It was a great session with his eminent, industrialist Engineer Banjo Adeyoju, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BALITA Group, one of the foremost and successful indigenous aluminum roof making companies in Nigeria, and Africa. The event was during the monthly Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International-Nigeria. 

The session was a revelation of how the guru, great speaker Engr Banjo trusts GOD and unending marvelous, the covenant keeping GOD keep paving ways for his now multinational business empires.... 

Among the notable quotes based on decades of business experiences was 'if your product or service has great margin but low patronage, you must ensure you get a backup source to remain in business' 

In his remarks, the host & National Director, Mr I. K. Obazee described Engineer Banjo as a great assets not only for the fellowship but the nation as a whole. 

The March 2025 edition of the monthly event held on 29th March, at the usual venue, Excellence Hotel, Ogba-Ikeja, Ogba, Lagos. In attendance were captains of industries, civil servants, lawyers, accountants, business men and women of numerous backgrounds. 

Let's have your reviews & comments below 

March 11, 2025 - by Alabi Abdul, Kaduna and Bode Olagoke, Abuja

After months of speculated defection plan arising from his hobnobbing with the opposition, former Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai has formally dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), and teamed up with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Announcing the decision in a statement Monday on his Facebook page, the former governor cited irreconcilable differences with the ruling party.

The former FCT minister, who also said he had submitted his resignation letter to his APC ward in Kaduna, effective immediately, also accused the Umar Ganduje leadership of the party of deviating from its founding principles and disregarding internal democratic processes.

However, the APC and a former lawmaker from the state, Senator Shehu Sani, said the party would be better off without him.

They said the party remains focused on strengthening its base and delivering the state for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani come 2027.

 …The defection 

Announcing his defection to the SDP, El-Rufai said: “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC would continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party.

“On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish.

“Founders rightly feel attached towards institutions they helped create, but one must be pragmatic enough to admit when a divergence appears unbridgeable. I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform, but I recognize that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers.

“As a loyal party man, I worked to help secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. I was one of the many governors elected on the party’s platform in 2015 and 2019, that stood for certain democratic and progressive principles to advance nation-building. My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development in education and healthcare, as well as expand infrastructure, promote equality of opportunity, create jobs and attract investments. These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.

“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Prior to this step, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the Grace of God. I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race,” El-Rufai said.

…Pre-defection moves

El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP follows a series of developments suggesting a shift in his political trajectory.

His associates in Kaduna, including former lawmakers and political allies, have in recent weeks defected to the SDP.

Notably, Rt. Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano, a three-term member of the Kaduna state House of Assembly, was announced last week as the interim chairman of the party in the state.

Also, an account linked to El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, also posted an image of the SDP logo, followed shortly by another post that read: “The game begins to see who & who is irrelevant. Political Science 101.”

El-Rufai’s recent visits to former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and prominent cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, in Lagos had also fuelled speculation about possible strategic alliances.

…Good riddance it is – APC

Dismissing his defection as inconsequential, the Kaduna state chapter of the APC said the party remains strong and won’t lose sleep over the former governor’s departure.

In his reaction, the state secretary of the party, Alhaji Yahaya Baba-Pate, said: “We are unperturbed by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is to ensure victory for both President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.”

Baba-Pate added: “The APC in Kaduna State is expanding by the day, judging by the caliber of politicians joining us. We are not disturbed by anyone leaving, as our governor’s inclusive governance continues to attract more members.”

“We are not worried, and we certainly won’t lose sleep over El-Rufai’s move. The APC in Kaduna is stronger than ever,” he further stated.

…He was in fear, says Shehu Sani

Similarly, a former lawmaker who represented the Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Comrade Shehu Sani, dismissed the political impact the ex-governor’s defection could have on the state’s political arrangement.

 “Leaving APC for SDP won’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance again,” he said. 

A statement from Shehu Sani’s office linked El-Rufai’s defection to fears over recent political realignments in Kaduna, particularly the return of key figures like former Governor Ramalan Yero, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, and Senator Danjuma Laah to the APC. 

“The return of Shehu Sani and other prominent politicians to the APC has unsettled El-Rufai,” the statement added. 

It further noted that El-Rufai, unwilling to face the growing influence of these politicians within the APC, formally resigned from the party.

 …Exit too early, says Lukman

Also in another reaction, a chief strategist and key leader in the proposed national political coalition ahead of 2027 general elections, Malam Salihu Moh. Lukman said the former governor’s defection was too early.

Lukman, a former Director General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), however, declared that he would not join El-Rufai in SDP unless the party meets the coalition and open up its fold.

Speaking with newsmen Monday in Abuja, Lukman said: “Only if SDP meets the conditions we have set, which I have highlighted. At the moment, they have not met. We are in discussion, no doubt about it. If they meet it tomorrow, fine.”

“It’s expected even after the interview he granted on Arise TV.  You can see the handwriting. But whether it is going to come so soon is what even I couldn’t have said. My expectation was that he should have been a bit patient for us to walk out as a group based on the current negotiation that is ongoing. 

“But he knows better and I do hope his decision is not going to become like a kind of break away from whatever we are doing. My hope is that at the end, we should be able to reconcile and work together under one platform,” he said.

When asked to speak on whether the proposed coalition will adopt SDP as the platform for 2027 elections, Lukman said: “I think the discussion about whether SDP will be there or not has been an ongoing thing. 

“The challenge is a question of whether SDP will submit itself to some of the conditions that we believe are necessary. What are these conditions? Frankly speaking, unlike most conventional politicians, most conventional politicians who just want a platform where they will present candidates and use it to win elections, there are a few of us who believe the issue is beyond that. 

“What Nigerians need is a platform that will promote political competition in the country. If you remember, the problem Nigerians had with PDP is the problem of imposition of candidates. And when the APC came and promised ‘Change’, the expectation of Nigerians is that we will change the culture of imposition.”

Original source: https://blueprint.ng/apc-shehu...

Make your comments below 

"Since his name was also dropped from the ministerial list after attending screening at the Senate, El-Rufai has been predictably bitter. He said the distance between him and APC was widening.

At the recent national conference on strengthening democracy,  he attacked the Tinubu administration,  describing the current state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”

He alleged lack of internal democracy within the APC, declaring that “mo party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.” El-Rufai added: “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today. The problems that led to the formation of the APC remained unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them.”

"Obi distanced himself from any proposed coalition with the PDP, saying: “I’m not interested in coalition for the purpose of power grabbing.”

The former Anambra governor noted that past moves to evolve a coalition have been reduced to an exercise for power grabbing. He wondered why political leaders would allow the country to collapse in their desperation for political power.

Obi said: “I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, about the common people and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.”

More than Kwankwaso, Obi appears to be in a precarious situation. He is leaning on LP, a borrowed platform. The party is not in a position to respond to an offer of alliance. It is divided and weakened by leadership tussle between the national chairman. Julius Abure, and the National Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.

The Obidient Movement, which is the main pillar and strength of Obi, has no footing in the party. Its members are scattered and not coordinated. There is nothing that can actually attract them to PDP.

Besides, there is a clash of ambitions and egos. As an observer queried: “Can Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, step down for Obi? Can he make the sacrifice? What would be the reaction of his followers?

“Can Obi accept to be Atiku’s running mate again? Would that not be infuriating to the obedients who would demand nothing less than a presidential ticket? In the power sharing deal, what would be the place of the Kano power broker, Kwankwaso?

SDP as merger springboard

The current SDP contrasts sharply with the defunct Third Republic formidable SDP, which served as platform for the 1993 presidential ambition of the late Chief Moshood Abiola. Thus, according to analysts, the handlers of the SDP only indulge in name dropping by conveying the impression that it is an incarnate of the banned party.

Since its birth under this dispensation, SDP has not been able to spring any surprise. Like the LP, it has largely been a borrowed platform, often hired by aggrieved politicians from the two leading parties – APC and PDP.

In Yobe, protesting APC members have taken refuge in the party. In Ondo State, former Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye has been holding fort in the party. In Kogi State, it was adopted by an APC defector, Muritala Ajaka, for the last governorship election. In Osun State, it was the party that once accomodated PDP followers of Senator Iyiola Omisore. In Ekiti State, it was used as goverorship platform by Segun Oni, an engineer and former PDP governor. Before that election, a PDP elder and former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, sought refuge in the party.

However, the temporary chieftains of SDP returned to their former parties.

The most prominent SDP chieftain in the country today is Adebayo Adewole, a lawyer and businessman, who was its presidential candidate in 2023.

He received the news of El-Rufai’s defection with a mixture of excitement and reservations. The Ondo-born politician described the former Kaduna State governor as a man of strength and weaknesses. He said the defector has to work on his weaknesses.

Part of the weaknesses has led to the perception of El-Rufai’s as a symbol of ethnic and religious bigotry in a plural country, whose previous remarks have sparked tension."

Let's have your comments below:

extract source: https://thenationonlineng.net/...