El-Rufai should play opposition politics, stop complaining -Daniel Bwala

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, has described the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai’s recent political activities as mere complaints.

El-Rufai, one of the vocal northern leaders who backed President Bola Tinubu during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, has been speaking against his administration lately.

Recently, he accused Tinubu of derailing from the ruling All Progressives Congress’s campaign promises, saying he couldn’t recognise the party again.

While many believe his criticism of Tinubu’s administration is related to his failed ministerial screening, the ex-governor argued he would still have criticised his government even if he were a cabinet member.

El-Rufai’s recent activities sparked insinuations that the ex-governor may soon leave the APC as he held meetings with opposition party leaders.

However, contrary to the insinuations, Bwala believes the former governor of Kaduna State is only complaining about his frustrations with Tinubu and the APC and not necessarily playing opposition politics.

Speaking on Arise TV’s programme, The Morning Show, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Bwala said El-Rufai’s remarks about Tinubu’s government should not be seen as opposition politics because the ex-governor is still a member of the ruling party.

“Most of what Nasir El-Rufai kept talking about, I do not consider them as part of opposition politics because he is not in the opposition, and that’s the mark difference between when I criticised the president because I left the party and when you’re within the party, and then you’re fighting,” he said.

Asked if he agrees with El-Rufai’s criticisms of Tinubu’s administration, the presidential aide said he does not because when people said the same thing about him as Governor of Kaduna State, he called their bluff.

“I see what he says now as part of expressing his frustration,” Bwala said.