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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that Nigerians have permitted bandits to assume roles of authority.
Speaking at a public lecture honoring former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, he remarked, “What we have done in this country is allow bandits, not just those hiding in the bushes, but urban bandits to dominate our governance.”
With the 2027 general elections approaching, he emphasized the importance of Nigerians evaluating leadership candidates based on their competence, capability, capacity, and commitment to advancing the country.
“I believe that the celebrant, Rotimi Amaechi, is among the few we can consider capable, competent, and dedicated,” El-Rufai asserted.
He mentioned that Amaechi was upset with him for not backing him during the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries. \
“He said many people told him, 'your brother is angry with you.' I replied, 'I know. Just wait; when Nigeria faces greater challenges, he will come and we’ll collaborate.'” “Now, we are united again because Nigeria is in its biggest crisis since 1914.
We are working together to form a coalition to get Nigeria back on track.” Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also spoke, accused the current government of utilizing poverty as a weapon.
He stated, “You may label me a conspirator; whatever you call me, that's why we are in this alliance, to prevent them from continuing to weaponize poverty. Of course, one of our key conspirators is former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Therefore, we are here to extend our best wishes to you and will persist in collaborating to alleviate poverty and refrain from using state power to weaponize it.”
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, remarked on the poverty in Nigeria, stressing that the elites are disconnected from its true nature.
He claimed that throughout his career as an economist, banker, and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, he did not grasp the essence of poverty until he became the Emir, noting that the urban poverty in places like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano pales in comparison to that in rural villages.
“Leaders must introspect and ask themselves questions such as, do we genuinely care for the people, or do we merely aim to govern over them? We construct flyovers and underpasses in urban areas, believing we are making progress, while some cannot reach the nearest hospital due to poor roads. Just yesterday, around 115 people lost their lives due to floods, as there has been no investment in emergency response.”
“If you truly care for them, they won’t be uneducated, malnourished, or starve. Those claiming Nigeria is not in crisis should awaken; we are grappling with banditry and insecurity. What more is there to wait for? The real challenge is how to escape this situation.”
