Buba Galadima, a New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader, has stated that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is just a “placeholder” for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the Social Democratic Party.
Galadima, a former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has discussed a potential opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition’s purpose is to topple President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who won the previous election for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
In March, Atiku and other opposition leaders held a press conference where they criticized President Tinubu’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State. It was at that event Atiku announced the formation of a united opposition front. Since then, not much has been heard about the progress of the coalition.
When asked about El-Rufai’s involvement in building a movement through the SDP, Galadima revealed he had not met El-Rufai personally but had discussions with members of his team.
“Well, not El-Rufai himself, but some of his associates, including the chairman of the SDP, visited me. We had a lengthy discussion, and I shared my views with them. I am confident that my perspective will prevail because El-Rufai cannot lead an opposition. It’s simply the law of karma catching up with him.”
He continued, accusing El-Rufai of lacking public trust due to past betrayals.
“He has made many harmful statements and hurt countless people, and in fact, he has hurt God in several ways. I don’t believe God will allow him to succeed. It is only an insane person who does not understand politics or has no history who can follow El-Rufai.”
“He has ditched a lot of people; he ditched Atiku, he ditched Obasanjo, he ditched Buhari, and he now ditched Tinubu. So, someone with this kind of record, I don’t think if you are sensible, you will follow him.”
Galadima argued that opposition coalitions should form closer to election season, not this early in the administration.
“No opposition runs a marathon race. The opposition doesn’t, it’s a sprint, a 100-meter dash. El-Rufai is starting early. By the time it is the third year, he must have been dismembered. It’s because he’s not a politician, or because God is pushing him because of the bad things he did against the people to suffer.”
On whether any group had approached NNPP 2023 presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for coalition talks, Galadima confirmed that many had, including El-Rufai.
“So many people have been talking to Kwankwaso. I must confess, even El-Rufai spoke to him… A lot of people are doing underground talking. And that is what it should be. If you are talking about a coalition, you should be looking at the middle of next year, not now…”
Speaking on the state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Galadima declared it “destroyed” and beyond repair.
“The PDP has been destroyed completely; it is irredeemable. We have three identifiable groups within the PDP who are fighting for the soul of the party… That is why Atiku is afraid of being stranded. El-Rufai is now jumping to go and become a placeholder for Atiku so that if he’s booted out of the PDP, he will go to the SDP and become a candidate.”
“Wike will never allow the party to stand on its feet, and he is influential; he dictates what happens in the judiciary… Go and read the new judgment against the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and the move to investigate Peter Odili after 18 years since he left office. If you look at it very well, you will know who is behind it,” he added.
