Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on key opposition figures, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP, dismissed claims that he betrayed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ex-presidential candidate.
He clarified his position on past political alignments, stating, “I never betrayed Atiku because we didn’t meet through politics; we met at work. If I see that someone is not doing well, I will speak up, no matter who they are. I told Buhari when necessary, and I even took him to court over the naira redesign issue.”
Reflecting on his past role in the Obasanjo-Atiku rift, El-Rufai explained, “When Obasanjo and Atiku had issues, those of us working with Obasanjo analyzed the situation and saw that Obasanjo was right. It was never about North versus South; it was about the facts. Today, Atiku and I are on the same side, so if I had truly betrayed him, why would we still align?”
El-Rufai also expressed his disappointment in the current administration, saying, “We supported this government because we believed Tinubu’s track record in Lagos could be replicated at the national level. Despite the controversies surrounding his past, we had high hopes. But unfortunately, he has failed.”
Emphasizing the need for a stronger opposition, he stated, “My hope and prayer is for all opposition leaders—including Atiku, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to come together under the SDP.”
