Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticised supporters of President Bola Tinubu, calling them “clowns” who are paid to defend the government.
His comments, made on Monday at a national conference on democracy in Nigeria, have sparked speculation about his strained ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai’s remarks were in response to Daniel Bwala, a presidential aide, who questioned why he was now criticising the APC-led government.
Bwala implied that El-Rufai would not be speaking out if he had been included in Tinubu’s administration.
Read also: Presidency, El-Rufai trade words over governance, opposition
In response, El-Rufai said he never wanted a role in the government and would have still spoken against the party’s issues even if he were part of it.
He accused some people of being paid to defend the government online, no matter what it does, calling them “political mercenaries.”
El-Rufai’s criticisms have fueled talk that he may leave the APC. His supporters see him as a truth-teller, while his critics believe he is trying to weaken the government he once helped build.
As political tensions rise, many are watching to see what El-Rufai does next and if he will formally cut ties with the APC.
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