Abuja, Nigeria—Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has come under heavy criticism following his Monday night interview, in which he claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally rejected his ministerial nomination. This refuted earlier reports that his disqualification was due to security concerns raised by the National Assembly.
The New Daily Prime previously reported El-Rufai’s assertion that Tinubu had initially promised him a ministerial role but later changed his mind. However, the revelation has sparked widespread condemnation from Tinubu loyalists, political figures, and Nigerians across social media.
Many pro-Tinubu voices have dismissed El-Rufai’s comments, accusing him of bitterness after failing to secure a cabinet position. For instance, activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju ridiculed El-Rufai’s remarks, saying:
“Nigerian politicians can only fool idiots, not me. All the noise and anger El-Rufai makes is because Tinubu denied him a ministerial position. They don’t love Nigeria; it’s about self and nothing else.”
While the former Presidential Aide Reno Omokri went further, accusing El-Rufai of complicity in human rights violations during his tenure as governor:
“Many killings of innocent Kaduna residents happened under El-Rufai’s watch. He was also implicated in the genocide of Southern Kaduna Christians after admitting on multiple occasions that he paid off killer herdsmen while in office.”
Omokri also recalled the 2015 Zaria Shiite massacre, in which 438 Shiite men, women, and children were killed, saying El-Rufai’s government played a direct role in the atrocity.
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He further alleged:
“El-Rufai was specifically cited for demolishing the homes of his political opponents in Kaduna and making reckless anti-Christian remarks.”
Similarly, former Senator Shehu Sani echoed concerns over El-Rufai’s trustworthiness, suggesting that Tinubu’s decision to exclude him from his cabinet was deliberate:
“No Nigerian President in his right senses would ever closely embrace or trust a man who repeatedly celebrated and gloated about sending President Yar’Adua to his grave.
If you could do this to your brother, what about me?”
El-Rufai’s Controversial Legacy
Beyond the ministerial fallout, critics have revived longstanding allegations against El-Rufai, painting him as a divisive and authoritarian leader:
El-Rufai has been accused of favouring Muslims over Christians and marginalizing Southern Kaduna, a predominantly Christian region. He was criticized for failing to address insecurity, particularly banditry and communal clashes.
When he was the FCT Minister, Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, El-Rufai led a massive demolition in Abuja, targeting illegal structures. Thousands of homes, businesses, and churches were destroyed, leading to allegations of high-handedness and displacement of the poor.
Recently, the Kaduna State House of Assembly recommended an investigation and possible prosecution of El-Rufai over an alleged ₦423 billion fraud. The Lawmakers claim El-Rufai’s government mismanaged state funds, particularly in contracts and loans.
With El-Rufai falling out of favour with Tinubu’s administration and facing mounting criticism, Nigerians are agitating whether he is planning a comeback or retreating into political obscurity.
Will El-Rufai fight back, or is this the beginning of his political downfall?
The coming months will reveal whether he remains a force in Nigerian politics or becomes yet another sidelined political heavyweight.
