El-Rufai Criticizes Tinubu and APC for Abandoning Federalism After Campaign Promises

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has openly criticized Nigerian politicians for consistently abandoning the principles of federalism once they assume office, despite heavily campaigning on it beforehand.

Speaking on Friday during an interactive session in Owerri, Imo State, El-Rufai stressed that Nigeria was historically established as a federation but has since drifted away from that foundation.

LMSINT MEDIA recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu built much of his political career on the advocacy for restructuring and true federalism. Similarly, the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), made several campaign promises to restructure the country and return Nigeria to genuine federalist practices.

El-Rufai expressed disappointment that successive administrations continue to embrace a centralized, unitary system, which, according to him, stifles growth and undermines national development.

“This country was founded as a federation, but it appears that there are very few genuine federalists in Nigeria. Recent political experiences suggest that federalism is usually promoted by those seeking power, only to be discarded once they achieve their ambitions,” El-Rufai remarked in his presentation titled ‘Moving Forward Together’.

He emphasized that during Nigeria’s First Republic, federalism was instrumental in fostering inter-ethnic harmony, strengthening democratic stability, and driving socio-economic development. However, he blamed the shift towards centralization in the 1970s for weakening these achievements and creating long-term challenges.

According to El-Rufai, the Federal Government has accumulated excessive powers and resources, yet struggles to perform effectively. He insisted that more responsibilities must be devolved to state governments, particularly in sensitive areas such as policing and security.

While acknowledging the progress made through the 2023 constitutional amendment, which moved electricity generation and railway operations to the concurrent legislative list—thereby granting states authority to establish and regulate entities in those sectors—El-Rufai stressed that more reforms are urgently needed.

He pointed to the 2018 APC Committee on True Federalism, which he chaired, as a roadmap for deeper constitutional changes that would restore balance between the federal and state governments.

“As we move forward together, we should aim to be a nation driven by merit, always putting our best forward to meet the urgent demand for economic growth and sustainable development,” El-Rufai concluded.