A prominent member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu and individuals within his political camp have failed to appreciate the role played by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in securing Tinubu’s victory during the 2023 presidential election.
Galadima made the disclosure while featuring on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he spoke about the strained relationship between El-Rufai and the Tinubu administration.
The NDC chieftain revealed that he had earlier advised El-Rufai to remain outside Nigeria after observing the growing disagreement between the former Kaduna governor and the president.
According to Galadima, he warned El-Rufai that his return to Nigeria could expose him to serious political consequences, including possible imprisonment.
He said he had also spoken publicly about the matter during interviews with the BBC and other Nigerian television stations, expressing concern over El-Rufai’s situation.
Galadima stated that his decision to intervene was not based on being a close associate of El-Rufai, but rather on his assessment of the political circumstances surrounding the former governor.
He further disclosed that he sought the intervention of former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, after learning that El-Rufai was preparing to return to Nigeria from Egypt.
According to him, he asked Kwankwaso to speak with El-Rufai and encourage him to reconsider his decision to come back to the country.
Galadima said Kwankwaso eventually contacted El-Rufai, who subsequently shifted the date of his planned return. However, the former Kaduna governor later announced another date and eventually returned to Nigeria.
He described El-Rufai’s decision to come back despite the circumstances as a bold move, considering what he described as the growing political pressure surrounding him.
Galadima also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the party was determined to retain power regardless of the methods required to achieve that objective.
He argued that some members of the ruling party were worried about the consequences of losing power because of actions allegedly taken while in government.
The NDC chieftain claimed that such concerns could make the APC leadership increasingly aggressive in its efforts to remain in office.
He warned that the political struggle ahead could become intense, alleging that the ruling party might resort to various measures to protect its hold on power.
Galadima maintained that the consequences of political actions could eventually return to those responsible for them if there was a change of government.
His remarks add to the growing political debate surrounding El-Rufai, Tinubu and the APC, particularly as questions continue to emerge over the former Kaduna governor’s political future and his relationship with the current administration.
