Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration poses a greater threat to Nigeria’s democratic governance than any previous military regime.
During a weekend visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to his residence, El-Rufai sharply condemned the Tinubu administration, describing it as “a disgrace to the very principles of democracy.”
Atiku’s visit was a show of solidarity following an attack during the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, where thugs disrupted the event. Both El-Rufai and the Kaduna State government accused each other of orchestrating the attack. Subsequently, the police summoned El-Rufai and several ADC leaders for questioning over the incident.
Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai warned that the Tinubu government is drifting toward authoritarianism, comparing the president to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has ruled since 1982.
He also criticized the administration’s centralization of power, which he said undermines Nigeria’s federal structure and threatens the country’s democratic foundations.
“Honestly, sir, this is a disgrace,” El-Rufai said. “All the years of claiming to support democracy and NADECO, all the talk of fighting for true federalism—it was all pretense. This government is trying to centralize everything instead of devolving power to the grassroots.”
He added, “We are facing an unprecedented evil in this country’s history. If we don’t unite to end the Tinubu administration by 2027, he will try to become our Paul Biya. All the signs are there—this is how Biya started.”
El-Rufai continued, addressing Atiku directly: “You are our leader. You have fought this fight before—you’ve stood against military rule and have experience in democratic governance. When you and Obasanjo led this country, no one was harassed for holding different political views—not even President Buhari with his military background. Yet today, we have civilian leaders worse than any military regime we have seen.”
He praised Atiku’s call for unity, stating, “The people of Nigeria have decided that the APC must be voted out. Nigerians are eager for Tinubu’s ouster. We must provide leadership and unity of purpose, and with your leadership, patience, and diplomatic skill, I am confident we will reach the Promised Land.”
In response, Atiku Abubakar commended El-Rufai’s courage and urged opposition leaders to remain steadfast and work together to remove President Tinubu through democratic means in 2027.
