By Aliyu Yusuf
Dear Nasir el-Rufai,
Your recent interview on Arise TV has once again stirred the pot of Nigerian politics. While your insights into the state of the nation are always thought-provoking, I can’t help but ask: is this really the time? At a moment when millions of Nigerians are grappling with insecurity, inflation, and unemployment, your focus on political grievances and 2031 ambitions feels misplaced. It’s too early for this. We have bigger issues to address. And coming from someone who has had the privilege of being at the helm of affairs for decades, your current preoccupation with politics over governance is particularly disappointing.
In your interview, you spoke at length about your exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, alleging that it was the president’s decision rather than the Senate’s. You also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani of conspiring to tarnish your reputation ahead of the 2031 presidential election. While these revelations may satisfy political analysts and social media commentators, they do little to address the pressing concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
Across the country, families are mourning loved ones lost to banditry and terrorism. Farmers can no longer access their fields, and children are afraid to go to school. Inflation has pushed the price of food and fuel to record highs, leaving millions struggling to make ends meet. In the first six weeks of 2025 alone, no fewer than 805 lives have been lost to violence and insecurity across the country. These are the issues that demand our attention, not political maneuvering.
As the former governor of Kaduna State, you had the opportunity to demonstrate the kind of leadership Nigeria desperately needs today. Your tenure was marked by bold reforms, including the restructuring of the state’s civil service and investments in infrastructure. However, it was also marred by controversy, particularly regarding your handling of security and communal tensions. The Southern Kaduna crisis, for instance, remains a stain on your legacy, with many accusing your administration of failing to protect vulnerable communities.
As someone who has held key positions at both the state and federal levels, you must acknowledge your role in shaping the country’s current state. Governance is not just about making tough decisions; it’s about ensuring those decisions benefit all citizens. Dear El-Rufai, your experience makes your current focus on political grievances even more perplexing. Shouldn’t you be using your platform to address the very issues you helped create?
You criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that while some policies are “right,” their sequencing is wrong, and the quality of implementation leaves much to be desired. You also highlighted the negative impact of subsidised agricultural imports on local farmers. These are valid points, but they raise an important question: where were these insights when you had the platform to influence policy directly?
As a former governor and a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), you had the opportunity to shape the party’s economic agenda. Instead, your interview focused on internal party politics and your potential presidential ambitions. Dear El-Rufai, Nigeria needs solutions, not hindsight critiques. If you have ideas to fix the economy, now is the time to share them, not as a political aspirant, but as a statesman committed to the nation’s progress.
You expressed dissatisfaction with the APC, lamenting that the party has abandoned its founding values of fighting corruption, rebuilding the economy, and enhancing security. You even hinted at the possibility of seeking another platform if the APC fails to return to its progressive roots. While your concerns about the party’s direction are valid, they feel disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
The APC’s internal struggles are not the priority for a mother in Kaduna who can’t afford to feed her children or a farmer in Zamfara who fears for his life. What Nigerians need right now is not another political realignment but concrete actions to address their daily struggles.
Dear el-Rufai, instead of threatening to leave the APC, why not use your influence to push for tangible reforms within the party? Leadership is about solving problems, not creating new ones.
Perhaps the most concerning part of your interview was your focus on the 2031 presidential election. You accused Nuhu Ribadu of leading a campaign to damage your reputation because he sees you as a potential rival. You also dismissed speculation about your political ambitions, but your comments suggest otherwise. While political ambition is not inherently wrong, it becomes problematic when it distracts from the urgent needs of the people.
Nigeria is at a crossroads, and its leaders must rise to the occasion. The 2027 elections are still two years away, and 2031 is even further. Yet, you are already positioning yourself for a race that may never happen. Isn’t it time to focus on the present? The Nigerian people need leaders who are committed to solving today’s problems, not tomorrow’s political calculations.
Some may argue that political discussions are necessary to shape Nigeria’s future. While this is true, we must ask ourselves: what good are political strategies if the people they’re meant to serve are suffering? Leadership is about priorities, and right now, Nigeria’s priorities should be clear: security, economic stability, and the well-being of its citizens.
Dear el-Rufai, this is not just about you. It’s about all of us, leaders and citizens alike. We must collectively prioritise the needs of the people over personal ambitions. Nigeria’s problems are too big for any one person to solve, but together, we can make a difference. As John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Let us learn from our past mistakes and lead with courage and compassion.
Imagine a Nigeria where farmers can work their fields without fear, where young people have access to quality education and jobs, and where every citizen can afford a decent meal. This is the Nigeria we must strive for, and it starts with leaders like you refocusing on what truly matters. The time for action is now, not for politics, but for progress. The Nigerian people are watching, and history will judge us all.
Email: Aliyuyusuff360@gmail.com
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Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aliyuyusuf/
