By Adenike Lawal
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has responded to Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, following a public exchange over the governance of Nigeria and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
On January 28, during a national conference in Abuja focused on strengthening democracy, El-Rufai expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the APC.
He revealed that he no longer recognizes the party, citing its departure from its founding principles.
“I am a founding member of the APC, but frankly, I no longer recognize it.
“No party organ has met in two years — no caucus, no NEC, nothing. I don’t even know if it is a one-man show. It is a zero-man show,” he said.
In response, Bwala questioned whether El-Rufai would maintain his critical stance if appointed to Tinubu’s administration.
“My senior brother, if you were part of the government and cabinet, would you have held the same position? History is replete with examples,” he remarked.
El-Rufai clarified that he has no intention of joining Tinubu’s government, stressing that he had previously expressed his disinterest in a government role, even when serving as a cabinet minister 22 years ago.
“The way you, later-day converts to the Tinubu government, make an issue out of something I never wanted in the first place reflects your moral flexibility,” he stated.
He also affirmed that his criticisms of both the APC and Tinubu’s administration would remain unchanged, regardless of his involvement in government.
“If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I would still speak out about the tragedy within a party I helped found,” El-Rufai added.
Additionally, El-Rufai condemned political loyalists who defend government actions for financial benefit, referring to them as “political mercenaries” who accept security votes in exchange for uncritical support.
Concluding, El-Rufai advised Bwala to prioritize loyalty to God and country over personal allegiances: “Enjoy your special adviser position, my brother, but remember that allegiance to God and country comes first in the human scale of accountability.”
