In this conversation, Buba Galadima, a former National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a key figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), shares candid insights on Nigeria’s political developments, President Tinubu’s administration, and the roles of Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai in the unfolding 2027 race.
On the Tinubu administration:
“Well, you see, I don’t want to give an opinion on an administration until it has completed half of its term, which is two years. By that time, you will be able to know exactly where the administration is headed,” Galadima began.
“It is no secret that people are being pushed to the wall because things are getting out of hand. Prices and hardships are affecting people very hard.”
“Recently, we have seen a significant slowdown in the cost of commodities, which many people attribute to secret importation by friends of the government. We have yet to confirm that, but it seems likely… You can’t run an economy based on friendships or a system of favours; you must make hard decisions.”
On the State of NNPP:
“Everything is well with my party. What is wrong with my party is that some people within the APC… are trying to cause commotion, not only in my party but in all parties,” he stated.
“They made sure that even the governor [of Kano] does not function. They withdrew security support for him… Whatever the governor wants to do, they create a parallel organisation. I have never seen such deliberate hatred for a constitutionally organised government.”
He further alleged: “One of our senators said publicly that the APC government gave him N90bn worth of projects to execute in his constituency to undermine the government of Kano.”
On defections from NNPP:
“No, nobody left our party. We expelled them… No one can hold our party hostage,” he said confidently.
“In 2019, without a single councillor or elected official, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso defeated all the former governors of Kano… In 2023, they tried again but failed. The people of Kano know exactly what they want.”
On Kwankwaso’s alleged alliance with APC
“There is no single politician today who is as popular as Kwankwaso… All these efforts to destroy or neutralise him have not succeeded,” Galadima argued.
“If you have a friend like the APC to the NNPP, do you need an enemy? They are manipulating the judiciary and security agencies against us. This insinuation was planted to discredit us.”
On El-Rufai’s coalition plans through SDP:
“Well, not El-Rufai himself, but some of his associates, including the chairman of the SDP, visited me… I am confident that my perspective will prevail because El-Rufai cannot lead an opposition.”
“He is used to going into an established house and taking it over, but now that he’s trying to build from scratch, he will see how difficult politics can be”
“He does not own the SDP. He is merely a placeholder for someone else who is expected to take over.”
“El-Rufai has a history of betrayals… He ditched Atiku, he ditched Obasanjo, he ditched Buhari, and now he has ditched Tinubu. Unless you are like him or have committed some offence God wants to punish, you shouldn’t follow him.”
On possible talks with Kwankwaso:
“So many people have been talking to Kwankwaso. I must confess, even El-Rufai spoke to him… But it’s too early. If you are talking about a coalition, you should be looking at the middle of next year, not now.”
“We are looking at a coalition of like minds based on ideology, not one driven by anger or selfish interest.”
On the PDP Crisis:
“The PDP has been destroyed completely; it is irredeemable. We have three identifiable groups: the Wike group, the governors’ group, and the weakest group, Atiku’s group.”
“That is why Atiku is afraid of being stranded. El-Rufai is now jumping to become a placeholder for Atiku so that if he’s booted out of the PDP, he can emerge as the SDP candidate.”
He added: “For this 2027 election, the PDP is out of the question. Wike will never allow the party to stand on its feet. He is influential; he dictates what happens in the judiciary.”
On zoning and Atiku’s ambition:
“I don’t discuss North or South when I speak on democracy… If Tinubu finishes and Nigerians vote for his son Seyi, I have no grudge, provided the election is free and fair.”
“There is no agreement between North and South. Anybody who says that is a liar and doesn’t understand democracy.”
“Also, I think Atiku should not contest in the 2027 election… People have supported him since 1992—33 years ago. It’s time for him to support someone else, even if it’s his son, provided he is qualified.”
Advice to President Tinubu:
“I am sure if you ask him, he won’t deny that I am his friend… I want to tell him that it is counterproductive to destroy the opposition.”
“When you destroy every institution, when you start to fall, you will fall from a cliff and knock your head on the rock… It’s better to allow people to vent and express themselves freely.”
