Former PDP Governor Responds To El-Rufai’s Call To Join SDP
Sule Lamido, former Jigawa State Governor and PDP leader, has rejected Nasir El-Rufai’s call for opposition figures to join the SDP.
El-Rufai had made this appeal in a BBC Hausa interview, targeting prominent opposition leaders.
Lamido, in his own BBC Hausa interview, considered the invitation disrespectful.
He emphasized that the PDP, which he helped create, was fundamental to El-Rufai’s political beginnings.
“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai.
“You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP,” Lamido said.
He added, “He once said that there are no adults in Nigeria in politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”
Lamido also expressed skepticism about El-Rufai’s reasons for leaving the APC and joining the SDP.
“He said he told President Buhari about his decision to leave the APC, but now he is saying that he is one of the adults in Nigerian politics,” Lamido stated.
Lamido argued that the PDP had given him no reason to leave, stressing his enduring commitment to the party.
“If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed,” he said.
Lamido also criticized El-Rufai’s leadership approach, suggesting that effective leadership should not be driven by anger or self-serving ambitions.
“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole,” Lamido said.
Lamido advised El-Rufai to put patriotism first instead of showing anger towards others, saying, “What should be done is to put patriotism first, instead of showing anger towards someone.”
He added, “The PDP has been working to rebuild its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election.”
