Senator Babafemi Ojudu has criticised the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai’s recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), questioning his consistency and commitment to principle.
Ojudu, a former aide to President Buhari on political matters, expressed concern that the latter’s move was just another example of Nigeria’s politicians engaging in “perambulation” – constantly switching parties without a clear direction.
In a letter he addressed to El-ufai, the senator highlighted El-Rufai’s history of inconsistency, noting that he takes positions only to negate them later. This, Ojudu argued, is fatal in politics and undermines the kind of leadership Nigeria needs.
He said “only a madman does the same thing over and over again and expects a different result m
“So, tell me, Nasir, is this about the people? Or is it another ego-driven exercise, fueled by personal ambition and the present discontent in the country?
Is this yet another hastily assembled political project, crafted to serve a few individuals who, having been sidelined from the feasting table of the current overlords, are now seeking a new platform to reposition themselves for the next political cycle?, Ojudu asked.
“I have always known you to be intelligent, hardworking, and sometimes strategic. But I must say, you have not always been consistent. You take a position today, only to negate it tomorrow. And in politics, that kind of inconsistency is fatal. It does not make for the kind of leadership Nigeria needs at this critical juncture. If we are to truly liberate our people from the cesspool into which the country has sunk, we need leaders who stand firm on principle, not those who sway with the wind” he said.
Ojudu also touched on the broader failure of Nigeria’s political culture, criticizing the shallowness of party structures and the absence of real political organization.
“Nigeria has no real political parties,” Ojudu contended. “None of the current players – APC, PDP, or SDP – qualify as proper political institutions. These are mere vehicles for power, hastily assembled contraptions used by those with means, guile, and bravado to seize office and, once there, engage in a contest to outspend Aliko Dangote.”
The senator recalled his own experiences working with El-Rufai in the past, including their efforts to find a suitable presidential candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Ojudu noted that El-Rufai had been involved in several political endeavors, including the merger that produced the APC, but that these efforts had not yielded any remarkable outcomes.
“Individuals we once believed to be upright have grown richer, while the people they were meant to serve have grown poorer,” Ojudu observed. “Friendships long nurtured have been destroyed by unhealthy competition, leaving bitterness in their wake.”
Ojudu also expressed dismay at El-Rufai’s recent reception of Major Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, into the SDP. Ojudu described Al-Mustapha’s hands as “stained with the blood of many innocent citizens,” including Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
“Why do we always forget so soon?” Ojudu asked. “What is the definition of a party? What are its fundamental attributes? What goals must it pursue to qualify as a true political movement?”
The senator urged El-Rufai to take a cue from Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who established the Action Group on the principles of free education, accessible healthcare, and economic empowerment. Ojudu argued that a party built on personal ambition, rather than principle, would not last.
“Nasir, if this latest movement is just another barber’s chair – spinning but going nowhere – then you are wasting your time,” Ojudu wrote. “But if it is truly about the people, about genuine change, about building something enduring, then do it right. History will judge.”
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