El-Rufai: My Loyalty Is to Nigeria, Not Political Parties or Individuals
Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed that his political allegiance lies with Nigeria—not with any individual or political party.
During a visit to Kano, where he met with Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai clarified that his decision to align with the SDP was driven by a desire to support a credible political alternative built on fairness and internal democracy.
“Twelve years ago, we built the APC to challenge the status quo and succeeded in unseating an incumbent president. But times have changed. Now, we’re rallying under the SDP to offer a fresh, principled platform for Nigerians,” he said.
He strongly criticised entrenched godfatherism and the internal decay he claims now plague both the APC and PDP, noting that party loyalty must never come at the expense of national interest.
“I challenged policies that hurt Nigerians—even when it meant going against my own party,” he said, referencing the controversial naira redesign during the Buhari administration. “I have never been loyal to individuals over the nation.”
Dismissing claims that his move to the SDP was spurred by personal grievances or exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, El-Rufai said at 65, he had little left to prove politically but felt compelled to act due to the country’s worsening state.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads. I could step back, but our survival is at stake. This is about the nation—not ambition,” he stressed.
He also called for a merit-based approach to national leadership, warning against the persistent focus on ethnicity or region.
“Nigeria’s problems are too critical for us to fixate on where a leader comes from. What we need is competence and vision.”
On the recent wave of defections to the APC, El-Rufai downplayed the significance of political bigwigs switching sides.
“A governor only has one vote. It’s the people who decide elections. We’re focused on grassroots mobilisation, not elite endorsements.”
He further dismissed claims that the SDP movement was regionally confined, noting that strategic coalition-building was already underway nationwide.
“We’re working quietly in the South too. Real nation-building happens in communities—not in press conferences,” he concluded.
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