…..Vows to dump SDP over ‘principled differences’ with elder brother, El-Rufai.

Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West in the Nigerian Senate, has announced plans to resign from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing irreconcilable differences with some recent entrants into the party, particularly former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

In an interview with journalists in Keffi on Sunday, Wadada said that while El-Rufai is his elder brother, he cannot share the same political platform with someone whose principles he no longer respects.

“Even though Malam El-Rufai is my elder brother, I don’t think I can stay with him in the SDP because he is not a principled politician,” Wadada stated.

The senator criticized El-Rufai’s political realignment, recalling his strong support for power rotation to the South and his key role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate and eventual winner.

Wadada questioned what had changed between then and now to warrant El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP, especially following his failure to secure a ministerial appointment.

“What changed in President Tinubu between the time El-Rufai supported him and now that he has defected to the SDP?” he asked.

Wadada described the move as self-serving and inconsistent with the values he believes a public servant should uphold.

He went on to praise Senator Abdullahi Adamu as a model of consistency and integrity, citing Adamu’s support for Senator Ahmad Lawan during the APC primaries and his continued loyalty to the APC even after Lawan’s loss.

“That’s the kind of politics I respect—principled, not opportunistic,” he said.

On national matters, Senator Wadada acknowledged the current economic hardships stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies, but expressed hope, pointing out that state governments now have more resources for development.

He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for effectively using subsidy savings to improve infrastructure and welfare in the state.

“In Nasarawa State, the impact of the oil subsidy funds is visible everywhere—even to the most gullible and the blind,” he added.

Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Eno expressed his gratitude to the PDP for their support during his tenure, stating that it was time for him to make a progressive move.

After completing a series of consultations, he decided to join the APC, citing his admiration for President Bola Tinubu and the need for Akwa Ibom State to align with the federal government to reap continuous benefits.

Governor Eno also assured the people of Akwa Ibom State that he would continue to work tirelessly for their benefit, regardless of party affiliation.

Arise Television popular co-host and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as rude, adding that he might abuse President Bola Tinubu tomorrow.

Abati’s remarks come a day after the FCT Minister referred to a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as a politician who is hungry for power.

“Now that they are out of power, they say they are hungry. It’s not hunger for food. It’s hunger for power,” Wike said during a media chat on Monday.

Reacting to Wike’s comment while speaking on ‘The Morning Show’, an ARISE Television breakfast programme on Tuesday, Abati, a co-host, described Wike as a rude politician, noting that Amaechi is Wike’s boss in the field of politics.

“I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics,” said Abati.

“When he was local government chairman or was it councillor during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become local government chairman.”

He added that the FCT minister had previously insulted Peter Odili, a former Rivers governor, who helped him become governor.

The former presidential spokesperson said the FCT minister is showing signs that he will soon use abusive language against President Tinubu.

He advised the president to be wary of Wike because he could insult him in the future just as he had done with Amaechi and others.

Abati said: “Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He insulted Senator John Mbata, who was his godfather at some point. He also showed signs that he will insult President Bola Tinubu.

“In that interview, he pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu was going to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice.

“That is already a signal to President Tinubu to know that this man you are dealing with, his only interested is his own interests.

“President Tinubu should beware. Tomorrow he will abuse this same President Tinubu.”