Tinubu Administration Is Most Corrupt, Lying Government In Nigeria’s History – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling it the worst and most corrupt in Nigeria’s history.

Speaking to journalists in Katsina on Monday night, El-Rufai accused Tinubu’s government of lying and spreading false propaganda, especially about the country’s worsening security situation.

When asked what he thinks is wrong with the federal government, he flipped the question back, asking whether Nigerians can still afford basic necessities or if their salaries have any real value compared to two years ago.

He said, “I should ask you. Can you afford three square meals? Can your salary buy what it used to buy two years ago? I should ask you. There is nothing wrong with the government?”

He claimed the government’s reports of improved security are misleading, saying bandits and terrorists still control several areas in states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto.

According to him, known leaders of these criminal groups — including Dogo Gide, Mallam Abba, and Bello Turji — are still active, contrary to official claims of progress.

El-Rufai said, “I have said it before, this is the worst federal government in Nigeria’s history and all the indices have shown it. This is the most corrupt and most intolerant government in Nigeria.

“This is the most lying government that depends on false propaganda. They lied that security has improved in Nigeria. They read out numbers of bandits killed except the ones we know are the leading bandits.

“In Kaduna, Dogo Gide is still around, Mallam Abba, the Boko Haram terrorist is still alive. Bello Turji is still around but everyday, they announce names of people that are bandits’ leaders that they have killed and security has improved.

“How many local governments are under the occupation of bandits in Katsina State? How many are occupied by bandits in Zamfara State and some parts of Sokoto State? And because you are in government you think that nothing would happen, things will remain like that?

“It’s okay, you are free to engage in your grand delusion, but when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth,” he said.

On his past involvement with the APC and Tinubu’s campaign, El-Rufai clarified that while he supported Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, he was never part of the federal government.

He emphasized that his main focus was always on Kaduna State.

Nasir El-Rufai said, “I was a state governor. Go and ask what I did in my state. Don’t even make me part of the federal government.

“Between 2015 and 2023, I was not part of it. What you can ask me and I can defend my tenure is what I did in Kaduna between 2015 and 2023. I had very little to do with the federal government.

“I was among those that formed the APC and I campaigned for president Buhari, (and of course the current president). Yes, I did. He was the candidate of my party and I campaigned for him. I was never part of his government.”

He also spoke about his recent involvement with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he described as a credible platform that needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

He expressed confidence in the party’s ability to grow and challenge the ruling party, even if the journey will be tough.

El-Rufai, who described SDP as a party with a long history and credibility, said, “but we have to build it. We have to build it almost from scratch. In the last presidential election, it got less than 100,000 votes, compared to millions of votes that the leading parties got, so we have a lot of work to do.

“We have the will and we have the human resources to work on it. That’s part of the reason why I’m here in Katsina and I’ll be moving from state to state, working with the leaders in every state to try to build this party.

“We have to build it just as we built the APC from the ground up. It’s hard work, it’s risky work. We will succeed by the grace of God, but even if we fail, let it go down in history that some people tried and stood up to challenge tyranny and incompetence and grand corruption at all levels. This is what we are trying to do.

Reacting to APC chairman’s comment that Tinubu is unbeatable in 2027, el-Rufai simply said, “No comment,” adding that silence is the best response to such claims.

The former governor said, “I have nothing to say. Silence is usually the best answer to people like that.

“The quality of governance in the country is appalling. This is the worst government in Nigeria’s history. I’m 65 years old. I have seen every government in Nigeria since independence. This is the worst.

“And if they think that nothing will happen, that Nigerians are helpless, that all of us will just fold our arms and allow this country to be run aground, they are making a mistake. Nigerians will challenge them. Nigerians will teach them a lesson. Nigerians will put their arrogance to rest by the special grace of God.”

El-Rufai was in Katsina to sympathize with Governor Dikko Radda over the loss of his mother and to reconnect with old friends and political allies as he works to strengthen the SDP in the state.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nasir El-Rufai recently resigned from the APC and joined the SDP, citing dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s direction.