‘Go and find a job’– APC’s Ajibola Basiru tells El-Rufai over 2027 attacks on Tinubu

Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has taken a swipe at Nasir El-Rufai, advising the former Kaduna governor to “go and find a job” instead of attacking President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Basiru made the remarks during an interview with Tribune Online on Sunday, while responding to El-Rufai’s recent criticisms of the APC-led federal government.

El-Rufai, who recently pitched his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had declared that his mission was to rally Nigerians against the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.

While addressing ADC supporters in Sokoto, El-Rufai said he joined the coalition to challenge what he described as poor governance.

“I’m not in politics to get anything for myself. I’m in politics to serve,” he said.

“When the government does not serve the people, it is my duty as a senior citizen to come out and condemn it and take steps to reverse the situation.

“That is why we come together as people opposed to the policies of this government to form the coalition, which has resulted in the adoption of ADC.

“We are in Sokoto to begin the process of mobilising Nigerians against the APC government anywhere and the federal government in Abuja.

“I believe that if we allow this party and the government to continue for a second term in office, what remains of Nigeria’s social capital will be destroyed, and we may not have a country at all. This is a fight for our lives.”

But in his response, Basiru dismissed El-Rufai’s campaign, describing it as premature and distracting.

“Why is he in a hurry? 2027 is far. The guidelines for the 2027 elections won’t be out until February 2026. El-Rufai should go and find a job to do,” Basiru said.

“He can go back to school to enrich his knowledge, or play with his grandchildren. We are too busy fixing our party, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is busy with governance. He should not distract us.”

El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, recently cut ties with the ruling party amid speculations of strained relations with Tinubu.

His decision to team up with opposition figures through the ADC has raised the stakes ahead of the next election cycle.

With over two years to the 2027 polls, El-Rufai’s early campaign is already drawing fire from within the APC — a sign that the political temperature is beginning to rise.