Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reiterated his unwavering stance against political pretense, asserting that he refuses to engage in what he metaphorically described as “Nollywood-style governance.” His remarks came in response to commendations from an X user who praised his book, The Accidental Public Servant, highlighting his blunt and pragmatic approach to politics.
The user had remarked that any politician with a genuine commitment to national development would consider El-Rufai indispensable in their cabinet.
“The day I read El-Rufai’s book The Accidental Public Servant, I concluded that no politician would want @elrufai in their cabinet unless they genuinely intend to develop this country. He doesn’t know how to pretend,” the user wrote.
Acknowledging the comment, El-Rufai reaffirmed his distaste for duplicity in governance.
“Thanks for your kind words, @irahabib. Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not some of us. Have a nice day. – @elrufai,” he responded.
El-Rufai’s Critique of APC’s Leadership Crisis
Beyond his assertion of authenticity in governance, El-Rufai has recently voiced sharp criticism of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of straying from its foundational principles and fostering weak leadership structures.
“I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has convened in two years—no caucus meetings, no National Executive Council (NEC) sessions, nothing. You don’t even know if it’s a one-man show or, worse, a no-man show,” he lamented.
He further attributed the deteriorating leadership quality within the party to the presence of underqualified and unscrupulous individuals in positions of power.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he asserted.
Presidential Adviser Bwala Questions El-Rufai’s Stance
El-Rufai’s sharp critique of the APC and its leadership drew reactions, notably from Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu. Bwala questioned whether El-Rufai’s current stance would remain unchanged had he been a member of the administration.
“My senior brother, if you were in government and the cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. This is a government you helped form, and now you seek to discredit it,” Bwala challenged.
In response, El-Rufai dismissed the insinuation that his position was influenced by personal ambition, insisting that he had never sought a role in Tinubu’s administration.
“I was a cabinet minister 22 years ago and made it clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government,” he retorted.
He further criticized those who, according to him, have suddenly aligned with the Tinubu administration out of convenience.
“The pathetic manner in which all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government obsess over a position I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of your moral flexibility.”
El-Rufai maintained that his stance on APC’s decline would have been the same even if he were part of the government.
“If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I would say and do the same regarding the unfortunate trajectory of a party I helped found and the government that emerged from it. First, I would voice my concerns in private meetings with those responsible; if corrective measures weren’t taken, I would go public. Check my public service record from 1998,” he concluded.
