Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has emphasised that his political loyalty has always been to Nigeria rather than to individuals or political parties.
Speaking during a visit to Kano, where he met the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai said his decision to join the SDP was aimed at supporting the creation of a credible political alternative.
According to him, the SDP offers a fresh platform free from the “godfatherism” and dysfunction that, he claimed, have plagued the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Twelve years ago, we formed the APC and unseated an incumbent president, but today’s circumstances demand a different strategy. We are rallying disillusioned Nigerians under the SDP, which stands for fairness and internal democracy,” he stated.
El-Rufai dismissed suggestions that his recent political moves were driven by personal grievances, maintaining that he has no further ambitions to prove.
“I’m 65 years old. I could retire comfortably, but Nigeria is facing an existential crisis. My actions are about saving the country, not personal advancement,” he said.
Addressing the issue of leadership, the former governor, who previously advocated for a power shift to the South, stressed that Nigeria’s urgent challenges required capable leadership over regional considerations.
“Our problems are too deep for us to be fixated on where the next president comes from. What matters now is competence, vision, and the capacity to fix Nigeria,” he asserted.
On recent defections to the APC, El-Rufa’i said the SDP is focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than wooing high-profile politicians.
“A governor has just one vote. It is the people, not politicians, who win elections,” he noted.
He also rejected claims that the SDP’s growth was limited to certain regions, revealing that nationwide coalition-building efforts were ongoing.
“We are building quietly across the South as well. Real nation-building happens at the grassroots, not in media spectacles,” he said.
Defending his criticism of the APC, El-Rufai pointed out that he had consistently spoken out when things went wrong under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, particularly during the controversial naira redesign policy.
“When policies hurt Nigerians, I raised my voice — even against a government led by my party. I have never placed loyalty to individuals above loyalty to Nigeria,” he said.
El-Rufai called on young Nigerians not to lose hope and urged them to join the movement for a better future.
“Nigeria gave me opportunities, even though I was orphaned at the age of eight. We cannot abandon it to corrupt politicians. It’s time to rebuild a country where every child can dream and achieve,” he added.
