The presidency has reacted to recent assertion by former Kaduna governor, Nasir-El-Rufai assertion that President Bola Tinubu is plotting to become Nigeria’s life president if re-elected in 2027.
El-Rufai said this during a recent visit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to his home.
The former Kaduna governor and Atiku are chieftains of African Democratic Congress, ADC, a platform adopted by opposition politicians seeking to deny President Tinubu second term in 2027.
Atiku had also indicated his interest in the presidential ticket of ADC, having resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the platform on which he contested the 2019 and 2023 presidency.
Others who have indicated interest in the presidential ticket of ADC are former Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Nigeria’s Paul Biya
However, speaking during a visit to his home by Atiku, El-Rufai said in a video posted on the former Vice President’s Facebook page said, “Honestly Sir, to me, it is even a disgrace. I mean, for people to behave the way they are behaving, it means that all the years of saying that we are for democracy, all the claims that we are fighting for true federalism and so on – it was all a pretence, all fake.
“Because this government is trying to centralise everything instead of devolving power to the lower levels. The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of such a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t come together and end this Tinubu administration by 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya, to be president for life. All the signs are there, this is how Paul Biya started.”
El-Rufai also heaped praises on the former Vice President, saying, “You are our leader, you have done this fight before, you have fought the military, you have experience in democratic governance.
“When you and former President Obasanjo were in power, no one was being harassed because he had a different political feel. Even President Buhari, with his military background, never did that, and here we are facing full-fledged civilians but they are worse than any military regime we have ever had.”
Greatest Risk To Our Democracy
In his reply, Atiku also agreed that the Tinubu’s administration “pose the greatest risk to our democracy since the return of democratic governance.
“It is concerning that this administration has turned into a full-blown dictatorship,” the former VP said.
You Need Help !
However, in reaction to the assertions, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claim by El-Rufai that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” after 2027— as “baseless and absurd.”
Onanuga, in a post on his social media handles posited that El- Rufai started spreading further unfounded stories of “life president” following recent grand reception of the President in Kaduna and having realised that he and his associates cannot stop the re-election of Tinubu in 2027, contrary to his often repeated claim.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga, in the post said, “Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai appears to need some help, especially given his recent unfounded claims and speculations about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is increasingly evident that El-Rufai has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates in his new party to prevent President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027. This plot is proving to be unattainable, a mission doomed to fail.
“After reports of the grand reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was clearly surprised by the depth of support the President continues to enjoy in the North. This stands in stark contrast to his narrative that the region has abandoned the President.
“In response, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” after 2027—a speculation that is baseless and absurd.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.
“Governor Uba Sani may wish to reach out to his predecessor, as El-Rufai could benefit from some professional counselling to steer him away from his recent hallucinations and political fabrications on Tinubu and 2027.”
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