Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has issued a stark warning that Nigeria is under threat from a group he describes as "urban bandits" aiming to destroy the country. Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Monday evening, El-Rufai emphasized the urgent need for political leaders to unite and remove these destructive forces to put Nigeria back on track.
El-Rufai, who has recently left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is a key figure in the emerging anti-Tinubu coalition. He highlighted that the coalition’s leadership is currently united by a common goal rather than individual political ambitions. He stated, “Nobody is talking about his aspiration, at least for now. Everybody is saying, ‘we have a problem. This country is targeted for destruction by a collection of urban bandits. Let’s come together, send them back home and put this country back on track.’ It is about fixing the country”.
The coalition is formed in response to what El-Rufai and others perceive as the failure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which El-Rufai claims has a 91% disapproval rating among Nigerians. He criticized the government for its poor handling of the economy and security, pointing out that despite massive funds allocated monthly to security agencies, the country remains plagued by violence and insecurity. El-Rufai cited alarming statistics from 2024, including over 2.2 million abductions and 615,000 deaths, questioning the effectiveness of the current security measures.
El-Rufai also addressed his past support for Tinubu’s rise to the presidency in 2023, explaining that northern governors backed the south’s turn at power as a principle rather than personal preference. However, he expressed disillusionment with Tinubu’s government and predicted that the former Lagos State Governor would not return to power after the 2027 elections.
The former governor’s call for unity among opposition leaders stresses that the fight is not about personal ambitions but about rescuing Nigeria from those he terms urban bandits figures entrenched in the urban political and economic systems who are undermining the country’s stability and progress.
El-Rufai’s remarks underscore the growing political tensions as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, with opposition coalitions rallying to challenge the incumbent government’s record on governance, security, and economic management.