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Laolu Akande criticized Nasir El-Rufai as a divisive politician with an exaggerated sense of self-importance despite his technocratic abilities
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Akande downplayed APC caucus meeting controversies, emphasizing party unity and routine political traditions predating Tinubu’s administration
Former presidential aide and journalist Laolu Akande has described former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as a divisive figure in Nigerian politics.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Akande assessed El-Rufai’s political career and tenure as Kaduna governor, stating that while he is a capable technocrat, he overrates his abilities.
“El-Rufai deserves recognition as a brilliant technocrat and a proactive politician. However, he seems to have an exaggerated view of his importance,” Akande said.
He criticized El-Rufai’s recent statement suggesting that the North “allowed” the South to take power, calling it an arrogant remark.
“Who does El-Rufai think he is, addressing the nation in such an arrogant manner?” Akande questioned.
His comments highlight ongoing concerns about El-Rufai’s governance and national unity approach.
Akande also addressed the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa, downplaying any controversy surrounding it. He explained that such meetings predate President Bola Tinubu’s administration and were common during the Buhari-Osinbajo era.
“It’s a tradition that didn’t start with Tinubu. These meetings were also held during Buhari’s tenure, possibly even before. So, it’s not a big deal,” he stated.
On the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) vote of confidence in Tinubu’s economic reforms, Akande took a cautious stance. He acknowledged Tinubu’s challenges and noted that the vote was largely symbolic.
“I will give the president the time his mandate allows before making final judgments. There’s still a long way to go. While they are making progress, coordination issues remain. It’s not yet uhuru,” he said.
He described the vote of confidence as routine, meant to maintain party unity. “It’s a regular occurrence in politics. It helps rally the APC base despite the fact that NEC meetings have been rare. What’s important is ensuring continuous engagement between the party and the government.”
Akande also commented on the absence of notable APC members, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governors Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai, from the NEC meeting. He suggested their political relevance within APC had waned.
“Anyone who still believes Amaechi and El-Rufai are APC members is fooling themselves. The political landscape has shifted,” he stated.
He noted that Buhari’s absence was not unusual, as he likely felt his presence was unnecessary, while Osinbajo was in South Africa at the time.
Akande also touched on global health policies, referencing America’s approach to international health organizations like the WHO. He emphasized the interconnected nature of global health, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.
“Diseases do not respect borders. COVID-19 didn’t originate in the U.S., but it spread there. With international travel, health policies must be globally coordinated,” he said.
He urged world leaders to resist isolationist policies in healthcare, stressing that collective efforts are necessary to combat global health threats effectively.