Galadima Accuses Tinubu, Associates Of Ingratitude Towards El-Rufai

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has accused President Bola Tinubu and his associates of being ungrateful to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, despite what he described as the former governor’s role in Tinubu’s emergence as president in 2023.

Galadima made the allegation while speaking on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he disclosed that he had previously advised El-Rufai to consider going into exile after his relationship with the Tinubu administration deteriorated.

According to him, he was concerned that El-Rufai could face persecution following the breakdown of his relationship with the president and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Tinubu and his people are ingrates as far as El-Rufai is concerned. I’m not the best friend of El-Rufai. In fact, I advised him that he should be careful of the way he carries himself, that he either goes on exile or they will jail him,” he said.

Galadima said he did not keep his concerns about El-Rufai’s situation private, noting that he had spoken about them during interviews with the BBC and Nigerian television stations.

He further disclosed that he approached former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, after learning that El-Rufai intended to return to Nigeria from Egypt.

“I went and met Kwankwaso and told Kwankwaso that he should beg El-Rufai not to come back. These people do not mean well to him,” Galadima said.

He explained that Kwankwaso subsequently contacted El-Rufai, who initially deferred his return before later announcing another date for his arrival in Nigeria.

Despite his concerns, Galadima described El-Rufai’s eventual return as an indication of courage, particularly against the backdrop of what he portrayed as the APC’s determination to maintain its hold on power.

The NDC chieftain also alleged that the ruling party could employ extreme measures to retain power because of the possible consequences its leaders may face if they are defeated at the polls.

“The desperation with which the APC is going, they can do anything under the sun to come back to power, because they know what it entails if they lose power; what they have done to people will visit them,” he said.