Former Jigawa State Governor and PDP stalwart, Sule Lamido, has dismissed ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s call for opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as an insult.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the APC, made the appeal in an interview with BBC Hausa, urging figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to join the SDP.
Responding in a separate BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, March 16, Lamido rejected the invitation, stressing that the PDP, which he helped build, paved the way for El-Rufai’s political rise.
“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP,” he said.
He also recalled El-Rufai’s past remarks about Nigerian politicians, saying, “He once said that there are no adults in Nigeria in politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”
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Lamido questioned El-Rufai’s reasons for defecting, noting contradictions in his statements. “He said he told President Buhari about his decision to leave the APC, but now he is saying that he is one of the adults in Nigerian politics,” he stated.
The former governor reiterated his loyalty to the PDP, saying, “If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed.”
Criticising El-Rufai’s leadership style, Lamido emphasised that leadership requires patience and selflessness. “Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole,” he said.
He advised El-Rufai to prioritise patriotism over personal grievances. “What should be done is to put patriotism first, instead of showing anger towards someone,” Lamido stated.
He added that the PDP remains committed to rebuilding its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election.