My Political Loyalty To Nigeria, Not Individuals Or Parties, Says El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has declared that his political decisions have always been driven by loyalty to Nigeria rather than personal interests, individuals, or political parties.

Speaking during a visit to Kano, where he met the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai explained that his recent move to the SDP was motivated by the need to build a credible political alternative.

He criticised what he called godfatherism and internal dysfunctioning in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Twelve years ago, we formed the APC and defeated an incumbent president, but today’s realities require a different approach. We are uniting disaffected Nigerians under the SDP, which offers a platform built on fairness and internal democracy,” he stated.

El-Rufai defended his frequent criticisms of the APC, stressing that he had never placed party loyalty above national interest.

“When things began to go wrong under (former President Muhammadu) Buhari, I spoke up. When the naira redesign policy hurt Nigerians, I challenged it, even against an APC-led government. I have never been loyal to individuals over the nation,” he declared.

El-Rufai dismissed speculation that his defection was borne out of personal frustration after allegedly being sidelined by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

At 65, he said, he had nothing left to prove politically, but chose to stay active because of Nigeria’s dire situation.

“I could retire peacefully, but Nigeria faces an existential crisis. This is about the country’s survival, not personal gain,” he asserted.

The former governor argued that the nation’s current challenges demanded leadership based on competence rather than regional considerations.

“Our problems are too severe to care where the next president comes from. We need someone with vision and capacity to fix Nigeria,” he said.

Reacting to recent defections to the ruling APC, El-Rufai noted that the SDP remained committed to grassroots mobilisation rather than courting political heavyweights.

“A governor has one vote. Elections are won by the people, not politicians,” he maintained.

He also rejected claims that the SDP movement was limited to certain regions, emphasising that coalition efforts were underway across the country.

“We’re quietly building across the South as well. Nation-building is grassroots work, not media shows,” he said.