No Crime in Dialogue : SDP’s Gabam Defends El-Rufai Talks, Slams Tinubu’s Cabinet

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Gabam, has defended his party’s recent engagement with former Kaduna State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Gabam insisted that the meeting was a strategic move aimed at repositioning the SDP as a formidable opposition force in Nigeria.

Gabam made this known during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday. The interview was closely monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.

Addressing the public reaction to his meeting with El-Rufai, Gabam questioned the uproar, suggesting that critics were unnecessarily amplifying the situation.

“Why the dust about Malam Nasir El-Rufai? They say he is not significant, he’s nothing. Why the worry about El-Rufai? Why the worry about Segun Sowunmi? If they are important, why won’t the government give them the relevant roles they need to play to enhance the efficiency of the government?” Gabam queried.

He explained that the meeting was part of the SDP’s broader strategy to assess Nigeria’s socio-political landscape in 2024 and strengthen its position as an opposition party.

“The meeting was to strategically review the situation of the country in 2024 as a party. We are an opposition party with elected members in the parliament, state assemblies, and in the local governments. So, we owe it a duty as a party to look at areas where things are not going right and open the space of the party and reach out to a lot of people,” he said.

Drawing parallels with the APC’s rise to power, Gabam highlighted that the current move mirrors the strategy employed by the APC when it successfully unseated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

“It’s the same things APC did when PDP was misbehaving; they re-organised, they regrouped, they relaunched a merger that led to the defeat of the PDP. So, we are not doing anything wrong. I don’t know why the brouhaha about it as if this is the first time Nasir El-Rufai visited or Segun Sowunmi who happens to be a friend. We’ve been in this struggle for a better Nigeria, not to undermine Nigeria,” he stated.

Gabam didn’t hold back in his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, expressing doubt over its ability to deliver on the president’s promises. He argued that the ministers lack the competence required to implement Tinubu’s vision effectively.

He also decried the current state of the economy, noting that Nigerians are enduring unprecedented economic hardship.

“No president that was elected to serve four years and has issues in two years can survive. Jonathan’s opposition started within two years – he lost election,” Gabam warned, suggesting that history could repeat itself if the administration fails to address pressing national challenges.