The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a scathing attack on Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, dismissing his recent criticisms of the party as a “smokescreen” to mask his personal grievances.
According to the APC, El-Rufai’s exit from the party stems from his bitterness over failing to secure a ministerial position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai had previously accused the APC of deviating from its progressive principles and being dominated by politicians pursuing personal interests. In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai claimed that the APC had abandoned its founding ideals and was no longer the party he once knew.
However, the APC has countered El-Rufai’s claims, stating that his frustration stems from his inability to secure a ministerial appointment. In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC described El-Rufai’s claims as a “smokescreen” to mask his personal grievances.
Morka further stated that El-Rufai appears “traumatized” by his failure to land a ministerial position. “His claim that he exited because the party had deviated from its founding values or progressive ideology is a smokescreen to weaponize personal grievance garbed as principled dissent,” Morka said.
The APC also criticized El-Rufai’s decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), questioning how the party aligns with the progressive ideals he claims to uphold. “Exactly how is the SDP, his new political abode, an ideological safe haven?” Morka asked.
The APC maintained that President Tinubu remains committed to good governance and economic reform, citing several key achievements. “Across all sectors, Nigerians are witnessing tangible progress in the delivery of the President’s campaign promises,” the statement added.
In conclusion, the APC urged El-Rufai to engage in constructive opposition rather than personal attacks. “Rather than engaging in scurrilous propaganda and deliberate misinformation, El-Rufai should offer constructive criticism or alternative policies as expected of serious-minded political opposition,” the statement said.
The APC advised El-Rufai to move on and accept his political reality. “El-Rufai is free to choose his political affiliation as he has done. He should quit sulking, get a grip, and salvage some respectability,” the statement concluded.
