Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the government of President Bola Tinubu will remain focused on keeping to the promises of the party, despite the theatrics by the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The minister said El-Rufai’s anger with the ruling party stems from his failure to secure a ministerial position in the Tinubu administration, explaining that El-Rufai was disqualified because he failed security screening.
According to Ata, El-Rufai’s recent attack on the Tinubu administration, including his defection to the SDP, is the “dance of a sinking politician.”
Ata said: “His tenure as the minister of the FCT under President Olusegun Obasanjo was marked by contentious policies and an abrasive leadership style.
“This trend continued throughout his political journey, from his days in the opposition during the formative years of the APC to his tenure as a two-term governor of Kaduna State.
“It is, therefore, not surprising that in the present dispensation, while President Tinubu remains focused on tackling the multi-faceted challenges facing Nigeria, El-Rufai has chosen to embark on yet another round of political mischief.”
The minister, in a statement by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, said he needed to set the record straight and address El-Rufai’s theatrics, following his (El-Rufai’s) vitriolic outbursts and unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the APC and the Tinubu administration.
Ata pointed out that during his reign as governor, El-Rufai presided over an era of unprecedented insecurity, where ethnic and sectarian violence reached alarming levels.
“Under his watch, Kaduna recorded some of the highest fatalities linked to communal conflicts and terrorist activities. Infamously, he once admitted to making payments to foreign militias, a statement that remains a dark stain on his record and raises questions about his role in fostering peace and stability.
“His leadership style was often criticized as divisive, with policies that alienated minority groups and exacerbated communal tensions in the state.
“El-Rufai’s latest political outburst stems from his disappointment over his failure to secure a ministerial position in the current administration.
Read Also: El-Rufai protesters demand removal of SDP National Secretary Agunloye
“Feeling entitled to a role in President Tinubu’s government, he was unable to pass the necessary security clearance, leading to his rejection by the Senate. Since then, he has carried himself like a man scorned, unleashing a barrage of unfounded criticisms and engaging in political brinkmanship.
“His recent defection from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is nothing more than an act of desperation—an attempt to remain relevant in Nigeria’s political discourse. However, this move was long anticipated, given his history of political opportunism and self-serving maneuvers,” he said.
The minister said the administration remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing Nigeria’s critical challenges, including economic reforms, infrastructural development, and national security.
“While detractors like El-Rufai seek to distract and derail progress, the government and its supporters remain undeterred.
“His political career, which has been marked by opportunism and a penchant for controversy, is practically over, and his recent actions are nothing more than the last gasps of a politician grasping at straws,” Ata added.