A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe has called on the party to mend fences with former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

According to him, no minister in President Bola Tinubu?s cabinet is bolder or smarter than El-Rufai.

Igbokwe said this in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening after El-Rufai alleged that the ruling party was trying to destroy opposition parties in the country.

The ex-governor stated this at a conference organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD) in Abuja on Tuesday.

?There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties,? he said.

But in a swift response, the APC through its spokesman, Felix Morka accused El-Rufai of ?crass incompetence?.

?The bizarre suggestion by opposition figures like Atiku, Peter Obi, and recently, aggrieved leaders like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai that our great party may be complicit in the internal corrosion of opposition parties is pitiful, and only an incompetent alibi for their crass failure to manage their own affairs.

?They cannot govern their parties but tout their ability to govern Africa?s most populous country,? Morka said.

However, Igbokwe urged the ruling party to draw El-Rufai closer as it could not afford to lose the ex-governor to the opposition.

?All things considered APC Nigeria needs the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He worked so hard for APC during the 2023 Presidential and Governorship Elections,? he said.

He recalled El-Rufai?s efforts to counter the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)?s naira redesign policy that threatened to derail Tinubu?s presidential ambition.

?I also remember the excruciating efforts he put down to retain Kaduna for APC,? Igbokwe stated.

He added, ?HE El-Rufai was nominated as a Minister and we allowed shenanigans and people without honour to come to hallowed chambers of the Senator to stop his nomination for reasons we do not know.

?If reality is to prevail he was supposed to take a bow just walk away. APC allowed the interlopers to walk away with their sadistic tendencies. Now let me ask this question: Of what meat are they fed? Who among all the Ministers in the Federal Cabinet that is greater, smarter, bolder, more claver, proficient and deeper than Mallam El Rufai?

?Neglecting and ignoring our own Scholar in the finest and best tradition is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable. May we never forget this stormy petrel with loads of capacity and capability. Malam El-Rufai na man oooooo.

?For whatever reasons APC NIGERIA must not ignore this great man. We cannot afford to lose him to the rival party. He is one of the strong characters we cannot afford to lose at a time like this.? (Daily Sun)

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