Nasir El-Rufai: A Plea for Public Empathy and Understanding

The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) issues this statement in the spirit of national compassion, political maturity, and honest reflection.

We extend a humble plea to the Nigerian public: to exercise restraint, empathy, and above all, understanding- as Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai transitions from a once-formidable technocrat to a political ghostwriter and part-time opposition whisperer.

This is not an attack. It is a plea for mercy- a call to consider the emotional toll that post-power irrelevance must inflict on a man who once projected himself as the blueprint for modern governance, but who now drifts in the wilderness of political solitude and contradiction.

A Legacy Built on Bulldozers and Bloodshed

Mallam El-Rufai’s public career began with demolitions- both physical and institutional. As Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, he approached governance like a sledgehammer, flattening homes and communities in the name of restoring the “master plan.”

But it was in Kaduna State, as Governor from 2015 to 2023, that his legacy took its darkest form.
Insecurity and the Inconvenient Casualties

During his tenure, Kaduna became synonymous with bloodshed, displacement, and trauma. The state recorded some of the highest incidents of banditry, ethno-religious violence, and communal killings in the country.

Rather than decisive action and empathy, citizens were met with PowerPoint slides, official reports, and government statements steeped in deflection and denial. While rural communities bled, policy remained abstract. While lives were lost, the administration produced lectures- not leadership.
Selective Reformism and Institutional Amnesia

Kaduna’s education sector bore the brunt of El-Rufai’s flawed reformist zeal. Sacking 22,000 teachers made headlines, but what followed was neither a renaissance nor recovery – just more headlines.

Exam failures became the norm. Schools were repainted and restructured, but with no sustainable roadmap. Meanwhile, his economic and infrastructure policies prioritized the elite, leaving much of Kaduna’s population in fear, poverty, and neglect.
Exit Wounds and Post-Government Identity Crisis

Since leaving office, Mallam El-Rufai appears to be suffering from a chronic case of Post-Gubernatorial Personality Drift (PGPD). One moment a progressive, the next a cultural custodian. One day aligned with revolutionaries, the next day dining with the establishment.

In his desperation to stay relevant, he has assumed the role of a political soothsayer or marabout, predicting winners and losers of the 2027 Presidential Elections with the reckless confidence of a drunken gambler shouting into the void. He now writes open letters to imaginary enemies, leaks his own WhatsApp chats, and hosts solo Twitter Spaces – like a man clearly in dire need of help.

A Curious Ambition Worth Addressing

We have also heard- courtesy of the ever-reliable political grapevine – that Mallam El-Rufai may be nursing a presidential ambition in the not-so-distant future.

While ambition is the fuel of politics, we humbly suggest an alternative platform far better suited for his recent trajectory:

The Presidency of the Internally Displaced Politicians (IDP).

It would be a fitting crown, and to be fair, he would be in great company – surrounded by fellow wanderers of relevance, ideological orphans, and retired revolutionaries searching for a comeback script.
A Gentle Appeal to the Public

The Lagos APC urges Nigerians to treat Mallam El-Rufai’s post-office oscillations with a mix of patience, sympathy, and if necessary, controlled laughter.

Let us not mock his condition. Let us instead recognize it for what it is: the terminal stage of relevance withdrawal syndrome – a common affliction among those who once ruled with clenched fists and now type with trembling fingers.

Conclusion: Legacy Is Not a Thread

Here in Lagos, we define legacy not by demolition or despair, but by service, humility, and sustained peace. While we address the daily realities of a growing megacity with vision and resolve, others seek to remain visible through tweets and tantrums.

To Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, we say:
Peace be unto your digital footprint.
You have played your part.
Now, perhaps, allow silence to carry the rest.

Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo.
Lagos APC Spokesman.
04/09/25.