El-Rufai warns Nigeria in deepest crisis, blames ‘urban bandits’ in power

Former Kaduna State governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that Nigeria is facing its most profound crisis since the 1914 amalgamation, warning that a new class of “urban bandits” has hijacked the country’s leadership to the detriment of national development.

El-Rufai made the striking remarks on Saturday in Abuja during a public lecture held to commemorate the 60th birthday of former Rivers State governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The event, attended by political figures, civil society actors, and members of the public, focused on the theme: “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria.”

In a passionate address, El-Rufai lamented what he described as Nigeria’s accelerating decline, attributing the nation’s woes to decades of leadership failures and the continued elevation of individuals he labeled “urban bandits” — power-seeking elites who, he argued, have neither the vision nor capacity to govern effectively.

“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914,” El-Rufai said. “We have allowed urban bandits — not the ones hiding in the forests, but those in our cities — to take over leadership. These are people who know how to grab power but do not know what to do with it.”

The former governor did not hold back in his critique, asserting that incompetence in governance is now endemic, and that repeated electoral choices have empowered individuals lacking the knowledge and strategic insight needed to tackle Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges.

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“The real problem is that we keep electing people who are simply incompetent. Wherever you see progress in Nigeria, it is because a competent person was given the opportunity to lead,” he stated.

El-Rufai warned that unless Nigerians take deliberate action to reverse the trend, the country could face even greater instability and systemic collapse. He called for a national awakening ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging voters to prioritize competence, capability, and genuine commitment when choosing leaders.

“The key challenge for Nigerians in 2027 is really to look at those offering themselves for leadership and pick those who have the competence, capability, and commitment to move Nigeria forward,” he emphasized. “We are working together to build a coalition that will rescue Nigeria from this dangerous path.”

His comments come amid rising public dissatisfaction with governance at multiple levels, persistent insecurity, and economic hardship — all of which have intensified national debates over leadership quality and institutional accountability.

The event also featured critical reflections on how poverty has been systematically exploited for political gain, with several speakers noting that economic disempowerment remains a central tool in Nigeria’s cycle of underdevelopment.

As 2027 approaches, El-Rufai’s message adds to the growing calls for electoral reform, civic awareness, and a leadership reset — a sentiment increasingly echoed across the political spectrum and among Nigeria’s frustrated electorate.