Dr. Bashir Jamoh, a senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director-General of NIMASA, has reassured party members that former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El‑Rufai remains an important stakeholder in the APC, despite defecting to the Social Democratic Party.
Addressing journalists on Thursday in Kaduna, Jamoh emphasized that while El‑Rufai has mentioned affiliations with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), it would be premature to bid him farewell.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is my opinion, Malam Nasir El‑Rufai is still with us. Yes, he mentioned his membership of the SDP. Yes, he mentioned the ADC. But we are yet to get to the point of bidding him farewell.
“We still consult him. We seek his expertise, his knowledge, and his advice. Forget the politics for a moment, this is about public service. Whenever we need his advice, he gives it. And if he refuses to give it when asked, I believe God will ask him why.”
Jamoh described El‑Rufai as a “political institution,” indispensable to Kaduna’s political narrative:
“You cannot disown your child of eight years. He was Minister under the PDP. He joined CPC, which merged into APC and governed this state for eight years. He’s a part of our political history.”
Addressing concerns about El‑Rufai’s potential move to the ADC, Jamoh was unperturbed:
“We don’t even know who is who in the ADC yet. Yes, we hear he is the North‑West leader of the ADC, but as far as Kaduna is concerned, they are underperforming.”
He stressed that the real question is whether any party can rival APC’s dominance:
“Are you talking about El‑Rufai or the ADC? Nasir El‑Rufai cannot contest for governorship again. That chapter is closed. So, the question is whether ADC or any opposition party can defeat the APC in this state, and I say no.”
Using a local proverb, he added: “When you grind your corn, you can’t throw the whole thing into a pot because it’ll be too heavy. APC is too heavy for any party here.
Maybe you don’t know Kaduna politics very well. Go and take an independent survey today. Who stands a chance of winning the gubernatorial election after Uba Sani? Check opposition parties, who among them can challenge APC? We have more than 10 capable candidates.”
While admitting the party isn’t without flaws, Jamoh encouraged unity and perseverance:
“Yes, there are challenges. I agree. But we are addressing them. That’s why I’m speaking to you now. Don’t fall for the propaganda that people are leaving in droves.”
“Don’t throw away what you have because you think the opposition can beat APC. Remember where you invested. One day, you will reap the benefit of that investment.”
