Presidential media aide Daniel Bwala has criticized former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for his recent remarks against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the former governor would not have made such statements if he were part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Since his rejection by the Senate as a ministerial nominee in August 2023, El-Rufai has distanced himself from APC chieftains. On Monday, while speaking at a national conference in Abuja, he declared that he no longer recognized the APC, alleging that the party had become a “one-man show” and lacked internal democracy.
“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,” El-Rufai said, taking aim at the party’s leadership.
Responding via X (formerly Twitter), Bwala questioned whether El-Rufai would have voiced the same criticisms if he had been part of Tinubu’s government.
“My senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam,” Bwala wrote.
El-Rufai: From Tinubu’s Ally to Outsider
El-Rufai was a key figure in the northern bloc of the APC that pushed for a southern candidate in the 2023 presidential election, advocating for Bola Tinubu’s candidacy over northern aspirants such as former Senate President Ahmad Lawan and ex-Jigawa governor Mohammed Badaru.
Following Tinubu’s victory, the former Kaduna governor was nominated as a minister but was ultimately rejected by the Senate due to security concerns raised by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Since then, El-Rufai has largely been absent from APC gatherings and has not been seen at the Aso Villa. Instead, he has been spotted with members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), sparking speculation about a possible defection—rumors he has denied.
Meanwhile, his relationship with his successor, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, has deteriorated. The Kaduna State Assembly has launched an investigation into El-Rufai’s administration over alleged corruption, claims the former governor has dismissed.
