2027: El-Rufai says Kano is next after Kaduna has fallen for SDP

Former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai said on Monday that Kano is critical to any serious political formation, hence, he was in Kano to ensure its integration into the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDP.

He said Kano has been consistent in its high voter turnout and it would not be ignored in the present political equation.

He revealed while speaking with journalists that he moved fast to reclaim Kaduna State for the Social Democratic Party because his political associates need to move with him after he abandoned All Progressives Congress, APC which he co-founded.

He was emphatic that Kaduna has fallen for SDP and the next place now is Kano.

He said: “After joining the SDP, it was important to come and engage with stakeholders here”.

On why he abandoned the APC, a party he helped to form, El-Rufai said the political realities in Nigeria had changed.

“Twelve years ago, we merged three major parties to form the APC and defeated an incumbent president. But now, the goal is different.

Progress is being made, although I had to move faster in Kaduna because many of my political associates needed an immediate platform,” he said.

Defending his criticism of the APC, a party he helped to build, El-Rufai said his loyalty had always been to Nigeria, not to any individual or political party.

“When things began to go wrong under President Buhari, I wrote to him warning about the dangers.

“When the naira redesign policy hurt Nigerians, I challenged it in court, even though it was an APC-led government. I have never been loyal to individuals over the nation,” he said.

El-Rufai urged young Nigerians not to lose hope, calling on them to join efforts to build a new political movement.

“Nigeria gave me everything despite my being an orphan at eight years old. Every Nigerian child deserves the same opportunity. “If you are frustrated and angry, channel it into building a better future. We must not abandon Nigeria to corrupt politicians and their godfathers,” he charged.