The presidency has reacted to recent assertion by former Kaduna governor, Nasir-El-Rufai assertion that President Bola Tinubu is plotting to become Nigeriaās 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 Partyās presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Nigeriaās Paul Biya
However, speaking during a visit to his home by Atiku, El-Rufai said in a video posted on the former Vice Presidentās Facebook page said, āHonestly 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 ā it was all a pretence, all fake.
āBecause 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 donāt 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.ā
El-Rufai also heaped praises on the former Vice President, saying, āYou are our leader, you have done this fight before, you have fought the military, you have experience in democratic governance.
āWhen 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.ā
Greatest Risk To Our Democracy
In his reply, Atiku also agreed that the Tinubuās administration āpose the greatest risk to our democracy since the return of democratic governance.
āIt is concerning that this administration has turned into a full-blown dictatorship,ā 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 ālife presidentā after 2027ā as ābaseless and absurd.ā
Onanuga, in a post on his social media handles posited that El- Rufai started spreading further unfounded stories of ālife presidentā 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.
āPresident Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,ā Onanuga said.
Onanuga, in the post said, āFormer 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 Tinubuās likely re-election in 2027. This plot is proving to be unattainable, a mission doomed to fail.
āAfter 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.
āIn response, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a ālife presidentā after 2027āa speculation that is baseless and absurd.
āPresident Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.
āGovernor 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.ā
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