Columns

2027: SDP, El-Rufai, and the refuge of lies

Published

1 year ago

April 16, 2025

News Net Global

2027: SDP, El-Rufai, and the refuge of lies

2027: SDP, El-Rufai, and the refuge of lies

By Dr. James Bwala

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and the former senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, have severally revealed in their various commentaries and interviews with journalists the kind of person the former governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is and what he represents within and outside the political circles. Many who had also come across such pieces of writing or articles written about the former Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, have either aired their sentiments or held their reservations about the person of El-Rufai. Those of us who were born and brought up in Kaduna State can agree or disagree with Governor Uba Sani and Senator Shehu Sani on their conclusion of the person of El-Rufai. But certainly, one thing we may all agree on is better put in the words of Nigeria’s former head of state and president, Olusegun Obasanjo, when he described the Man-El-Rufai in his book, “My Watch,” Vol. 2, pages 110-112. “El-Rufai has a penchant for lying, disloyalty..’.

The political landscape of Nigeria in 2027 presents a complex narrative of opportunism and strategic repositioning, epitomized by Nasir el-Rufai’s calculated maneuvers within the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai’s persistent party-hopping demonstrates the pragmatic nature of Nigerian political elites, who prioritize personal interests over substantive national transformation. This phenomenon reveals a systemic problem where political leaders view party affiliations as tactical instruments rather than platforms for genuine societal progress. The strategically orchestrated political realignments, particularly el-Rufai’s mobilization of opposition leaders under the SDP banner, underscore a deeper malaise in Nigerian democratic practice. His attempts to reconstruct political narratives reflect a calculated approach to maintaining relevance in an increasingly volatile political environment. The persistent manipulation of electoral dynamics suggests a continued reliance on rhetorical strategies designed to obscure fundamental governance challenges.

In 2027, the political landscape in Nigeria continues to be shaped by complex dynamics involving several players, notably the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and prominent figures like Nasir El-Rufai. This piece explores the intersection of political strategies, governance, and the pervasive influence of misinformation, encapsulated in the idea of a “refuge of lies.” The SDP has historically positioned itself as a party dedicated to social justice, democracy, and economic advancement. However, as 2027 unfolds, it faces significant challenges that threaten its credibility and electoral viability. One critical issue is the party’s struggle to maintain a clear and honest narrative amid a climate of misinformation.

In recent years, the proliferation of social media has allowed for rapid dissemination of both information and falsehoods, leading to confusion among voters. The SDP must navigate this reality by championing transparency and engaging with citizens on the ground to rebuild trust. Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, also plays a pivotal role in this narrative. Known for his controversial approaches to governance, El-Rufai’s political maneuvers often stir debate. His strategies, ranging from economic reforms to security initiatives, highlight the necessity of truthful discourse in politics.

In a political climate where misinformation can skew public perception, El-Rufai’s successes and failures must be viewed through a lens of honesty. The SDP could benefit by aligning its objectives with truthfulness, demonstrating how effective governance relies on accurate and factual communication. The “refuge of lies” refers to the tendency of some political actors to resort to deceitful tactics to gain an advantage. This can involve making exaggerated claims about achievements or downplaying failures to manipulate public opinion. This practice erodes the foundation of democracy, as voters are left with distorted views of their leaders and their policies.

Throughout 2027, as both the SDP and El-Rufai navigate their agendas, it is crucial to foster an environment where integrity prevails over deception. Voter education campaigns that promote critical thinking and fact-checking can combat the effects of misinformation. Indeed, the interplay between the SDP, Nasir El-Rufai, and the concept of the “refuge of lies” presents a critical moment for Nigeria’s political future. It emphasizes the importance of truthfulness in governance and the need for political accountability. As the country approaches the next electoral cycle, the challenges posed by misinformation demand urgent action. A commitment to transparency and integrity from both the SDP and political leaders like El-Rufai can foster a healthier democratic process, ultimately benefiting the electorate and the nation as a whole.

Ultimately, the 2027 political landscape for the SDP and its co-travellers under the umbrella called “A Coalition” represents a refuge of lies, where political survival trumps meaningful democratic engagement. El-Rufai’s maneuvers exemplify a broader pattern of political opportunism that undermines the potential for substantive national renewal. As Nigerian voters navigate these complex political terrains, the imperative for critical engagement and systemic accountability becomes increasingly paramount. Voters are left to discern between the rhetoric of change and the reality of recycled political tactics. The electorate’s skepticism is further fueled by a political climate where promises of reform are frequently overshadowed by entrenched interests and the perpetuation of power dynamics that favor the political elite over ordinary citizens. The entrenched cycle of political defections and alliances, as evidenced by El-Rufai’s maneuvers, highlights a stark reality where the pursuit of power supersedes the commitment to national development.

This pattern of political maneuvering not only perpetuates a cycle of disillusionment among the electorate but also poses significant challenges to fostering a stable and transparent democratic process. The electorate’s growing disillusionment is exacerbated by political figures like El-Rufai, whose repeated party affiliations underscore a tactical play for power rather than a commitment to transformative leadership. The electorate’s skepticism is further fueled by a political climate where promises of reform are frequently overshadowed by entrenched interests and the perpetuation of power dynamics that favor the political elite over ordinary citizens. Such political maneuvering not only undermines the electorate’s trust but also perpetuates a cycle where substantial policy reform remains elusive. The strategic alignment of political figures with parties like the SDP, as advocated by El-Rufai, underscores a pervasive trend where political survival is prioritized over authentic governance reforms. Such a focus on political expediency rather than genuine reform efforts raises critical questions about the future of democracy in Nigeria and whether the electorate will continue to tolerate this cyclical betrayal.

The electorate’s growing disillusionment with these political machinations may eventually catalyze a demand for transparency and accountability, challenging leaders like El-Rufai to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible reforms. Given the electorate’s increasing frustration, it becomes imperative for political leaders to demonstrate a commitment to substantive policy changes rather than mere political posturing. The electorate’s demand for accountability is not only a call for action but also a test of the political will to transcend entrenched interests and foster genuine progress. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) must navigate these turbulent waters carefully, as its credibility hinges on distancing itself from the pervasive culture of political expediency that has long plagued the nation’s governance.
READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/southeast-crises-ipob-peddling-falsehood-disinformation-to-remain-relevant-army/

As the 2027 elections approach, the SDP’s challenge lies in convincing an increasingly skeptical public that it can break away from the entrenched practices of its predecessors and offer a viable alternative to the status quo. The party’s ability to present a cohesive and transparent platform will be crucial in dispelling the pervasive cynicism that has long characterized Nigerian politics. The party’s leadership must recognize that empty promises and shifting allegiances, as exemplified by political figures like El-Rufai, are no longer sufficient to secure the trust of a populace weary of recycled rhetoric and superficial alliances. The electorate’s skepticism is further fueled by figures like El-Rufai, whose frequent party shifts are seen as emblematic of political opportunism rather than a genuine commitment to reform.

The challenge for the SDP will be to distinguish itself from figures like El-Rufai, whose political maneuvers have often been perceived as prioritizing self-interest over meaningful reform. To truly resonate with the electorate, the SDP must present a clear and consistent vision that starkly contrasts with the opportunistic tendencies of career politicians like El-Rufai. The SDP must focus on articulating policies that address the systemic issues of governance, resource mismanagement, and public disenchantment, rather than succumbing to the allure of temporary palliatives that have historically characterized political campaigns. The SDP’s commitment to integrity and reform will be tested as it navigates the complex landscape of Nigerian politics, where promises are often made with little intention of being fulfilled. The SDP must also remain vigilant against the allure of figures whose past actions, such as those of El-Rufai, have often contributed to the perpetuation of a political culture rooted in cynicism and self-preservation. The SDP’s ability to build trust will hinge on its willingness to break away from the shadow of political figures like El-Rufai, whose influence often symbolizes a return to the entrenched power dynamics that many voters are eager to dismantle.

* James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

2027: SDP, El-Rufai, and the refuge of lies

Columns

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

Published

1 week ago

June 25, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

By: Balami Lazarus

What does it take to be a public mouthpiece? That was the question I asked Comrade Dadong Solomon Antibas. My chats with him were a balanced interface. The answers can be found in the write-up for your review.

Democracy like ours has brought to the limelight public mouthpiece voices; some are weak and political, while others are strong, progressive, constructive, and fearless, demanding progress, growth, and development as dividends of good governance in a peaceful atmosphere.

Governments created by democratic processes are never left alone without citizens asking questions and demanding dividends of democracy for their community and the country at large.

Comrade Dadong Solomon Antibas is a Nigerian, law-abiding citizen. Antibas, a security expert and popular public mouthpiece on the Jos Plateau, has earned the confidence of the people of his community, Ungwan Rukuba, and most parts of the state over the years. For his community, he is their immediate mouthpiece who has been speaking on their plights, calling the attention of the government under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to do the needful.

Personality like Solomon Antibas’ public impression of him by some citizens of the state is all about seeking relevance and political appointments. “I have no interest whatsoever in any political appointment. My sincere concern for my dear country and my state, Plateau, is peace, progress, growth, and development for future generations.”

Nigerians should begin to speak out on good governance at all levels. Citizens are also responsible for failing to hold them accountable and demand good governance in terms of security, social amenities, and infrastructure.

Ungwan Rukuba is one of the wards in the Jos North Local Government Area. It is an integral part of the city center. Unfortunately, the peaceful Ungwan Rukuba became a flashpoint. The terrorist attack of March 29th, 2026, has put a scar of insecurity on the area.

On insecurity, he said that Mr. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has failed Nigerians woefully. “Insecurity is a bone of contention. The federal government must take decisive measures on the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation.”

My findings on Comrade Dadong Antibas revealed that he is not a public affairs commentator or an analyst but a progressive and active public mouthpiece, a voice of the voiceless.

For some, Dadong is attacking the government under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang. ” Is speaking the minds of citizens on bad governance and holding the government of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang a crime”?

Despite threats on Solomon Dadong, they have not deterred him from speaking for and on behalf of other citizens living in the state. “I have no other way to hold the government accountable than to publicly speak and constructively criticize the leadership’s voicing out feelings and lots of the people…In democracy, governments are made by the people, and as such, they must provide for the collective needs of the masses who voted them in.”

Comrade Antibas is one among the few indigenous people of Plateau who are outspoken and speak with passion and a patriotic mind for his state and Nigeria. “I will live and die in Nigeria speaking, advocating, demanding, and/or holding both federal and state governments accountable for good governance.”

Balami, Publisher/Columnist, 08036779290

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

Columns

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment

Published

2 weeks ago

June 23, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment

By: Balami Lazarus

I grew up in an academic environment where the language is the same: study well, have good grades and be what you desire to be in the future through academic discipline and training.

Many of my contemporaries and I were not spoken to in the language of trade and commerce. But here are some of us as businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors and in other business enterprises far from the academic language we were bred with.

There has never been a market like the capital market the world over where trade per day runs into billions of cash. While market capitalisation is in trillions. The case of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), now Nigerian Exchange Group, with its trade symbol (NGX) on the floor, is a good example.

Investing in the capital market is profitable for traders and short- and long-term investors. But understanding the market requires some basic facts, which are cash, knowledge, discipline and patience, important for investors to appreciate the market.

Recently a member of my social group came to me to seek my advice on what it takes to invest in the equity market (stock exchange). I was very candid with the fellow, informing him that he needs cash, knowledge, discipline and patience to invest in the capital market after having defined his position as an investor.

First an investor needs cash in his possession set aside to invest in the capital market, the gateway into the market. You can have the other three, but without cash you are not yet an investor.

Lack of knowledge about a business or investments has made so many persons lose money worth millions.

This is typical with good number of Nigerians who attempted to start a business or invest in some going concerns without basic knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of these investments or businesses.

The information and technology age has
made acquiring knowledge very simple; therefore, understanding the stock market is easy these days.

Basically, the capital market depends on and responds to information, government policies, and economic and political happenings/events within and without, which most often determines the graphic movements of the primary market deals on the floor. ‘Bullish’ or ‘bearish’ simply means the plus or minus of the day’s transactions.

The need for monitoring of the market is important for traders and short-term investors. However, with knowledge and careful monitoring of the market, it is a suitable place for short-term gains for investors with multiple numbers of holdings in blue-chip companies like Dangote Cement, Bau Foods, Nestle, Aradel, Okumu Oil Palm, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and others. But for long-term investors, whether the market is bullish or bearish, his investment portfolio is for future use.

Investments like those of the capital market, discipline and being committed are necessary to build a strong, high-quality, profitable portfolio of a large number of holdings of units spread over listed companies of the stock exchange that come with capital appreciation and dividends. This is important, especially for long-term investors.

And the turn key in this type of investment is patience. Generally investments need patience for them to mature for harvest.

In stock market investment, patience plays a vital role in this business. Therefore, for an investor who lacks patience, the capital market is not a tuft for him and shall never be.

To navigate through this market, investors must at all times apply this formula and have it printed on their hearts. Cash = stock units over time + patience = capital apreciation/dividends.

Today there are changes in the exchange which have improved trading. The time of trade has been extended to transactions and payments (T+1). Other electronic applications to aid and encourage investors in the capital market in an attempt to boost the Nigerian economy.

Balami, Publisher/ Columnist 08036779290

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment

Columns

The ‘Hyenas’ and The Fear of Radical Changes

Published

3 weeks ago

June 15, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

The ‘Hyenas’ and The Fear of Radical Changes

By: Balami Lazarus

Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, governance shortcomings, and societal stagnation were discoursed in a recent controversial work titled “Radical Approach: Ways of Ending the Menace of Insecurity in Nigeria,” which has sparked vehement reactions. These responses, saturated with insults and threats, underscore not only the resistance to transformative ideas but also reveal deeper cultural and psychological barriers inhibiting national progress.

Hyenas occupy a complex place symbolically and ecologically. Known for their powerful jaws capable of crushing bone and their fearsome appearance, hyenas possess attributes of strength and resilience. Ironically, the very qualities that should have crowned them kings of the jungle remain unrealized due to internal flaws—excessive fear and greed. This metaphor resonates profoundly with the Nigerian socio-political landscape. Many citizens and leaders embody these counterproductive traits, which sabotage collective progress. The ‘hyenas’ here are those resistant individuals who react aggressively to change, fearful of losing entrenched privileges or comfortable mediocrity.

Despite their natural capacities, hyenas do not kill their prey outright but feed until the victim is entirely consumed, a parallel to how corruption, insecurity, and dysfunctional governance gradually erode Nigeria’s potential. Nevertheless, because of this fear and greed, the true power of the hyenas remains dormant. Similarly, Nigerians possess enormous potential—humans and resources alike—but systemic fear of radical transformation prevents the nation from ascending to greatness.

Resistance to radical change is hardly unique to Nigeria; however, the scale and intensity of opposition here are particularly pronounced. The author of the initial work rightly posits that fundamental restructuring or amicable separation (balkanization) may be necessary to ensure peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional groups. While this proposition unsettles many, it is grounded in historical precedents where developing nations embraced bold reforms, coupled with decisive policies and enforcement mechanisms, to dismantle corruption and oppression effectively.

For example, South Korea’s transformative journey from a war-ravaged country to a technological powerhouse was marked by radical government-led reforms, strict anti-corruption measures, and an unyielding commitment to national goals. Similarly, post-apartheid South Africa undertook sweeping constitutional and institutional reforms to redress systemic inequalities. These examples suggest that change without fear, and with a clear vision, is achievable. In Nigeria’s case, however, political leaders often prioritize personal gain over national interest, shielding corrupt practices from scrutiny and accountability—a scenario that foreign nationals sometimes benefit from more than average Nigerians.

Hence, it is not just a question of reform but an urgent call for a radical overhaul of the political, economic, and security frameworks—an overhaul that will inevitably provoke discomfort among the ‘hyenas’ who thrive on the status quo. Their hostility reflects a deeper anxiety about losing undue influence rather than genuine concern for national welfare.

Those who dare to voice radical solutions face fierce backlash. The insults, threats, and online harassment directed at the author of “Radical Approach” epitomize the perils confronting reformists. Such antagonism stems from a culture where free expression is often conflated with subversion and where critical voices are silenced through intimidation rather than engaged with constructively. This atmosphere breeds cynicism and self-censorship, retarding public discourse essential for democracy and progress.

The paradox lies in the fact that while politicians and vested interests propagate falsehoods to maintain their grip, genuine advocates of change are vilified. This creates a toxic environment where truth-tellers face social ostracism, leaving the masses bewildered about whom to trust. The condemnation of the author’s suggestion to either restructure or separate the country illustrates how deeply sensitive and contested the issue of national unity is—yet it also reveals the urgency to address unresolved grievances before they escalate into greater conflict.

It is crucial to emphasize that opinions, especially those anchored in personal conviction and aimed at national betterment, deserve respect and consideration, even if controversial. Democratic societies thrive on diverse viewpoints and vigorous debate. The author’s claim to persist as a ‘honey badger’—an animal known for fearless tenacity—symbolizes the courage required to confront entrenched systems and societal fears.

Change is seldom comfortable; it disrupts established norms and compels individuals to rethink identities and power structures. But without this discomfort, stagnation ensues, and nations risk eventual decline or disintegration. In Nigeria’s context, the failure to act decisively invites greater insecurity, economic hardship, and social unrest, ultimately threatening the very fabric of the nation.

To overcome the paralysis induced by fear and entrenched interests, Nigerians must collectively embrace the concept of radical but non-violent reform. The analogy of hyenas vividly encapsulates the paradox of strength hindered by fear and selfishness—a situation familiar to Nigeria today. The vehement backlash against radical proposals for restructuring or separation signals a collective unease but also highlights the necessity for bold action. History teaches us that radical change, enforced with fairness and resolve, is often the catalyst for national rebirth.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Will it continue to be prey to internal fears and greed, or will it muster the courage to embrace transformative ideas, no matter how uncomfortable they may seem? Advocates like the author of “Radical Approach” bear the burden and honor of challenging the status quo. Their persistence embodies hope that someday, rationality and justice will prevail over hostility and inertia.

In this pursuit, Nigerians must shed the fearful mindset that binds them and instead harness their inherent strengths—diversity, resilience, and youthful energy—to reclaim their destiny. Only then can the nation finally silence the cacophony of ‘hyenas’ and evolve into a stable, prosperous democracy worthy of its vast potential.

Balami, Publisher/Columnist 08036779290

The ‘Hyenas’ and The Fear of Radical Changes