El-Rufai’s Exit from APC a Big Loss – Buhari’s Ex-Aide Ismaeel Ahmed
Former Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investment Programmes (SIP), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, has reacted to the exit of Malam Nasir El-Rufai from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement on his verified Facebook page, Ahmed described El-Rufai’s role in the party’s formation and development over the years.
“Malam has contributed immensely to the formation, promotion, development, and continuation of the APC at so many levels and the progressive movement in general since he joined us in CPC in 2010,” Ahmed stated.
Ahmed noted that El-Rufai chaired the CPC Renewal Committee, which proposed an alliance between CPC and ACN in 2010. He recalled that some CPC leaders opposed the move, leading to separate elections in 2011 and the eventual defeat of General Muhammadu Buhari by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ahmed said El-Rufai played a role in persuading Buhari to contest the 2015 presidential election after his 2011 defeat.
“PMB used to say all the time during the 2014/15 electioneering campaign that Malam El-Rufai was one of the few people that basically ‘forced’ him to contest again after declaring he will ‘not contest again’ in 2011,” he said.
Ahmed also mentioned El-Rufai’s role in the APC’s 2022 national convention, which led to the emergence of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as chairman.
Regarding the 2023 elections, Ahmed said El-Rufai and his colleagues resisted moves to retain the presidency in the North.
“When the Adamu-led NWC wanted to toy with the idea of retaining the Presidency in the North after selling forms of 100 million Naira each to more than 15 people, most of whom were from the South, Malam with his colleagues rallied again to ensure that civility, equity, equality, unity, and most importantly, progressivism prevailed,” Ahmed remarked.
He also mentioned El-Rufai’s legal challenge against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy, which many saw as targeting the APC’s presidential candidate.
Expressing his regret over El-Rufai’s departure, Ahmed said, “I had hoped and prayed that it will not come to this. I had prayed that somehow the wisdom of our elders in the party and leaders will intercede early and perhaps prevail. But alas, it either didn’t happen or not enough was done. I am not a happy man today.”
Despite their occasional disagreements, Ahmed acknowledged El-Rufai’s impact and wished him well.
“For what it is worth Malam, some of us are proud of your achievements and strides even when we disagree with you sometimes. All the best, sir. Until we meet on the field again.”
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