Warns: Mercenaries Hired To Destroy PDP
By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has urged opposition parties to unite and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai said this has become necessary to protect democracy which without opposition is autocracy by another name.
He, however, said forging an alliance to challenge the ruling party might be impossible as some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), which is the main opposition party, are hired mercenaries, planted to create discord in the party.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’
“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties,” El-Rufai alleged.
Speaking at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria on Monday, El-Rufai described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
Though, the ex-governor of Kaduna State did not disclose those causing internal strife in opposition parties, he, however, gave a hint by taking a swipe at his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accused the APC of abandoning its founding principles and fostering poor leadership.
El-Rufai posted his speech on his X handle on Tuesday.
He lamented the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC, saying, “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
The former governor criticised the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, attributing it to unqualified delegates.
“You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he said.
El-Rufai urged political parties to set higher standards for candidates and delegates, noting that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not suffice for party nominations.
Reflecting on the party’s foundation, El-Rufai said the APC was originally established to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security.
He, however, said the goals have been abandoned.
“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening,” he revealed.
