Former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has dismissed an invitation by ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, who recently announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, made the appeal in an interview with BBC Hausa, calling on key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join him in his new party.
Responding in a separate BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, Lamido rejected the invitation, describing it as an insult.
He insisted that the PDP, which he helped build, laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political career.“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,” Lamido stated.
He also criticised El-Rufai’s motives for leaving the APC, questioning the inconsistency in his statements.
“He once said there are no adults in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP. He said he told President Buhari about his decision to leave the APC, but now he claims to be one of the adults in Nigerian politics,” Lamido said.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP, the former governor stressed that if he had wanted to leave, he would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed.
Lamido also criticised El-Rufai’s leadership style, arguing that true leadership requires patience, vision, and a commitment to national peace.
“Leadership is not about anger or selfish ambition. It should be driven by patriotism and the desire to serve the people,” he added.
About the Author
