El-Rufai’s speedy fall to political clown needs forensic study — APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu, saying his “speedy fall from commanding heights to political clown” deserves forensic study.

In a statement on Monday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused El-Rufai of “infantile politics” since his failed bid for a ministerial appointment.

He condemned the former governor’s comments at a meeting in Sokoto on August 2, where he branded the Tinubu administration incompetent, clannish, and undeserving of a second term.

He said, “Since his failed bid for a ministerial appointment, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has gone into a political tailspin.

“His speedy fall from commanding heights to the political clown he has become needs forensic study. His attack of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as incompetent, clannish and undeserving of a second term, at a meeting in Sokoto on Saturday, August 2, 2025, is yet another outburst of a waspish politician.”

Morka alleged that El-Rufai, alongside his allies in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has become part of a “confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful opposition” driven by “oversized egos, wild entitlement mentality, obscene desperation and predatory presidential ambitions.”

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The APC’s spokesman insisted that El-Rufai has offered no viable alternative to Tinubu’s reforms on fuel subsidy removal and forex unification which he noted were campaign promises of all major 2023 presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

“If El-Rufai and his cohorts detest these reforms as much as they claim, why have they not proposed restoring subsidies and multiple exchange rates, and explained how they would fund the huge deficit it would cause?” the statement reads.

APC further accused El-Rufai and Atiku of using the ADC to undermine presidential power rotation, warning that their “selfish ambitions” threaten Nigeria’s unity just as Atiku’s refusal to respect the zoning principle in 2023 “virtually cremated” the PDP.

It also accused El-Rufai of hypocrisy, citing his “sordid legacy” in Kaduna, including alleged marginalisation of Southern Kaduna minorities, sectarian politics, and allegedly leaving a debt profile of N284 billion, according to the Debt Management Office.

Defending Tinubu’s record, the party listed progress in agriculture, infrastructure, oil production, military modernisation, student loans, and economic recovery, insisting his first term is shaping up to be “the most outstanding” in Nigeria’s history.

“We are confident Nigerians will renew President Tinubu’s mandate in 2027 to consolidate these gains,” Morka said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE