Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has criticized individuals he refers to as “clowns,” alleging that they are financially compensated to defend President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai’s remarks came in response to a post by Daniel Bwala, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, who had addressed El-Rufai’s public criticisms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
During a national conference focused on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai labeled the current state of governance and opposition as a “national emergency.” He took issue with the ruling party’s lack of internal democracy and expressed his discontent with its direction, leading to speculation about his potential departure from the APC.
In his response to Bwala, who questioned whether El-Rufai would have voiced his criticisms if he were still in the government, El-Rufai stated that he had made it clear to the President that he was not interested in a position in the current administration.
He described Bwala as a “latter-day convert” to the Tinubu government and expressed disappointment at how those who recently joined the administration have reacted to his statements. El-Rufai emphasized that had he remained in the government, he would still speak out against issues within a party he helped establish.
He also implied that Bwala and others like him are political mercenaries who defend the government regardless of the circumstances, due to their financial incentives. El-Rufai concluded by reminding Bwala that loyalty to the nation and God should take precedence over personal allegiances.
El-Rufai, who previously served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was not confirmed in a ministerial role by President Tinubu in 2023 due to petitions against him from party opponents.
