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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Nigerian youths to engage actively in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, highlighting the importance of increased youth involvement in determining the future of the nation.
El-Rufai urged young Nigerians to maintain their optimism about the country, explaining that the future should not be left in the hands of corrupt leaders in 2027.
While sharing his personal experiences at an event held in Kano, he encouraged the youth to play an active role in crafting the future of the country.
"I lost my parents when I was eight years old, yet Nigeria provided me with opportunities to rise. We cannot forsake this nation to those who have plundered and mismanaged it.
It’s time to rebuild a country where every child has a future worth fighting for,” he proclaimed.
During his visit to Kano, where he engaged with Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai clarified that his recent political actions were motivated solely by a commitment to the nation's welfare, rather than loyalty to individuals or political parties, encouraging Nigerian youths to do the same.
He disclosed that he joined the SDP to help create a credible alternative, free from the godfatherism and dysfunction he asserted had affected both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
"Twelve years ago, we established the APC and defeated an incumbent. However, today’s Nigeria requires a different approach," El-Rufai stated.
"The SDP is bringing together frustrated Nigerians under a banner of fairness and genuine internal democracy.”
In response to accusations that his change was due to political discontent, El-Rufai maintained that he had no personal ambitions left to pursue.
"I’m 65 years old. I could easily choose to retire peacefully, but Nigeria is facing an existential crisis. This is about the survival of the nation, not personal objectives," he emphasized.
Commenting on the return of politicians to the ruling APC, El-Rufai asserted that the SDP aimed to garner support from ordinary Nigerians, rather than political elites.
“A governor has only one vote. Elections are won by the masses, not by prominent names,” he remarked.
Furthermore, he dismissed assertions that the SDP's movement was regionally restricted, stressing that a quiet yet strategic expansion was occurring nationwide.
“We’re also organizing across the South. True nation-building occurs in communities, not on television screens,” he concluded.
