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Tag: el-Rufai

  • 2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    • Osun chair dares three Senators, eight Reps to defect; rains curses on those who leave

    The South West Caucus of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, insisted that it would not be part of the coalition being put together by some politicians, including prominent members of the party such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The caucus, comprising Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja, among others, reaffirmed its unwavering loyalty to the PDP and commitment to its unity, stability, progress and success at all levels.

    Governor Makinde dismissed the coalition as incapable of constituting any threat to PDP.

    Chairman of the party in Osun State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, warned PDP federal lawmakers from the state against dumping the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The PDP Caucus, in a communiqué at the end of a meeting in Ibadan, said the party remained intact in the Southwest.

    It urged all its organs and relevant bodies to remain focused and continue to work assiduously toward the successful conduct of the scheduled National Convention to further strengthen and reposition the PDP for the task ahead.

    “The Caucus states in that it is not part of the reported coalition and urges all members of the PDP to remain united, steadfast and continue to stand behind our leaders in the Zone in navigating through all issues at the zonal and national levels,” it said.

    But it expressed support for the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) that “our Party remains open to working with other well-meaning like-minded citizens in the collective effort to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    It also resolved to intensify efforts to ensure “the victory of our great Party in the upcoming bye-elections in Oyo and Ogun States as well as Local Government Council election in Lagos State. The Caucus is confident that the PDP as a party of choice in the Southwest and Nigeria at large will record a sweeping victory in the coming elections.”

    It demanded the immediate release, by the federal government, of “the withheld Osun State Local Government allocation. The withholding of the Osun State Local Government allocation by the Federal Government is unconstitutional, unwarranted and a violation of the rights and wellbeing of the people of Osun State.

    Fielding questions from reporters at the end of the meeting, Makinde said the brains behind the coalition have always been known as people with antecedents of moving from one party to another.

    He said any serious party leader should address whatever challenge is facing his party head on, instead of jumping ship at the slightest opportunity.

    He said the question people should be asking is what such defectors have to offer.

    On the caucus meeting, he said: “We want the whole world, the entire country to know that the PDP in the Southwest is united, we are together.

    “Coalition is not a threat to PDP. Who are these people in this coalition? They have been in some parties before, whether PDP or APC. What are their antecedents? Does it mean that every time they move from one party to the other, they repented or changed or they have something new to offer the people?

    “Those are salient questions. If this building here, the roof is leaking, as leaders of PDP in the Southwest, are we going to abandon the building and go somewhere else to take refuge? We will stay inside here and fix it and let the people know that we are responsible leaders and we have the interest of the people at heart. That will be my own expectation for anybody that has anything against this party.”

    On the threat by some members of the coalition that they will remain in the PDP but work for the coalition, the governor said people were entitled to their opinions but the party as an institution with laid down structure has its own way of dealing with such issues at the right time.

    His words: “People can say whatever they like. But in a party like PDP, that is an institution, we have our own ways and means of dealing with such issues. And when we get to the point where we have to deal with such issues, I give you the assurance, we will.”

    Addressing the delegates earlier, the governor recalled how the refusal of the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to allow the office of the party’s national chairman to go to the South resulted in the formation of the G5.

    The meeting had in attendance leaders, delegates and stakeholders of the party from Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos State.

    Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleken, was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi.

    PDP dares Osun Senators, Reps over dumping party

    Hon. Sunday Bisi, in a video which has gone viral, warned PDP senators and Reps to be careful of their actions as the 2027 elections draw near.

    Bisi who spoke in Yoruba at a gathering of party stakeholders said: “those of us who are close to our senators and Reps, let’s advise them; their mandate is for four years. You did not mandate them to spend two years and cross to another political party.

    Read Also: 2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    “Whoever does that is a betrayer and he will also be betrayed. And it will not be well for such a person.

    “I am saying this because we built this party with our sweat and tears and got them elected. Now that the party’s flame is shining, anyone who tries to extinguish it will have his own flame extinguished instead.

    “Talk to them because some of them are acting like they will not return home again and need the party again. We’re monitoring their every move in Abuja. Help us warn them seriously to desist from any untoward action.

    “We worked for this party, and we want to warn Wole Oke; he wants to destroy the PDP finally after he used the platform for 24 years. He forgot God and the future, I won’t say more than this.”

  • Of El-Rufai, revisionism, and delusion of grandeur

    Of El-Rufai, revisionism, and delusion of grandeur

    By Shamshudeen Abdulmumin

    In the grand and often turbulent theatre of Nigerian politics, there strides a figure both familiar and infamous — whose silver tongue weaves intricate tapestries of audacity and artifice, crafting illusions so deftly entwined with half-truths that even the most discerning can be momentarily beguiled. This is the personage of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, erstwhile Governor of Kaduna State, once hailed as a visionary technocrat, now unmasked as a weary architect of revisionism, ensnared in the thickets of his own delusions, desperately clutching at the fraying strands of a relevance long slipping into oblivion.

    El-Rufai’s latest outburst, in which he arrogantly claims authorship of all the projects recently commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his triumphant visit to Kaduna, is not only false — it is a masterclass in self-deception and historical distortion. To suggest that the state-of-the-art Vocational Institutes, the fully equipped Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, and the innovative Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Buses initiative were either conceived or completed under his administration is a lie so bold, so brazen, and so contemptuous of documented fact, that it demands a rebuttal not just for record’s sake, but as an act of civic duty.

    The truth is immutable: all three Vocational Institutes — the Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Institute in Rigachikun, Col. Dangiwa Umar Institute in Soba, and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Institute in Samaru Kataf — were fully conceived, funded, executed, and completed under the administration of Governor Uba Sani. These institutes are not cosmetic projects for ribbon-cutting ceremonies; they are strategic instruments of human capital development, designed to turn out 36,000 technically skilled youths annually. They stand today not merely as structures, but as functional institutions certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as the best-equipped skills centres in Nigeria.

    In fact, the NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje, publicly declared that no polytechnic or university in Nigeria rivals the equipment and setup of these institutes — a rare and glowing endorsement that El-Rufai never once received during his tenure, despite his penchant for self-applause.

    READ ALSO; Ripples over pollution caused by recycling firm in Ogun

    Similarly, the much-acclaimed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, which President Tinubu himself described as a “model of modern healthcare infrastructure,” was only 53% completed—and completely unequipped—when Governor Uba Sani assumed office. It had become a metaphor for neglect, waste, and bureaucratic lethargy. Governor Uba Sani did not just complete it; he revitalised and transformed it. He equipped the hospital with cutting-edge medical technology and integrated it into his broader healthcare reform plan that includes the renovation of general hospitals across all senatorial zones.

    As for the fleet of 100 CNG buses, this was a direct response by the Uba Sani administration to the fuel subsidy removal—a policy for which El-Rufai had no blueprint, no foresight, and certainly no provision. These buses now serve the masses with subsidized or free transportation, particularly benefiting students, civil servants, and retirees. Their conception and rollout required not only fiscal innovation but bold political will—both of which El-Rufai conspicuously lacked when he presided over Kaduna.

    To attempt to lay claim to these legacy projects is not only fraudulent—it is grotesque. It is the intellectual equivalent of a man trying to steal the sunrise because he once owned a candle.

    El-Rufai’s lies are not occasional lapses — they are habitual, pathological, and compulsive. As former President Olusegun Obasanjo emphatically noted in his memoir My Watch, El-Rufai is a “malicious liar” with “a penchant for unfair embellishment of stories,” someone who “lied brazenly…against his colleagues and so-called friends.” Obasanjo did not offer this assessment in bitterness or in passing; he detailed his disillusionment with El-Rufai with precision, painting a picture of a man driven not by conviction, but by ego; not by service, but by self-glorification.

    The former president’s description is striking: El-Rufai, he wrote, suffers from “small man syndrome” and lacks the capacity for loyalty or integrity. Even his familial relationships, Obasanjo recounted, were marred by betrayal and character assassination. This is no ordinary indictment; it is a solemn warning from a man who once trusted El-Rufai with power and position.

    And now, in the twilight of his political relevance, El-Rufai is once again deploying his signature weapons: sophistry, subterfuge, and calculated distortion. This time, his target is not merely Governor Uba Sani, but by extension, the Tinubu administration, which he once pretended to support.

    Let us not forget the Kaduna that El-Rufai left behind: a fractured society, riddled with ethno-religious suspicion and soaked in debt. He departed office bequeathing a horrifying $587 million in external debt, ₦85 billion in domestic debt, and ₦115 billion in contractual liabilities—a financial noose around the neck of the very state he now claims to have “developed.” Many of the contracts he awarded were paid for but never executed — ghost projects by ghost contractors, some of whom are now being pursued by anti-graft agencies.

    More damning is the social cost of his tenure. His policies were polarising and vindictive. He pitted ethnic and religious communities against each other, weaponised governance for personal vendettas, and treated dissent like treason. The peace and progress now being enjoyed in Kaduna under Governor Uba Sani were hard-won, not inherited. He united what El-Rufai fragmented, empowered where El-Rufai disenfranchised, and built where El-Rufai only branded.

    El-Rufai’s latest tantrums are born not of principle but of envy — pure and undiluted. He is bitter that his successor, Uba Sani, a man of calm disposition and developmental focus, is receiving national acclaim, including the prestigious Governor of the Year 2024 award, National Honours Award of Commander of the Order of Niger, CON (for his heroic efforts during the quest for democratic rule in the country); on the contrary, El Rufai’s legacy is increasingly regarded with suspicion, regret, and investigation.

    This bitterness has morphed into a personal vendetta. He now appears to believe that bringing down Uba Sani is his only remaining political currency. His recent attempts to foment dissent through a faux “national coalition” of disgruntled power-hunters—many of whom were themselves expelled by the people via the ballot or by their own irrelevance—smacks of desperation.

    El-Rufai was once known as a defender of his party and its leaders. He sang the praises of Obasanjo, then of Buhari. Today, he throws tantrums at Tinubu, calling his government “illiterate,” accusing it of bribing opposition politicians, and declaring the APC a party he “no longer recognises.” That he makes such statements barely two years after leaving office—without irony or introspection—is a sad testament to how quickly ambition can curdle into delusion.

    El Rufa’i is deeply vexed by Governor Uba Sani’s principled support for President Tinubu. He once, very laughably described the very good working relationship Governor Uba Sani has with President Tinubu as transactional – That the President is ‘bribing’ Governor Uba Sani! In the past, the legendarily hypocritical El-Rufai defended then sitting Obasanjo to the hilt, even when it was politically costly. He was one of the loudest voices behind President Buhari, while he held sway at Aso Villa. No one accused El Rufa’i then of being “bribed” to be loyal. So why is Governor Uba Sani’s principled support for President Tinubu now interpreted by El-Rufai as transactional?

    Perhaps because El-Rufai cannot comprehend genuine loyalty. He sees everything —alliances, friendships, even public service — through the prism of utility and self-interest. He has no concept of principled consistency because he has never practiced it. His only enduring loyalty is to himself.

     The truth is this: Governor Uba Sani supports President Tinubu because the President has earned it — through inclusive governance, respect for federalism, and sound economic policy. The synergy between Kaduna and the Federal Government is yielding real dividends: infrastructural development, fiscal reforms, and better revenue allocation. El-Rufai’s bitterness is the shrill cry of a man who expected political patronage and was instead met with polite indifference.

     It is time for Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to take a long, unflinching look into the mirror. He is no longer the political wunderkind of Abuja nor the reformist Governor of lore. He is a man whose legacy is rapidly disintegrating under the weight of lies, debts, and division. His brand of politics — of suspicion, grandstanding, and intellectual bullying — has passed its expiry date.

     If Karl Marx was right that “shame is a revolutionary sentiment,” then El-Rufai may indeed be beyond redemption. For shame requires introspection; it demands humility. These are not traits El-Rufai has ever shown. But perhaps it is not too late. Perhaps he can still salvage dignity by stepping away from the podium of deceit and embracing the quiet redemption of truth.

     Until then, let no one be deceived. The accomplishments of Governor Uba Sani are his and his alone. They are not borrowed. They are not inherited. They are not stolen. And no amount of revisionism or social media cynicism can alter this fundamental reality.

    In the final analysis, history will remember Kaduna’s renaissance as the product of Uba Sani’s vision, integrity, and steadfastness. El-Rufai’s name will linger only as a cautionary tale — a reminder of how ego and falsehoods can erode even the brightest political prospects.

    Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should cease his divisive antics, embrace humility, and allow Kaduna — and indeed Nigeria — to move forward. The people deserve leaders who build, not destroy; who unify, not divide; who tell the truth, not lies. Grow up, Mallam. The era of deception is over.

     *Shamshudeen Abdulmumin resides in Barnawa, Kaduna.

  • Klinsmann slams el-Rufai over attacks on Tinubu, APC

    Klinsmann slams el-Rufai over attacks on Tinubu, APC

    APC chieftain and policy analyst from Anambra State, Pharmacist Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has blasted former Kaduna Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent public criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC-led administration. 

    In a statement in Abuja, Klinsmann described El-Rufai’s attacks as baseless, hypocritical and a desperate attempt to regain political relevance after being sidelined by the current administration.

    Reacting to El-Rufai’s assertion that the Tinubu government is a “disaster” and that it would take a “miracle” for the President to win re-election in 2027, Klinsmann said: “El-Rufai’s outburst is not borne out of patriotism or principle – it is the bitter cry of a man whose political entitlement has justly been denied. His comments reek of envy and personal frustration.”

     According to Klinsmann, the former Governor’s anger stems from his failed ambition to secure a ministerial position, a failure largely attributed to national security concerns flagged by the DSS and NSA, which ultimately led to the Senate’s rejection of his nomination.

    Klinsmann warned Nigerians to take El-Rufai’s criticisms with caution, highlighting his notorious history of betrayal, opportunism, and self-serving politics. 

    “This is a man who has turned against every benefactor and ally he ever had. He did it to President Obasanjo, to Atiku Abubakar, to Buhari, and now he is doing it to Tinubu. El-Rufai’s loyalty lies only with himself,” he said. 

    Citing former President Obasanjo’s memoirs, Klinsmann reminded Nigerians that Obasanjo once referred to El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome” and incapable of sustained loyalty to anyone or anything except himself.

    Read Also: 2027: Onanuga berates El-Rufai over comments against Tinubu’s govt

    He also questioned El-Rufai’s sudden alignment with opposition elements like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – men he once derided with insults and accusations. 

    “Today, El-Rufai is forming a so-called political coalition with people he once vilified, called clowns, Nollywood actors, and tribal bigots. What changed? Nothing, except his desperation,” Klinsmann stated. 

    Klinsmann said El-Rufai’s so-called All Democratic Alliance (ADA) is nothing more than a gathering of politically displaced persons fueled by bitterness and mutual resentment toward President Tinubu. 

    “After El-Rufai ran – or was shown the exit – from the APC, he first pitched his tent with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). But in a couple of weeks, he went on to champion the formation of ADA. This betrays the height of his frustration, the depth of his desperation, and width of his capriciousness,” stated Klinsmann. 

    Turning to El-Rufai’s tenure as Governor, Klinsmann said no Nigerian should take lessons in good governance from a man whose rule was marred by division, bloodshed, and corruption. 

    “Southern Kaduna witnessed one of the worst humanitarian tragedies in Nigeria’s history under his watch. Hundreds were killed, and communities displaced, yet El-Rufai justified these atrocities by claiming he paid foreign killers to stop further attacks – a reckless and damning admission,” Klinsmann said. 

    He added that the former Governor’s silence during President Buhari’s tenure, despite worsening insecurity, further exposes his ethnic and political bias.

     “Why didn’t El-Rufai condemn Buhari the same way he’s now attacking Tinubu? Is it because they share the same ethnic and religious background?” Klinsmann queried.

    Klinsmann described El-Rufai as a religious bigot, citing a viral video where the former Governor openly admitted that he and Bello Matawalle supported Tinubu in 2023 to entrench a Muslim-Muslim presidency, as previously tested in Kaduna. 

    “No patriot talks like that. That video was an insult to Nigeria’s religious diversity and unity. El-Rufai’s brand of politics is dangerous and toxic. He is stoking sectarian tensions and should be held accountable,” Klinsmann charged.

    On the issue of corruption, Klinsmann called for El-Rufai to be investigated by the EFCC over numerous allegations that have trailed him during his time as FCT Minister and Kaduna Governor. 

    He cited the ongoing EFCC probe into mismanagement of funds linked to refinery rehabilitation contracts and questionable debts left behind in Kaduna. 

    “El-Rufai’s financial records need urgent scrutiny. There’s a Senate report from 2008 that recommended his prosecution for irregular land allocations and asset sales in Abuja. Why hasn’t he been held accountable?” Klinsmann asked.

    He also refuted El-Rufai’s recent claim that Tinubu’s commissioned projects in Kaduna were initiated under his administration, describing such assertions as “a bare-faced lie” which even the current Kaduna State Government has publicly denounced. 

    Klinsmann said El-Rufai’s track record is defined by uncompleted projects, growing debts, and ethnic division. “He left Kaduna in ruins. It is laughable that he now positions himself as a reformer,” he said.

    He pointed out the Kaduna Assembly conducted a probe into the financial dealings during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure from 2015 to 2023, and the ad hoc committee’s report indicted El-Rufai and some members of his administration for allegedly siphoning ₦423 billion, misusing loans, and leaving the state with significant debt liabilities. 

    “The committee recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some of his cabinet members for abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering. It also called for the suspension of the then Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who served under El-Rufai,” stated Klinsmann. 

    Although El-Rufai dismissed the probe as politically motivated and unfair, asserting that he was denied a fair hearing during the investigation, and subsequently filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna seeking to nullify the Assembly’s report, Klinsmann noted that irrespective of the outcome of El-Rufai’s application, the anti-corruption agencies have reportedly begun investigations based on the Assembly’s findings.

    In contrast, Klinsmann praised President Tinubu’s performance so far, citing landmark reforms in the economy, infrastructure, and the anti-corruption fight. 

    He pointed to Tinubu’s commissioning of the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital and other projects in Kaduna, noting that the administration has recorded over 4,000 EFCC convictions in 2024 alone. 

    “President Tinubu is focused on rebuilding Nigeria. El-Rufai is focused on rebuilding his ego. Nigerians can see the difference,” he remarked.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard El-Rufai’s divisive rhetoric and support the President’s vision for a stronger, united Nigeria. 

    He called on the EFCC and relevant agencies to immediately investigate El-Rufai’s financial records and hold him accountable. 

    “It is time to end the culture of impunity. El-Rufai must not be allowed to weaponize lies and bigotry for political gain. The law must take its course,” Klinsmann said.

  • 2027: Onanuga berates El-Rufai over comments against Tinubu’s govt

    2027: Onanuga berates El-Rufai over comments against Tinubu’s govt

    • Presidential spokesman cites Obasanjo’s jibe at ex-governor

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has berated former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his comment against the President’s administration.

    In an interview on a national television, El-Rufai had said President Tinubu would require a miracle to secure re-election in 2027.

    El-Rufai also said a poll conducted by his group in various regions, particularly in the Southeast and the North, showed a 91 per cent disapproval rating for the President.

    According to him, the disapproval rating in Lagos stands at 78 per cent.

    In his post on X yesterday, Onanuga referenced a remark made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his three-part memoir, titled: My Watch — Against El-Rufai.

    The presidential spokesman said the former Kaduna State governor always tried to elevate himself, giving the impression of having more “height” than he really stands.

    READ ALSO: Why is Nasir El-Rufai so desperate?

    “Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological. Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent,” Onanuga posted excerpt from Obasanjo’s book.

    “At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.

    “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends. I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.

    “I shuddered when I heard the story of what he did to his half-brother in the Air Force, who is senior to him in age.”

    In the memoir published in 2014, Obasanjo said El-Rufai was battling what he called the “small man syndrome”.

    The former President appointed El-Rufai the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007.

    El-Rufai is currently one of the opposition political leaders organising a coalition in their bid to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

    In March, the el-Rufai resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

  • Why is Nasir El-Rufai so desperate?

    Why is Nasir El-Rufai so desperate?

    • By Bode Opeseitan

    Sir: Why is Mallam Nasir El-Rufai sounding so desperate these days? Every time he speaks, he comes across as narcissistic, grumpy, unhinged and clueless.  

    I welcome opposing views, but critics of a sitting government must articulate clear alternatives to improve Nigerians’ lives. Don’t just vow to “send Tinubu packing”; tell us your solutions for the extraordinary challenges he inherited.

    It is public knowledge that President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023 to a dead economy in which over 96% of revenue was being used to service debts. Yet, the same President Tinubu that El-Rufai desperately maligns has stabilized the economy. While food prices remain high, macroeconomic indicators show strengthening of the fundamentals, with growth applauded by leading local and international rating agencies. 

    Decaying infrastructure is being fixed: Dave Umahi’s road revolution, Nyesom Wike’s FCT transformation, and Bosun Tijani’s digital leap with initiatives like 3MTT – now the world’s largest skill accelerator – are turning Nigeria into the envy of the world.

    In agriculture, Tinubu just launched phase one of mechanized farming: 2,000 tractors and combines to cultivate 550,000 hectares. This will raise Nigeria’s mechanization from 0.7 to 2.5 horsepower per hectare. The health sector, airports and other spheres are also witnessing unprecedented revival.

    Crucially, Nigeria now cuts its coat according to its cloth: no more Ways and Means, round-tripping, or fuel subsidy.  

    Read Also: Tinubu signs historic Tax Reform Bills to law Thursday

    Similar transformative developments are energizing states nationwide. Previously cash-strapped, the Tinubu government’s fiscal policies have empowered states with resources to pay salaries without borrowing and execute critical projects – a stark departure from the past.

    Contrast this with Nasir, who accelerated Nigeria’s economic disintegration through his reckless mismanagement of Kaduna State. His record was so unconscionable that the state House of Assembly recommended his indictment. He exploits Nigerians’ forgiving nature to flaunt messianic credentials after bequeathing economic collapse, ethnic strife, and financial impropriety. But Nasir, can anyone give what they don’t have?  

    Now, with a president working tirelessly to fix monumental challenges, El-Rufai – bitter over his failed ministerial bid – seeks only to distract. To me, such people are enemies of Nigeria and its masses. 

    Yes, Tinubu has made missteps, but his sincerity is undeniable. We must hold him accountable when he stumbles, but never again allow buccaneers like El-Rufai near power. They lust for hegemony, not a thriving nation.

    •Bode Opeseitan, NIMN, MNIPR

    United States.

  • Ndume: El-Rufai a victim of betrayal he once inflicted on Amaechi

    Ndume: El-Rufai a victim of betrayal he once inflicted on Amaechi

    Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has said that former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is the architect of his current political misfortunes.

    Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Ndume admitted that he sometimes feels tempted to gloat over the fallout between El-Rufai and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Ndume, who served as the Director-General of the Rotimi Amaechi Presidential Campaign, recalled that El-Rufai was initially aligned with Amaechi’s camp ahead of the APC primary but later switched allegiance to Tinubu following the latter’s visit to Kaduna.

    He recounted how El-Rufai had publicly pledged to work with Amaechi during a consultation visit, only to later turn his back on the former Rivers governor.

    He said, “El-Rufai was supposed to be on our side but somehow, he moved over. And I think these are part of the things that are annoying or frustrating him.

    “He was on our side. Amaechi’s side. Before Tinubu was nominated, he made up his mind to support Tinubu, and Tinubu, as he rightly said, said that he should not leave and that he should come on board, join the government.

    “So since then, I’ve not been that [close to El-Rufai] because he abandoned our group. 

    “He was on our side but went to support Tinubu fully. You know, he really mobilized. He did a lot of things. 

    “Tinubu asked him to join the government but somehow, up till now, I don’t understand what happened between El-Rufai and Tinubu, but that is not my business.

    “But sometimes, I’ll say, ‘okay o, you did that to us, it’s payback to yourself’. But, I cannot understand, I was the Chief Whip. 

    “El-Rufai came to the chamber for ministerial screening and we almost like told him to take a bow and go…”

    Read Also: El-Rufai’s criticism against Tinubu rooted in bitterness over cabinet snub — CCGG

    The senator said after his victory, Tinubu nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial appointment but the former Kaduna State governor was rejected.

    But, he noted that El-Rufai is now a leading member of the anti-Tinubu coalition after he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Ndume, who also hinted that he may exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu fails to fix things in the country. 

    The senator, who revealed that members of the coalition group have made overtures to him to join them, said he has attended several meetings at the instance of the opposition leaders seeking to form a coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027.

    The senator said he has remained hesitant to join the coalition with a belief that Tinubu can fix Nigeria.

    “I’m aware of the opposition coalition. I went to several of their meetings. I still believe this president can fix these things, but failure might cause me to move. The overloaded ship will sink,” Ndume said.

    “They have been making overtures, but I told them I don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire. I have to be sure.

    “I believe that Tinubu can be a successful president; that was my expectation, but if he continues this way, that ship, whether you load in other people or governors, you are just endangering the APC, pushing it towards capsizing,” he said.

    “As the president said, there is a vacancy in the ship. But if you overload the ship, it will probably capsize, and if it capsizes, you lose everybody.”

  • El-Rufai’s criticism against Tinubu rooted in bitterness over cabinet snub — CCGG

    El-Rufai’s criticism against Tinubu rooted in bitterness over cabinet snub — CCGG

    The Citizens Collective for Good Governance (CCGG) has dismissed recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing them as the outburst of a bitter and frustrated politician sidelined from the federal cabinet.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its president, Dr. Gambo Abdulkadri, the group accused El-Rufai of embarking on “a desperate and vindictive campaign” against President Tinubu after being denied a ministerial appointment.

    El-Rufai, who previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Obasanjo and later governed Kaduna State for two terms, recently stated that President Tinubu would need a “miracle” to win re-election in 2027.

    He also cited polling data indicating a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president, a claim the CCGG dismissed as “fabricated and delusional.”

    “The public outburst by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is nothing but the cry of a political actor whose ego was bruised when President Tinubu, in his wisdom, declined to reward him with a ministerial position,” Abdulkadri said.

    “For someone who claims to have supported the president’s emergence, El-Rufai’s sudden antagonism only confirms that his loyalty was never to the country, nor to good governance, but to his own ambition.”

    The group said President Tinubu has demonstrated remarkable leadership in the face of monumental challenges, citing reforms in the oil and gas sector, decisive anti-corruption efforts, and aggressive pursuit of food security and job creation as examples of “clear-headed governance.”

    “Within just over a year, President Tinubu has taken bold and necessary decisions to reset Nigeria’s economy — from ending fuel subsidy fraud to restructuring our fiscal regime,” the statement continued. 

    “The Renewed Hope agricultural mechanisation programme, student loan scheme, foreign investment drive, and infrastructure renewal across the country are evidence of a leader working for posterity, not popularity.”

    Dr Abdulkadri said El-Rufai’s attempt to paint the Tinubu administration as the “worst in history” was both dishonest and reckless, especially coming from a man who left behind a trail of debt, division, and insecurity in Kaduna State.

    “Let’s not forget the mass displacement of communities under El-Rufai’s watch, or the reckless borrowing and ethnically polarised governance that characterised his tenure. He has no moral standing to accuse any one of failure,” he added. 

    The CCGG further described El-Rufai’s claimed disapproval ratings as “a phantom poll conducted in the basement of his resentment,” adding that numerous independent support groups have continued to endorse Tinubu’s leadership across the country, even though the president has not declared interest in a second term.

    “Despite the challenges, millions of Nigerians — market women, youth groups, professionals and even opposition figures — continue to express confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu. His vision is clear, his approach is bold, and the results are beginning to show,” the group said.

    The statement urged Nigerians to reject what it called “El-Rufai’s politics of self-interest and sabotage,” and to stay focused on holding all leaders to account based on tangible delivery, not desperation.

    “El-Rufai should be reminded that governance is not an entitlement scheme. If the president chose to exclude him from the federal cabinet, it was within his constitutional right and strategic discretion. You cannot throw tantrums because you didn’t get picked for a position — that is not patriotism, that is pettiness,” the statement said.

    The group called on political leaders to rise above personal grievances and contribute constructively to nation-building, warning that inflammatory rhetoric at this time could derail critical reforms.

    “We urge the Nigerian people to ignore voices of distraction and stand firmly behind a government that is working to secure our future,” the statement concluded.

  • Kaduna Govt blasts El-Rufai over “lies” on projects commissioned by Tinubu

    Kaduna Govt blasts El-Rufai over “lies” on projects commissioned by Tinubu

    …says ex-gov peddling falsehoods, insists Uba Sani deserves credit

    The Kaduna State Government has berated former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of peddling “bare-faced lies” over the ownership of key developmental projects recently commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his visit to the state.

    In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Ibraheem Musa, the state government said El-Rufai’s claims in a television interview that the projects were initiated by his administration were false and a deliberate distortion of facts.

    Among the projects commissioned by President Tinubu during the high-profile visit were the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, three Vocational Training and Skills Development Institutes, and a fleet of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses.

    The government clarified that the three vocational institutes—located in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru Kataf—were entirely conceptualized, funded, and completed under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, forming the core of his human capital development agenda.

    “These centres, certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as the best-equipped in Nigeria, are expected to graduate at least 36,000 youths annually,” the statement noted, quoting NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, who described Kaduna as “the hub of skills development in Nigeria.”

    The government also stated categorically that the 100 CNG buses were procured under Governor Sani’s administration to ease post-subsidy transportation burdens, especially for workers, retirees, and students, who are currently enjoying free rides for six months under a state welfare programme.

    Read Also: How Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna reflects ethos of transformational leadership

    On the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, the statement recalled that the project was initially conceived during Namadi Sambo’s tenure as governor but was abandoned for years. “El-Rufai met it, failed to complete it, and left it at just 53% with no equipment. It became a monument of waste,” the statement added.

    Governor Uba Sani, according to the release, took over the uncompleted 300-bed facility, equipped it with state-of-the-art medical gear, and delivered it as a flagship achievement of his healthcare revitalisation programme, which also includes the upgrade of several General Hospitals.

    At the commissioning, former Vice President Namadi Sambo reportedly acknowledged Uba Sani’s uncommon resolve in completing the hospital where three administrations—including El-Rufai’s—had failed, lending further credibility to the government’s position.

    “The truth is clear. Governor Uba Sani completed and delivered what others only promised. Facts, not fiction, should guide public discourse,” the statement declared, accusing El-Rufai of engaging in revisionist tactics to claim underserved glory.

    The government described El-Rufai’s actions as “regrettable but not surprising,” urging him to respect the legacy of truth and refrain from undermining the real progress made under the current administration.

    It insisted that while El-Rufai is entitled to his opinions, “facts remain sacred,” adding that Governor Sani has not only delivered on infrastructure but also fostered unity, transparency, and inclusive governance across Kaduna State.

    The statement concluded with a reassurance that the Sani administration will not be distracted by political bitterness or misinformation, but will stay focused on building “a united, inclusive, healthier and more prosperous society for all.”

  • 2027: Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi move to register ADA

    2027: Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi move to register ADA

    • Amaechi’s loyalist writes INEC seeks approval
    • Mark, Obi, Malami, Aregbesola among promoters
    • It’s psychological warfare on Nigerians, says Keyamo

    Opposition leaders led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and the immediate past Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have finally called off their fraternization with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 election.

    The group, Nigeria National Coalition Group (NNCG), yesterday opted to go solo by applying to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as a new party.

    All Democratic Alliance (ADA), as it wants to be known, has as its protem Chairman Chief Akin Anderson Rickets, Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) when Amaechi was Minister of Transportation.

    Other notable politicians said to be part of ADA are Peter Obi, Aminu Tambuwal, John Oyegun, Rauf Aregbesola, Abubakar Malami, Babachir Lawal, Uche Secondus, Osita Chidoka and Nnenna Ukeje.

    The decision to seek registration as a party was reached at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

    INEC acknowledged receipt of the application yesterday.

    Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo mocked the party’s promoters for their inability to forge the coalition they had set out to do initially.

     “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here,” Keyamo said on X.

    “It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along. It is just a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal,” he said.

    Rickets, a former commissioner for Information in Cross River State, in a letter attached to the registration application form, said: “We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, as a political party.

    “This is sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.

    “The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance with ADA as our acronym and ‘Justice for All’ as our slogan.

    “The National Secretariat of the party is as stated at the bottom of the association’s letterhead used in this application.

    “We have also herewith attached our logo describing in details the symbolism of our party colours and their configuration and the corn (Maize).

    “We have further attached our manifesto encompassing details of our party ideology, and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures and organisation, regulates our affairs and guides our actions in alignment with Section 40 and 222 of the Constitution, Section 75 of the Electoral Act (2022) and global democratic principles and objectives.

    “Please find attached the following documents: our party flag depicting our name, acronym and slogan, manifesto, constitution and minutes of meeting.

    “While we eagerly await further action from the commission on the next step forward towards attaining our desired goal, please accept the consideration of our highest respect.”

    Amaechi and Dr Umar Ardo who was Special Adviser on Research and Strategy to Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the Obasanjo Presidency, in a joint statement traced the formation of the group to a May 6, 2025 meeting in Abuja.

    That meeting, according to them, laid the groundwork for the NNCG which is now seeking transformation into ADA.

    On Thursday, the group approved a manifesto, logo, party constitution and choice of A.D.A.’s protem national chairman and national secretary.

    Picked as protem national secretary was a former member of the House of Representatives from Awe/Doma/Keana in Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Musa Elayo.

    The group said it would now begin to mobilise prominent opposition figures under its banner towards altering Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Read Also: Tinubu: every Nigerian will feel impact of good governance

    The next steps that the interim leadership is now working on include opening a national secretariat, new offices and bank account and commencement of effort to operate within the framework of the party’s newly approved constitution and in accordance with the 2022 Electoral Act.

    Members of the new political party see themselves as game-changers with clear intentions of consolidating support from disillusioned voters and disgruntled elements across various existing parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is currently battling internal rifts and leadership disputes.

    “This development is a bold response to the loud yearning by Nigerians for a credible third force,” said Dr. Umar Ardo, Secretary of the Platform Committee, in a brief chat after the meeting.

    Keyamo: Where’s the coalition?

    Keyamo, reacting to the registration application, said: “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here.

    “It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal.

    “No recognised existing political party or parties are part of this. If they are thinking of recreating what the APC did in 2013, then this is nothing but a pedestrian joke; a complete mockery of that seismic political coalition that birthed APC in 2013.

    “A few individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a new political party cannot be described as a ‘coalition’ or even a ‘merger’. This is not different from several political associations springing up every day for the same purpose.

    “After all the razzmatazz, it boils down to the fact that a new political party is just attempting registration by a few Nigerians; it is a disappointing anti-climax to all the preceding pomp and pageantry.”

     INEC’s conditions for party registration

    Under the Guidelines for the Registration of new political parties issued by INEC in 2014, a political association intending to register as a political party shall first apply to the commission for the Guidelines and Regulations.

    The application must be made on the commission’s FORM PAI in 50 copies and shall be accompanied by documents showing, among others, the name of the proposed party, the names, signatures and addresses of the chairman and secretary of the association filling the form, evidence of payment of the prescribed non-refundable administrative fee of N1 million in bank draft  to the commission and 50 copies of the association’s draft constitution and manifesto.

    Upon the receipt of the application, INEC is required to verify the claims contained therein such as whether the membership contravenes any of the provisions of the guidelines; whether the association has officers in at least 24 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

    Registration will be confirmed if the commission is satisfied that the association has fulfilled all the conditions prescribed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the guidelines.

    But where the commission is not satisfied, registration is denied.

    Amaechi recently accused the commission of blocking the registration of new political parties.

  • Return of pseudo-saviours

    Return of pseudo-saviours

    Sir: Nigerian politics is as cut-throat as they come. Triumphal and gloating, to be out of office is to face all manner of humiliation. For those who have tasted political power, it is as close to death as it comes.

    It is what appears to currently afflict some politicians in Nigeria, who have become especially and uncharacteristically vocal about the perceived demise of the country. Of this lot, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi and Abubakar Malami stand out.

    For El-Rufai especially, it is déjà vu. Since the transience of political power swept him off his perch as governor of Kaduna State in 2023, he took only a very short restless break but has since returned with vengeance and is eager to make up for lost time. He clearly does not think it is a major indictment on his part that many in Kaduna State, where he was governor for eight years, are dizzy with relief that he is no longer governor and that his successor is putting in an excellent shift as governor.

    El-rufai has since returned to the role he played in the country between 2007 and 2015. In that time, after enjoying heavy influence under Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 and 2007, he quickly found himself on the fringes in 2007. His response was to begin a venomous and vitriolic campaign against the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’adua and later that of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He even spent some time on self-imposed exile painting the country and government black abroad, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wanted him for economic malfeasance.

    Read Also: Alleged N32b fraud: ‘Why I withdrew charge against Fidelity Bank’s MD/CEO Onyeali-Ikpe – AGF Fagbemi

    His campaign of calumny against the then government of President Goodluck Jonathan abruptly ended when he became governor, only to put in a disastrous performance in eight years. Now, freshly rested and recovered from the shock of being excluded from President Tinubu’s ministerial cabinet in 2023, El-Rufai has taken to taking pot-shots at the president and the government while rallying Nigerians to oust the government in 2027. Nigerians will do well to ignore him.

     To achieve this, he has recruited the equally disgruntled Abubakar Malami, who was Attorney-General of the Federation, Rotimi Amaechi, who was minister of transportation and a handful of others. Their poor strategy of predicting doom and gloom for the country under the current administration rests disproportionately on the fact that the common bone they have to pick with the current administration is that they were left in the cold after years of wielding political power which they failed to use for the good of Nigerians.

    Nigerians must learn to be extremely wary of those politicians whose sudden affection for them and their country comes from the cold fire place of political obscurity and irrelevance.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com