'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent remarks about the ruling party, accusing him of acting out of personal disappointment rather than genuine concern for Nigeria’s political direction.
In a press statement signed today by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party dismissed El-Rufai’s claims that the APC had deviated from its founding progressive ideals, describing his comments as grudge-laden tirades fueled by his failure to secure a ministerial appointment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former governor, in a recent BBC Hausa interview, alleged that the APC had been hijacked by personal interests, deviating from the original vision set by its founders. However, the APC swiftly countered these claims, asserting that El-Rufai’s criticism was a smokescreen to weaponize personal grievance after being sidelined for a ministerial role.
The APC did not mince words, stating that El-Rufai, once a vocal critic of self-serving politicians, had now become the very thing he once denounced. The party accused him of being blinded by ego, driven by untamed emotions, and brimming with a vengeful desire to collapse the system simply because he did not get his way.
El-Rufai’s exit from the APC is not about ideology or progressive principles. If it were, why would he join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) instead? The ruling party mocked El-Rufai’s move to SDP as an invitation to drink from a chalice poisoned by selfishness, vengefulness, and delusion of grandeur.
Responding to El-Rufai’s claim that President Tinubu had failed, the APC labeled it as outrageous, bogus, and a gross distortion of reality. The party listed several economic achievements under Tinubu’s leadership, including the removal of fuel subsidy, which has saved Nigeria an estimated ₦4 trillion annually. It also highlighted the unification of exchange rates, which has led to increased foreign exchange inflow and stronger foreign reserves.
In addition, the party pointed to Nigeria’s economic growth, with the GDP growth rate surging to 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking the highest since 2021. Tinubu’s economic diplomacy has also attracted significant foreign direct investments. The oil sector reforms have resulted in an increase in crude oil exports to 1.8 million barrels per day. Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of $14.31 billion in 2024 due to a rise in non-oil exports and economic diversification.
The statement emphasized that state and local governments now receive higher revenue allocations, enabling grassroots development and execution of critical projects. The APC urged El-Rufai to engage in constructive criticism rather than misleading rhetoric and personal attacks against President Tinubu.
Nigerians are not deceived. They can see the progress being made under Tinubu’s leadership. El-Rufai is free to choose his political path, but he should stop sulking, get a grip, and salvage some respectability, the statement concluded.
The fiery response signals a deepening rift between El-Rufai and the APC, raising questions about his next political moves ahead of the 2027 elections.
