Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of running a government of cronies where only people with Yoruba names are treated as true Nigerians and beneficiaries of governance.

El-Rufai, who spoke while addressing chieftains of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other opposition politicians during a recent visit to Imo State, said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government had failed Nigerians more disastrously than any administration since independence.

“We all know that Nigeria is in grave danger,” El-Rufai declared.

“In the 65 years I have lived in Nigeria, post-independence, there has never been a government that, within 12 month,s has shown it did not come to work for the people, but for themselves. Within 24 months, this government, this APC government, has thrown 30 million more Nigerians into poverty.”

According to him, the cost-of-living crisis under Tinubu has worsened life for both the rich and poor, leaving Nigerians to question the essence of governance.

“Every person that lives in Nigeria knows the difference between life on 29 May 2023 and life in September 2025,” he said.

The ex-governor, who has left the ruling APC and aligned with opposition forces, urged Nigerians to seize the ongoing voter registration exercise to prepare for the 2027 general elections.

He urged party leaders in the Southeast to mobilise young people aged 16 and above to register and vote by 2027.

“This is not a conference of lamentations. This is a conference about the future,” he said. “The only power you have is your vote. It’s the only thing you can use to kick out this government and replace it with something better.”

El-Rufai further revealed that the opposition had already adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the vehicle for a coalition, while hinting that more parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would eventually join forces.

“This is a coalition to save Nigeria. To save Nigeria from extremely bad governance. A government of cronies that we have never seen in our history. And we must all come together… and confront the evil that is in the villa,” he stated.

El-Rufai also condemned Tinubu’s style of appointments, saying most Nigerians today feel excluded from the government because of ethnicity.

“Most Nigerians today don’t feel they belong to this country or belong to this government unless they have a Yoruba-sounding name,” he said.

The former minister insisted that 2027 must mark a turning point for Nigeria.

“For me, it does not matter who the next president of Nigeria is. But I want to see somebody who is competent and who cares about lifting the poorest of us,” he said, adding that governance should empower both the weak and strong rather than enrich a few families and friends.