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By Oscar Okhifo
The Presidency has hit back at former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, referencing scathing remarks made about El-Rufai by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
El-Rufai, during a recent interview predicted that it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to secure re-election in 2027. He referenced internal polling conducted by his team, claiming a staggering 91% disapproval rating in the Southeast and Northern Nigeria, and 78% in Lagos an APC stronghold.
In a swift response, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to discredit El-Rufai’s assertions. Onanuga invoked Obasanjo’s memoir My Watch (Volume 2), in which the former president delivered a searing critique of El-Rufai’s character.
Quoting from pages 110 to 112 of the book, Onanuga recalled how Obasanjo once described El-Rufai as “a pathological purveyor of untruths” and someone suffering from “a small-man syndrome.”
Obasanjo, in the memoir, alleged that El-Rufai frequently lied even to close family members and often exaggerated his importance.
“He plays himself up to give himself more ‘height’ than he has,” Obasanjo wrote, adding that El-Rufai was talented but only effective under close supervision.
The Presidency’s decision to cite Obasanjo’s personal reflections appears to be a calculated effort to undermine El-Rufai’s credibility and political standing, especially in light of his increasingly critical public statements.
Observers note that the sharp exchange signals a deepening “war” with the political elite, El-Rufai, that once seen as a power broker within the ruling APC, has now positioned himself more openly as a critic of the Tinubu Government.
The former FCT Minister and Governor is yet to respond to the presidency’s remarks.
As Nigeria approaches the midpoint of President Tinubu’s term, the growing political atmosphere is getting hotter. The skirmishes suggest that the road to 2027 may be paved with internal wrangling and high-profile confrontations.