Some stakeholders Tuesday sounded words of caution as the political feud between Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai deepens.
Specifically, the stakeholders, under the aegis of Kaduna Peace and Unity Forum (KPUF), warned against any move to undermine the current administration in the state.
According to them, the former governor lacks any moral right to criticise a governor “cleaning up the mess he left behind.”
The warning came against the backdrop of some supposed altercations between the duo who are both leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
…The genesis
Governor Sani, had while featuring on a popular television station Monday, had expressed shock at the decision of those he called foundation members to attack the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
Although, El-Rufai is a foundation member of the party, Sani did not however mention his erstwhile godfather’s name in the course of the interview.
The comment was however believed in some quarters to be a response to what the former governor was quoted as saying at a gathering of major opposition members, recently in Abuja.
The former governor had reportedly accused the APC of poor leadership and encouraged the opposition parties to form a united front ahead of the 2027 election.
The aggrieved APC leader spoke at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, during which he described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
While claiming the ruling party lacked internal democracy and active structures, he declared: “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years, no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
…What the governor said
But featuring on TVC weekly programme (Beyond 100 Days), the governor defended Tinubu’s policies and condemned the opposition as well as the APC members condemning the Tinubu-led government.
The governor reportedly said: “Most of them are foundation members of APC from the beginning and that is the reason why I was really surprised when I heard the coalition of politicians coming together at this critical time to make most of those comments they made.
“I can tell you as a member of APC, we have been engaging ourselves. I cannot say we are perfect— but I can say that most of the people that are making the comments (against Tinubu’s administration) are also members of our own party.”
He said: “I can say it was really unfortunate because some of them were even calling for people to come out and take laws into their hands, oppose the government in a way that I feel is undemocratic.
“Of course, I also want to make it clear here that if you ask me, when a democratic dispensation, and we have virtually just two and a half years to the next election, and any politician who feels he is popular or he can defeat Bola Ahmed Tinubu or APC —I think they need to go and work very hard and present themselves in the next election, which will be 2027.”
…El-Rufai’s response
On the comments credited to his successor, the former governor took to his official Facebook page – @NasirEl-Rufai, Tuesday to slam the governor for his positive comments on the Tinubu administration.
“Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why? However, confirming that the Federal Government ‘reimbursements, interventions and grants’ in excess of N150bn have been given selectively to Kaduna by Tinubu, in the last 18 months, now explains everything.
“By all means, defend Asiwaju for the conditional cash transfer. Asiwaju has earned it, coming from you. The people of Kaduna State will judge at the right time and place. Have a nice day,” the former governor wrote.
…Group slams ex-gov
But sounding some words of caution, the KPUF warned El-Rufai against making comments that could destabilise the state.
The group also accused him of attempting to undermine APC-led government in the state.
The group, in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. David Bege Abraham, said El-Rufai’s recent outburst against his successor was not only unwarranted but also hypocritical, given the massive debt and economic hardship his administration allegedly left behind.
The forum said Governor Sani was working to address the financial mess and security challenges inherited from the previous administration and should be supported, not distracted.
“El-Rufai should explain how Kaduna state became one of the most indebted states in Nigeria under his watch. Instead of launching attacks on Governor Sani, he should take responsibility for his actions and allow the current administration to work,” the statement reads.
The group also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Sani, commending his collaborative approach with the federal government in tackling the state’s security and economic challenges.
“El-Rufai has no moral right to criticise a governor who is cleaning up the mess he left behind. Kaduna needs unity, not political distractions,” the statement added.