Former Governor Lamido Rejects El-Rufai’s Call for Opposition Leaders to Join SDP

 


Former Jigawa State Governor and prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has firmly rejected a call by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging opposition leaders to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai, who recently announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, made the appeal during an interview with BBC Hausa.  


Although El-Rufai did not mention Lamido by name, he specifically invited key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join him in the SDP.  


In a separate interview with BBC Hausa on Sunday, Lamido dismissed the invitation as an insult, asserting that the PDP, which he helped establish, laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political career.  


“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not significant enough to make us leave the PDP,” Lamido stated.  


He further criticized El-Rufai’s recent political stance, recalling that the former Kaduna governor had previously claimed there were no adults in Nigerian politics. “Now, he is calling on us to join him in the SDP,” Lamido remarked.  


Lamido also questioned El-Rufai’s motives for leaving the APC, noting that while El-Rufai claimed to have informed President Buhari about his decision, he now portrays himself as one of the “adults” in Nigerian politics.  


The former governor emphasized his unwavering loyalty to the PDP, stating, “If I were going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed.” He added that the PDP had done nothing to warrant his defection.  


Lamido also took issue with El-Rufai’s leadership style, arguing that effective leadership requires patience, vision, and a focus on the well-being of followers and the nation. “Leadership is not about anger or selfish ambition. It is about doing things for the peace of the people and the country as a whole,” he said.  


He advised El-Rufai to prioritize patriotism over personal grievances, stating, “What should be done is to put patriotism first, instead of showing anger towards others.”  


Lamido also highlighted the PDP’s ongoing efforts to rebuild its strength following its loss in the 2015 presidential election, reaffirming his commitment to the party’s revival and growth.  


This exchange underscores the deepening political realignments and tensions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape as the 2027 elections approach.

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