Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised concerns over the state of governance in Nigeria, warning that the country is facing grave danger due to the emergence of unfit individuals in positions of leadership.

Speaking on Saturday in Abuja at a public lecture themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria”, held in honour of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s 60th birthday, El-Rufai criticized the consistent trend of electing what he termed as “the worst among us” into leadership roles.

“Nigeria is facing its most severe crisis since 1914,” El-Rufai declared. “We are now working together, building alliances, in a bid to rescue the country from its current direction.”

He lamented that the country's troubles stem not just from criminal bandits in rural areas but from what he described as “urban bandits” — individuals in positions of power who lack the competence to lead.

“The real problem is that we often entrust leadership to people who are simply not capable. Many of them understand how to seize power but have no idea what to do with it once they get there,” he said.

El-Rufai urged Nigerians to prioritize competence, character, and capacity when choosing leaders, emphasizing that only visionary and capable leadership can steer the nation toward genuine progress.