Lamido Critiques El-Rufai’s SDP Invitation as Disrespectful to PDP.
From Our Correspondent.
Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State, has expressed his discontent regarding former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent call for opposition leaders to join his newly-formed Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In an interview with the BBC, El-Rufai invited prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to consider joining his party.
Responding to the invitation, Lamido termed it an affront to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and questioned El-Rufai’s claims of political wisdom. “It’s an act of disrespect for him to make that call. How can a little child claim to be more intelligent than his grandfather? The PDP, which we established, is the foundation that paved the way for El-Rufai’s political career,” he asserted.
Lamido went on to highlight the inconsistencies in El-Rufai’s political stance, particularly his recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP. “He has previously claimed that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, yet he now seeks to attract us to his party. He lacks the stature to make such requests,” Lamido remarked.
Furthermore, he emphasized his unwavering loyalty to the PDP, stating that had he intended to defect, he would have done so during the formation of the APC in 2014.
He urged El-Rufai to prioritize patriotism over personal grievances, insisting that political leadership should be approached with patience and a vision focused on the collective good.
Lamido concluded by reaffirming the PDP’s ongoing efforts to regain its strength following its loss in the 2015 presidential election.
