Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has said that his political decisions have always been driven by loyalty to Nigeria, not to individuals or political parties.
Speaking during a visit to Kano, where he met with the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai explained why he recently joined the SDP. He said he wanted to help build a credible alternative free from the godfatherism and internal struggles that he believes have crippled both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Twelve years ago, we formed the APC and defeated a sitting president,” El-Rufai said. “But today’s challenges require a new approach. We are bringing together Nigerians who believe in fairness, internal democracy, and above all, loyalty to Nigeria.”
El-Rufai dismissed claims that he was bitter over being sidelined politically. According to him, at 65 years old, he could easily retire, but he chose to stay active because the country is facing serious problems.
“I’m not doing this for myself. I have nothing left to prove. This is about the survival of Nigeria, not personal ambition,” he added.
The former governor also stressed that the country’s next leader should be chosen based on competence, not on where they come from.
“Our problems are too serious to worry about where the president comes from. What matters is vision, capacity, and loyalty to Nigeria above all else,” he said.
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On the issue of recent defections to the APC, El-Rufai said the SDP was more focused on winning over ordinary Nigerians rather than chasing politicians.
“A governor has one vote. Elections are decided by the people, not by political bigwigs,” he noted.
He also dismissed suggestions that the SDP is only strong in some regions. “We are quietly building support across the South too. Building a nation requires grassroots efforts, not just grand announcements,” he said.
Reflecting on his time in the APC, El-Rufai said he had never been afraid to speak up when things went wrong.
“When the Buhari government introduced the naira redesign that hurt ordinary Nigerians, I challenged it, even though it was an APC government,” he recalled. “My loyalty has always been to Nigeria first, not to any individual.”
Finally, El-Rufai encouraged young Nigerians not to give up hope. He urged them to get involved in building a better future.
“Nigeria gave me everything despite being an orphan at eight. We must not abandon it to corrupt politicians. It’s time to build a country where every child can aspire and succeed,” he said.
