A founding member of the All Progressives Congress and former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, has revealed that some prominent members of the Buharist political bloc once tried to convince others to abandon President Bola Tinubu’s administration over claims of marginalisation. Okechukwu, who spoke in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune, said he and others in his camp rejected the push and instead urged patience.
Okechukwu disclosed that the pressure came at a time when certain figures within the former Congress for Progressive Change faction felt sidelined under the current government. Rather than join the revolt, he said they counselled restraint. He also touched on the situation of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, noting that some believe El-Rufai felt let down by President Tinubu and struggled to cope with the disappointment.
In his exact words, Okechukwu said, “What I know is that sometimes ago, few prominent members of Buharists political clan cajoled us to abandon Tinubu’s administration, complaining of marginalisation as you mentioned earlier and we cautioned them, saying in vernacular — hankali, surulere, wayo, wayo — meaning please let us tag along and oblige the administration time.”
When asked whether the legal troubles facing El-Rufai and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami amounted to political persecution, Okechukwu was careful with his response. He said his background as a lawyer taught him not to comment publicly on ongoing legal matters involving former colleagues to avoid the risk of contempt of court. He neither defended nor condemned the two figures but made it clear that their paths diverged from the majority of the old CPC bloc that chose to remain loyal to the APC and to Tinubu’s leadership.
The tension between the Buharist wing and the Tinubu-led APC has been one of the defining internal struggles of the party since the 2023 transition of power. Several figures closely associated with former President Muhammadu Buhari have either fallen out with the current administration or found themselves on the wrong side of legal battles, fuelling speculation about a widening crack within the ruling party.
Despite the internal friction, Okechukwu expressed strong confidence in the future of the APC, declaring that the party is resilient enough to survive well beyond 2031. He added that many within the former CPC camp have chosen to channel their energy positively by attracting Foreign Direct Investment to support the economy and align with what he described as the administration’s ambitious reform agenda, which he said has gained recognition internationally.
Whether the cracks within the APC will widen or heal as 2027 approaches remains to be seen, but voices like Okechukwu’s suggest that a significant portion of the party’s old guard is willing to stay the course with Tinubu for now…..See More
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