Salihu Lukman, former APC National Vice Chairman, North-west, has criticized Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for reportedly engaging in conflict with his predecessor.
In a June 13, 2024 letter titled “Issues of Politics and Governance in Kaduna: The Truth,” Lukman, addressed to El-Rufai and other stakeholders, expressed doubt about the governor’s chances in the 2027 election and suggested his time in office may be limited.
Having recently resigned from the APC, Lukman predicted that both Governor El-Rufai and President Bola Tinubu would face electoral defeat in the upcoming election.
“I wish I could spare you. But given that at the end of the day, politics is local, even if you accept to reform yourself but President Tinubu did not embrace reforms, you will be collateral damage. Take it from me, the campaign to defeat APC and President Tinubu is just starting and it will take root in Kaduna State.
“I am honestly worried for you. You are setting a precedent that will hurt you. All I can say is, be careful. At most, in the next 7 years, you will be out,” he said.
He warned the governor against making any derogatory statements against El-Rufai, saying, “Without Mallam, it would have been almost impossible for you to rise to where you are today.”
“The privilege of being a governor has an expiry date. In your case, if you are lucky, another seven years. But from the way things are unfolding, I believe the default expiry date for your tenure is another three years.
“Both you and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have clearly sent out worrisome signals of being anything but democrats,” Lukman added.
