Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that he knows individuals who paid to secure ministerial appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai expressed his disappointment with the current state of the APC, stating that the party has deviated from its founding principles and become a platform for personal gain rather than public service.
El-Rufai, who recently left the APC to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), clarified that his decision to exit the party was not due to his failure to secure a ministerial position. Instead, he attributed his departure to the APC’s abandonment of its core values and its transformation into a commercialized entity where "everything has a price tag." He lamented that the party no longer recognizes or rewards those who contributed to its success, with key appointments now being controlled by a select group from Lagos.
"It could have been easier for me if the APC sacked me because that would have saved me from explaining the stress of why I left the party," El-Rufai said. "I did not leave the APC; the party abandoned me and its original ideals. The APC has become a business enterprise where personal interests dominate governance."
El-Rufai also addressed speculation that he left the party because he was not considered for a ministerial role, stating, "Did I even seek to be a minister? I know people who paid to get ministerial appointments." He emphasized that while he does not regret supporting Tinubu’s presidential ambition, he feels disappointed by the way he has been treated and the direction the party has taken.
Before leaving the APC, El-Rufai consulted several prominent political figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Tunde Bakare, Abdullahi Adamu, Adams Oshiomhole, and Bisi Akande. He sought their opinions and blessings, particularly from Buhari, whom he described as the "father of the land." Buhari reportedly gave him his blessings and prayers for his political journey.
El-Rufai further criticized the APC for sidelining him and other dedicated members, stating that he was not involved in party activities and was completely marginalized. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s policies, claiming that they do not align with the plans he and others had envisioned when the party was formed.
"The party is dead," El-Rufai declared. "Justice has been kept at bay, and those who worked for the party are ignored instead of being compensated. Appointments are now controlled by a select group from Lagos. We’ve given up on the APC."
El-Rufai’s remarks highlight growing discontent within the APC and raise questions about the integrity of the appointment process under Tinubu’s administration. His decision to join the SDP marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as one of the APC’s prominent figures publicly denounces the party and its current leadership.
