The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of suffering from "small man syndrome" following his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday, directly responding to El-Rufai's claims that Tinubu would need a "miracle" to secure re-election in 2027.
El-Rufai's Poll Claims
During a recent interview on Arise Television, El-Rufai claimed that a poll conducted by his group revealed a 91 percent disapproval rating for President Tinubu across various regions of the country, particularly in the South-East and the North. He further alleged that even in Lagos, Tinubu's political stronghold, the disapproval rating stands at 78 percent.
These assertions prompted a swift response from the Presidency, with Onanuga quoting extensively from former President Olusegun Obasanjo's three-part memoir, "My Watch," which contained unflattering assessments of El-Rufai's character.
Obasanjo's Assessment
"El-Rufai'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, quoting 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," the excerpt continued.
Obasanjo, who appointed El-Rufai as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007, had further written: "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."
Political Realignment
BenriNews recalls that El-Rufai resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He is reportedly among opposition political leaders organizing a coalition aimed at unseating President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The public exchange highlights growing tensions between the Presidency and El-Rufai, who was once considered a key figure in the ruling party before his departure earlier this year.
Political analysts suggest that this war of words may intensify as the 2027 election cycle approaches, with El-Rufai positioning himself as a vocal critic of the current administration.
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