Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has dismissed a call by ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai urging opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as an insult to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr. El-Rufai, in a BBC interview aired Saturday, invited prominent politicians such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to defect to the SDP.
Responding in an interview with the same outlet on Sunday, Mr. Lamido rebuffed the invitation.
“It’s an act of disrespect for him to make that call. How can a little child claim to be more intelligent than his grandfather?” Mr. Lamido said.
“The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave.”
Mr. Lamido also questioned Mr. El-Rufai’s credibility, noting his shifting stance on political loyalty.
“He once said there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP. He doesn’t have that capacity,” he said.
The former governor further challenged Mr. El-Rufai’s justification for leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalling his past statements.
“He said he told President Buhari about his decision to leave the APC, but now he is claiming to be one of the adults in Nigerian politics,” Mr. Lamido remarked.
Dismissing any intention to leave the PDP, Mr. Lamido reaffirmed his loyalty.
“If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed,” he said. “Leadership requires patience and vision, working for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole.”
He urged Mr. El-Rufai to prioritize national interest over personal grievances.
“The PDP has been working to rebuild its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election,” Mr. Lamido added.
