Tinubu’s Govt is About Enrichment, Not Public Good – Nasir El-Rufai
By Emmanuel Kwada
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai accused the government of prioritizing personal enrichment over the welfare of Nigerians.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Trust Television’s “30 Minutes” program, El-Rufai described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “party of thieves” and labeled Tinubu’s leadership as one driven by cronyism, tribalism, and self-interest rather than public service.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Olusegun Obasanjo, made these remarks while discussing his fallout with Tinubu, whom he supported during the 2023 presidential primaries out of party loyalty and regional equity principles.
We never had a personal relationship. I supported him as a matter of principle because we had an understanding that power should shift to the South after Buhari’s tenure.
“We never had a personal relationship,” El-Rufai clarified. “I supported him as a matter of principle because we had an understanding that power should shift to the South after Buhari’s tenure. But as soon as he became the candidate, I fought for him to win. However, this government is contrary to everything I stand for as a public servant. They didn’t come to govern; they came to enrich themselves, pure and simple.”
El-Rufai, who has been largely out of the public eye since late 2025, explained his absence as a planned two-month holiday abroad, extended by a severe bout of bacterial, viral, and malarial infections that required hospitalization. Now recovered, he expressed eagerness to return to Nigeria and re-engage in political activities.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the controversial electoral bill, particularly the provision for real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units, a measure El-Rufai staunchly supports to curb rigging at collation centers.
Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu, others protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results.
He lamented missing a recent protest led by figures like Peter Obi, stating, “I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results.”
El-Rufai blamed the ruling APC for opposing the reform, arguing it threatens their hold on power: “They know they can’t win elections without manipulation.”
He directed sharp criticism at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom he called a “scumbag” and “sewer juice lapdog,” alleging personal knowledge of Akpabio’s character dating back to the 1990s.
Despite pushback from the host on the inflammatory language, El-Rufai stood firm, predicting that the conference committee would recommend restoring the provision due to the integrity of its members.
He expressed optimism that the National Assembly, driven by self-preservation instincts ahead of the 2027 elections, would override any presidential veto.
They know they can’t win elections without manipulation.
“Nigerians are angry, and they will punish them if they side with Akpabio and Tinubu,” he warned, referencing past legislative controversies like the hasty change of the national anthem and disputes over tax reforms.
El-Rufai also addressed the African Democratic Congress (ADC), positioning it as the emerging main opposition amid the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) internal crises.
He dismissed concerns about the party’s low visibility, explaining that unlike the noisy formation of the APC in 2014, the ADC is building quietly through grassroots outreach and membership drives.
INEC official uploading election results during the 2023 elections.
“We are a coalition of individuals, not parties, so it’s taking time,” he said. Recent polls, he claimed, show the ADC as Nigerians’ preferred alternative, with plans for conventions, a manifesto focused on ethical governance, and fair primaries without zoning or forced consensus.
Responding to questions about mobilizing support, El-Rufai emphasized tapping into public dissatisfaction with the APC’s “incompetence, false propaganda, extreme cronyism, and tribalism.”
He noted that many APC lawmakers cannot visit their constituencies without heavy security due to voter anger over unfulfilled promises and neglected projects.
“We are mobilizing people to ask questions, not to be violent,” he clarified, urging civic engagement to hold representatives accountable.
On the influx of opposition governors defecting to the APC, El-Rufai viewed it as a strategic miscalculation. “Power comes from God, not Tinubu,” he said, drawing parallels to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 defeat despite controlling resources, police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As a former governor himself, El-Rufai recounted his inability to secure wins for Tinubu in Kaduna during the 2023 elections, underscoring the gap between gubernatorial influence and voter will. “Let all the governors move to APC—it defines 2027 as the people versus the gang of thieves,” he asserted.
This Tinubu government will go back where it came from; whether Lagos or Lagoon Island by the grace of God.
The conversation delved into El-Rufai’s personal political history, including his fallout with successors and mentors.
He rejected the “godson” label for his relationship with current Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, attributing such rifts to the intoxicating nature of power.
Quoting a former military president, he illustrated how even biological sons change once in office: “The first day, they kneel; the third day, if you don’t greet respectfully, bad things can happen.”
El-Rufai’s remarks come at a tense time in Nigerian politics, with economic hardships, security challenges, and electoral uncertainties fueling public discontent.
His transition from APC stalwart to vocal critic highlights deepening fractures within the ruling party and the opposition’s efforts to capitalize on them.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 polls, El-Rufai’s interview signals a brewing storm. “This Tinubu government will go back where it came from; whether Lagos or Lagoon Island by the grace of God,” he concluded, reaffirming his commitment to a “credible alternative” through the ADC.
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