Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has taken a swipe at his successor, Governor Uba Sani.
El-Rufai, who was blocked from becoming a minister in 2023 by opponents within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has recently become an outspoken critic of both the party and President Bola Tinubu’s administration,Daily Trust reports.
Speaking at an event in Abuja last week, El-Rufai criticized several aspects of the ruling party and the current government. However, in a TVC interview, Governor Sani countered his predecessor’s remarks, questioning what critics of the president did differently when they were in power.
According to Sani, no Nigerian president has upheld democratic principles as strongly as Tinubu.
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“Most of these politicians forming coalitions today were in government less than two years ago. What did they achieve during their time in office? They were more focused on power struggles than making meaningful changes. No president in Nigeria’s history has truly practiced democracy like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Sani said.
In response, El-Rufai, in a post on X titled Kaduna Update, accused Sani of engaging in “embarrassingly sycophantic rambling” on a daily basis.
“I used to wonder why. However, the revelation that the Federal Government has selectively given Kaduna State over N150 billion in reimbursements, interventions, and grants in the last 18 months now explains everything,” he wrote.
He added, “Defend Asiwaju’s conditional cash transfer all you want—he has earned it coming from you. The people of Kaduna State will judge when the time is right. Have a nice day. – #ConcernedKadunaCitizen.”
In another post, El-Rufai quoted former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, emphasizing the importance of governance in improving citizens’ lives.
“In a developing nation where people struggle for basic necessities—food, education, healthcare, and survival—government service delivery can be the difference between hope and despair,” he quoted.
Tensions between Sani and El-Rufai emerged shortly after the former assumed office. However, when asked about the rift, Sani denied any conflict, insisting that his relationship with El-Rufai remains cordial.
“I can tell you there’s no problem between me and my predecessor. Our relationship is very cordial, and there’s nothing wrong with it. What matters most is moving our state forward,” Sani stated.
