I don’t pretend, act like Nollywood actor in governance — El-Rufai
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed his stance on governance, stating that he does not belong to the class of politicians who engage in pretence.
El-Rufai made this statement while responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user, Ira Habib, praised him for his straightforwardness after reading his book, The Accidental Public Servant.
“The day I read El-Rufai’s book titled ‘Accidental Public Servant,’ I concluded that no politician would want #elrufai in their cabinet unless they genuinely intend to develop this country. He doesn’t know how to pretend,” Habib tweeted on Friday.
In response on Saturday, El-Rufai acknowledged the praise and emphasised his commitment to sincerity in leadership.
“Truly, I don’t know how to pretend. Being a Nollywood actor in governance is for some others, not some of us,” he wrote.
El-Rufai also referenced a quote by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, highlighting the difference between opposition and governance: “In opposition, it matters what you say. In government, it matters what you do. And saying is a lot easier than doing.”
READ ALSO: Anti-APC rant: You don’t need this vengeance mission, Bwala tells El-Rufai
The former governor recently criticised the workings of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), lamenting the lack of internal democracy and active party structures.
“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” he stated.
His remarks prompted a response from the presidency, with President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, accusing him of pursuing a “vengeance mission.”
He further urged El-Rufai to resolve his grievances privately rather than engaging in what he called “melodramatic activities.”
