is a founding member and on whose platform he was Governor of Kaduna for eight years, saying such attacks are part of his effort to force them to change.
El-Rufai, who spoke to newsmen on Tuesday – today, January 28 – in Abuja, on the sidelines of the just concluded two-day national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, which was held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), however said he had no plan of leaving the ruling party.
Asked if he is abandoning the party he helped in forming and nurturing, the immediate past Kaduna Governor replied: “I am not leaving the APC. I don’t have such plans.”
Asked why he would be hitting the leaders of the party very hard if he had no plans of leaving, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), thundered:
“No, no, no, I only want them to change.”
Speaking as a discussant at the event, he had taken a swipe at the party, describing it as a party without ideals, that abandoned its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.
He also criticised the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, which he attributed to unqualified delegates, lamenting the dearth of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC.
While describing the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency,” he further blamed the problem of democracy in the country on the illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people in the position of leadership.
“I no longer recognize 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. You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he said.
The former Governor equally urged political parties to set higher standards for candidates and delegates, stressing that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not suffice for party nominations.
He reflected on the party’s foundation, noting that the APC was originally established to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security, regretting, however, that the goals have been abandoned.
“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening.”
El-Rufai also urged opposition parties to unite and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and protect democracy.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’
“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties,” he alleged.
Citing a poll that revealed 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, El-Rufai warned of an impending crisis.
“This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits,” he said.
He appealed to opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front to save democracy.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” he concluded.
