El-Rufai: I Helped Tinubu Become President but Will Criticize His Government if It Derails
Story written by Okafor joseph September 1,2025
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that he played a key role in ensuring President Bola Tinubu’s emergence but maintained that his contribution does not stop him from criticizing the current administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai pushed back against critics who accused him of disloyalty for openly faulting the policies of Tinubu’s government.
The former governor stressed that he has both the right and responsibility to speak out when an administration is failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
He said:
“Everyone knows I was one of the founding fathers of the APC and that I made contributions in bringing Asiwaju to the presidency. But if his government has derailed and is not delivering what we thought it would, should I keep quiet simply because I contributed to his victory? Where does that happen?”
El-Rufai emphasized that governance is about service to the people, not personal loyalty, adding that even if his own son were president, he would not hesitate to criticize him if he was not delivering results.
“The purpose of government is to ensure progress for the people and the country. If a leader fails to do that, I cannot be silent. Criticism should not be seen as betrayal—it is part of accountability,” he added.
El-Rufai’s comments come amid growing debates over the direction of Tinubu’s administration and its ability to deliver on campaign promises in the face of rising economic hardship across the country.
