If Tinubu Is a Mistake, So Is El-Rufai
By Lawan Bukar Maigana
On his Monday appearance on Atise TV, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, shocked many Nigerians with a barrage of self-incriminating statements. “A collection of urban bandits,” he said, referring to the current administration and its actors. He went on to call it “an immoral government,” draw contrasts between Dr. Mahmud and former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega, and between President Bola Tinubu and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Perhaps the most striking was his confession: “It looks I am not good at picking successful President,” and, finally, “Don’t trust me.”
For many, these statements would pass as the usual political rants in Nigeria’s heated climate. But coming from a man who was a central player in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a major backer of President Tinubu during the 2023 elections, these words cannot be ignored.
El-Rufai was not a bystander in the evolution of the APC. He was part of the inner caucus that plotted the merger of the then major opposition parties: ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA, into a formidable force that swept the PDP out of power in 2015. As a man of ideas and strategy, El-Rufai’s contributions were instrumental in the rise of the party.
In 2023, despite whispers of personal ambition, he was one of the strongest voices in the North who campaigned vigorously for Tinubu. His public endorsements, presence at campaign rallies, and mobilization in Kaduna helped secure votes for the now-President. For him to now paint the very system he helped birth as “immoral” is not just ironic, it’s shaky.
Political criticism is valid in any democracy. But when a key architect of a political structure suddenly turns around to demolish the very walls he built, after comfortably benefiting from its platform, it raises questions about credibility, loyalty, and personal motives.
El-Rufai’s outbursts seem more like bitterness than constructive criticism. The same man who once praised Tinubu’s political sagacity now pits him unfavorably against Goodluck Jonathan. The same man who benefited from the party machinery now refers to its core as “urban bandits.”
One cannot help but wonder: where was this moral outrage when he was benefitting from the corridors of power? Where was this so-called clarity when he was among those determining the direction of the APC and influencing national appointments?
Read Also:
It is important for Nigerians to see through this pattern. El-Rufai is not the first politician to distance himself from a system after losing influence. In many ways, his recent commentary is not about the people, but about his personal frustration and perhaps fading relevance.
President Tinubu, on the other hand, inherited a broken economy, rising insecurity, and decades of systemic mismanagement. The path to rebuilding was never going to be easy. The reforms, although painful, are necessary. And just like any honest effort to reset a nation, it demands patience and courage from the people.
Despite El-Rufai’s ranting, the Tinubu administration continues to lay the groundwork for sustainable growth through fiscal discipline, security initiatives, infrastructure investments, and engagement with global investors. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither can a wounded Nigeria be healed overnight.
Rather than throwing stones, El-Rufai should be reflecting on his own legacy. He governed Kaduna State with mixed reviews, and left behind a trail of controversies from demolitions to religious polarization. If anyone should be silent on morality, perhaps it is him.
The APC remains a party of resilience. Internal disagreements and dissent are normal in political life. But it is the ability to withstand storms that defines lasting institutions. The party is bigger than any one man’s ego or outburst.
As for President Tinubu, he is focused on the task at hand. Leadership is not a popularity contest; it is about difficult decisions and long-term vision. Nigeria is in capable hands, even if those who helped bring us to this point now wish to rewrite history and wash their hands clean.
As a fellow Nigerian, I want to remind us that progress has never been juicy or convenient. It requires sacrifice. President Tinubu’s reforms are not about optics, they are about legacy, sustainability, and future generations.
El-Rufai’s words should not be ignored, but they should be understood for what they are: a confession that he, too, is part of the problem. His own admission “Don’t trust me” should be the final warning bell for anyone still under his spell, thinking he has some good to offer and he fights for them.
I know that things are difficult for many of us, especially in the North, but I respect this government a lot because it has dared to do what others avoided. And because the hope of a new Nigeria will outlive the noise of bitter politicians. I pray that the results of these hard decisions will be felt by the common man before the electioneering campaign begins.
Lastly, let those who built the house stop pretending they were only visitors when the roof starts leaking. Nigeria is moving forward, with or without them, and we are no longer kids. Our senses can no longer be played with like children play with rubber dolls. If trust is evil, then some Nigerians are truly part of that evil.
Lawan Bukar Maigana is an Independent PR Consultant from the North and can be reached via email: [email protected]
