A fierce war of words has erupted between former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy, Daniel Bwala, over the state of governance and opposition in Nigeria.
The heated exchange unfolded on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, following el-Rufai’s remarks at a national conference in Abuja, where he described the current political landscape as a “national emergency.”
Responding to el-Rufai’s statement, Bwala took to social media, questioning the former governor’s motives. He insinuated that el-Rufai’s criticism stemmed from personal grievances rather than patriotism.
“My senior brother, if you were in government and the cabinet, would you have expressed the same position? This is a government you helped form, yet you now seek to unseat it. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana,” Bwala posted.
El-Rufai wasted no time in delivering a scathing response, dismissing claims that he sought a role in Tinubu’s administration. He clarified that he had informed Tinubu early on that he had no interest in joining his government.
“I was a cabinet minister 22 years ago and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his government. The way you latter-day converts to Tinubu’s administration obsess over something I never wanted in the first place reflects your moral flexibility,” el-Rufai shot back.
He further emphasized his long-standing track record of speaking out against issues within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the very party he co-founded.
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“If I had remained in Tinubu’s government, I would still say or do the same thing about the tragedy within our party and the government that emerged from it. Go and check my public service record from 1998,” he declared.
Bwala, while acknowledging el-Rufai’s political brilliance, stood his ground. He suggested that the former governor’s recent outbursts were not driven by patriotism, but by a quest for revenge.
“My worry is the motive behind your statements. They are not driven by patriotism but by a need for vengeance. The opposition sees this and is eager to recruit you,” Bwala alleged.
He further defended the APC, insisting it remains the “only organized party with identifiable structures across the country.”
In a final appeal, Bwala urged el-Rufai to return to the APC and address his grievances internally rather than resorting to public attacks.
The explosive exchange has set social media on fire, igniting fresh debates about political loyalty, governance, and the future of the APC in Nigeria.
