A former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has fired back at the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over a ministerial appointment.

Bwala had, in a recent post on his verified X handle, accused El-Rufai of planning to unseat the government of President Bola Tinubu.

On the other hand, Basiru, while featuring on TVC on Wednesday, said it wasn’t the birthright of El-Rufai to be made a minister.

Responding in a post on his verified X handle on Thursday, El-Rufai stated that he had made it clear to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that he was not interested in any position in his future government.

He stressed that the pathetic manner in which those he referred to as “latter-day converts” to the Tinubu government made an issue of something he never wanted in the first place was a reflection of the level of their moral flexibility.

El-Rufai added that if he had remained in the Tinubu government, he would say or do the same regarding the tragedy within a party he helped to found and the government that emerged from it—first in private sessions with those concerned, and then publicly if no remedial actions were taken.

He said: “Good morning, @BwalaDaniel. I was a cabinet minister 22 years ago, and I was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government.

“The pathetic manner in which all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government make an issue of something that I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of the level of your moral flexibility.

“If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I would say or do the same regarding the tragedy within a party I helped to found and the government that emerged from it—first in private sessions with those concerned, and then publicly if no remedial actions were taken. Go and check my public service record from 1998.

“I am only responding to you because I still think you are a decent person who may need a job, and not in the class of Wendell Simlin and that Kaduna pretender whom our voters retired in 2019—these clowns are political mercenaries who receive humongous monthly stipends from the security vote to be the first to jump on X and other platforms to defend everything the Asiwaju government does or fails to do, no matter how indefensible it may be.

“Enjoy your Special Adviser position, my brother, but remember that allegiance to God and country comes first in the human scale of accountability, before any person or authority.” – @elrufai

The exchange of words between former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, over the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the current administration has continued.

Bwala expressed his respect and admiration for El-Rufai’s brilliance, advising the former governor to “come home because he has toiled all nights.”

In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Bwala, a new convert to the APC, said his concern over El-Rufai’s statements and actions is that they are not borne out of patriotism but rather a need for vengeance.

“Still my senior brother @elrufai, I am sure you don’t need anyone to tell you about my respect and admiration for you, not just for your brilliance, but also as one of the brightest we have from the northern extraction. I am not stating it for the first time today, and you know that.

“My worry, however, is the motive behind your statements and actions; they are not borne out of patriotism but a need for vengeance. The opposition sees that singular element of vengeance as a veritable tool for your recruitment.

“With respect, I am not a latter-day Asiwaju supporter. We both played our roles in his emergence as the candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 elections. And before then, whilst you were from the CPC extraction of the APC, I was from the ACN, which explains why I worked with Comrade Oshiomhole when he chaired the party, amongst other things, to protect the interest of Asiwaju, whom at the time you people vowed to retire from politics.

“I still think you don’t need all these melodramatic activities or a vengeance mission. Come back and resolve whatever you think are your grievances like the dignified man that you are.

“Our party, APC, as of today remains the only organized party with identifiable structures across the country. So if you are looking for any symbol of democracy, it is still in your party.

“Please, senior, come home; you have toiled all nights.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled Rauf Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior and Governor of Osun State, for alleged anti-party conduct.

Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, has been accused of violating Article 21 of the APC Constitution, which defines disciplinary actions for members.

His expulsion was verified in an official letter from the party’s leadership.

The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” and signed jointly by Tajudeen Lawal, State Chairman, and Alao Olabisi Kamoru, Secretary, stated that the decision followed an investigation and approval by the State Executive Committee, SEC.

“At the end of the investigation, the SEC considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC,” the letter read.

The APC alleged that Aregbesola’s actions had undermined the unity and integrity of the party, warning him against identifying as a member or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.

Aregbesola had previously led a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives, which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus.

The faction had been in conflict with the state party leadership.

His expulsion followed a meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus on Sunday, during which the group, under his leadership, announced its decision to leave the APC.

At the meeting, Aregbesola reportedly told supporters that their departure was necessary due to the party’s declining influence in Osun State.

“We are leaving to build a stronger political movement,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, APC officials in Osun State have maintained that the disciplinary action was necessary to restore order within the party.

“The party cannot tolerate disloyalty and divisive actions,” an unnamed official stated.