By Omeiza Ajayi, John Alechenu & Luminous Jannamike, ABUJA
The coalition-backed African Democratic Congress, ADC, yesterday bickered with the All Progressives Congress, APC, over assaults on its leaders and outline of the coalition as a transparent and current hazard to the nation.
The APC referred to leaders of the ADC, together with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Labour Celebration in 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi; former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai; and former Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as Nigeria’s most confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful gang of opposition components.
It warned Nigerians to be cautious of politicians who weaponised ethnicity and faith, in search of to upend the presidential rotational precept between the north and south.
In a fast counter, the ADC mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s financial reforms have been heartless, whereas the Coalition of United Political Events, CUPP, mentioned the APC’s assaults on Obi have been diversionary.
El-Rufai’s political fall wants forensic evaluation
The APC mentioned el-Rufai’s childish politics are the actual risk to Nigeria’s progress, noting that his speedy fall from political grace to grass is deserving of forensic evaluation.
The ruling occasion claimed that since his failed bid for a ministerial appointment, the previous Kaduna State governor had gone right into a political tailspin.
“His speedy fall from commanding heights to the political clown he has turn out to be wants forensic research,” mentioned APC spokesman, Felix Morka.
The APC famous that el-Rufai’s assault on President Tinubu’s administration as incompetent, clannish and undeserving of a second time period, at a gathering in Sokoto on Saturday, August 2, 2025, was yet one more outburst of a waspish politician.
“It’s now clear to all Nigerians that El-Rufai and his cohorts in ADC are on a mission to upend the presidential rotational precept designed to advertise nationwide unity and cohesion within the nation by way of the imposition of Atiku as presidential candidate of ADC in the midst of a southern presidency rotation.
“It was Atiku’s egocentric and stubborn refusal to respect the rotation precept through the 2023 Peoples Democratic Celebration, PDP, presidential main election that straight resulted in PDP’s digital cremation.
“El-Rufai and Atiku wish to do to Nigeria what Atiku did to PDP. El-Rufai, and Atiku’s hijack of ADC constitutes a transparent and current risk to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria,” the occasion mentioned.
In line with APC, el-Rufai and his companions in ADC “are probably the most confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful opposition politicians our nation has ever recognized.
“They carry nothing to the political desk besides their outsized ego, wild entitlement mentality, obscene desperation and predatory presidential ambitions.”
The ruling occasion mentioned other than “baseless headline assaults towards the current administration and the APC, el-Rufai and cohorts haven’t offered and can’t current coverage prescriptions with potential for extra effectiveness than these already being carried out by the Tinubu administration, with sturdy indicators of success.”
The occasion continued: “All three main contestants within the 2023 presidential election campaigned to take away gasoline subsidy and harmonise a number of overseas trade regimes in recognition of the urgency and seriousness of the nation’s financial challenges.
“Upon his election and inauguration, President Tinubu swiftly carried out coverage reforms as he promised. After their crushing defeat on the polls, Atiku and Obi, seemingly, recanted their coverage reform positions with the intention to justify sitting shamelessly on the desk of hypocrisy and hurling invectives at President Tinubu and APC for implementing reform insurance policies in addition they promised Nigerians.
“If el-Rufai and his cohorts detest the administration’s coverage reforms as a lot as they declare, why have they not offered coverage proposals to revive gasoline subsidy because it was and return the nation to the ruinous period of fixing naira’s worth and working a number of overseas trade regimes that fed the grasping and insatiable urge for food of the likes of El-Rufai, Atiku, Obi and Rotimi Amaechi for many years?
“The rejection of el-Rufai as a minister can not justify his allegation of clannishness towards the administration. A mindless declare like that may solely come from somebody who haughtily equates his egocentric curiosity with the curiosity of a whole ethnic nationality.
“President Tinubu is definitely some of the detribalised and patriotic Nigerians alive. No tribe, ethnic or non secular group has been sidelined as el-Rufai desires Nigerians to consider.
“For a former governor who left a sordid legacy of obnoxious marginalisation of ethnic and spiritual minorities in Southern Kaduna; who weaponised demolitions towards harmless residents; and hung a debt profile of N284 billion on tax payers, in line with the Debt Administration Workplace, DMO, el-Rufai is the poster youngster of unhealthy governance and failed management.”
Tinubu’s reforms heartless’ – ADC
Pooh-poohing the ruling occasion, ADC described President Tinubu’s financial reforms as ‘heartless,’ accusing the APC of favouring worldwide monetary establishments on the expense of Nigerian residents.
The remarks have been made in response to the APC’s declare that the ADC lacks credible alternate options to the present financial path.
Talking solely to Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, Balarabe Rufai, Nationwide Youth Chief of ADC, dismissed the APC’s assertions, insisting that ADC’s financial imaginative and prescient prioritises the welfare of peculiar Nigerians.
Rufai pressured that the ADC will implement reforms which can be ‘natural’ and ‘authentic,’ particularly tailor-made to fulfill the wants of the Nigerian folks, somewhat than dictated by exterior monetary our bodies.
“The current administration’s reforms are heartless. They’re simply prescriptions from the Bretton Woods organizations that don’t have any concern for Nigerian residents,” Rufai mentioned.
He defined that ADC’s reform technique will relaxation on 4 pillars: consistency, possession, objective, and technique.
Rufai additionally criticised the APC-led authorities for its aggressive tax drive, accusing it of ignoring the struggling of Nigerians dwelling in multi-dimensional poverty.
“In a rustic the place your statistical authority has publicly acknowledged that 133 million folks, virtually 60 to 70 % of the inhabitants, are in poverty, and you retain taxing that inhabitants, it means the federal government is heartless and insensitive to the wants of the folks,” he mentioned.
He went on to talk about the ADC’s rising affect, revealing that main political figures akin to Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar are aligning with the occasion.
“Peter Obi is coming to the ADC. Atiku Abubakar is coming to the ADC, and they’re going to work with the ADC. In the event that they produce other plans, they should depart their plans and go together with the plans of the ADC,” he acknowledged.
Addressing issues that the ADC could also be undermining the North-South rotation of the presidency, Rufai dismissed such claims as unfounded. He mentioned the occasion’s fundamental goal is to reform Nigeria’s democratic processes, significantly occasion primaries.
“Within the ADC, most significantly within the youth wing, we are going to guarantee that delegates have turn out to be worthless. Godfatherism additionally is not going to work within the ADC,” he asserted.
He reaffirmed that the occasion’s focus is on making a supportive surroundings for any chief to succeed.
“We don’t actually care who turns into the presidential flagbearer. What we take care of is for anyone that emerges to have a clean working, not burdened with useless loans or the necessity to settle delegates,” Rufai mentioned.
APC’s assaults on Peter Obi are diversionary – CUPP
Additionally talking, the CUPP mentioned the smear marketing campaign focusing on Peter Obi is a part of a determined try by the APC to divert consideration from its gross incompetence in governance.
Nationwide Secretary of the CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, mentioned: “The current assertion by the APC Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Felix Mouka, alleging that Mr. Peter Obi has ‘nothing to supply Nigeria’ and accusing him of hypocrisy is a gross misrepresentation of info and a determined try and discredit a confirmed chief.
“Opposite to those unfounded claims, Peter Obi’s file as a public servant and his coverage positions stay steadfast, clear, and targeted on uplifting Nigerians from multidimensional poverty.
“Peter Obi has constantly advocated lowering authorities waste, enhancing transparency, and implementing reforms with safeguards to guard weak residents.
“His stance on gasoline subsidy elimination, as an example, has at all times emphasised the necessity for strategic measures to mitigate its affect on Nigerians, in contrast to the abrupt and poorly managed method of the present administration, which has deepened poverty and hardship.
“It’s disheartening that the APC, somewhat than addressing urgent challenges, chooses to expend vitality on smear campaigns towards opposition leaders.
“Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented financial difficulties, but the ruling occasion has little to indicate for its two years in workplace.’’
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