Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has made a bold political statement, urging opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP,” El-Rufai declared, signaling a potential realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Expressing disappointment in the Tinubu-led administration, he admitted that he and others had placed their hopes on the president’s ability to replicate his Lagos success on a national scale. “What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well, because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges. We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,” El-Rufai stated.
The former governor also defended his past actions, particularly his relationship with Atiku Abubakar, asserting that his decisions were never based on personal loyalty but on merit. “I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didn’t meet in politics; we met at work. In work, if I see that he didn’t do well, whoever he is, I will tell him. I told Buhari, and I even took Buhari to court on the new naira issue. When Obasanjo and Atiku were having issues, those of us working with Obasanjo looked at the issues between them and said Obasanjo was more right. It was not about north and south; Obasanjo was right. Atiku and I are now together, and if I betrayed him why are we together now?” he explained.
El-Rufai’s remarks have fueled speculation about his next political move, especially as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 elections. His call for opposition unity under the SDP could mark the beginning of a major shift in the country’s political dynamics.
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