El-Rufai non-committal on support for Tinubu, Ribadu denies angling for President
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna Governor and founding member of Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has, for now, declined to confirm whether he would support the President for a second term in 2027.
He explained on Arise Television on Monday night that he would make his stand known after consulting widely with his supporters.
El-Rufai, a strong advocate of rotational presidency between the North and South in the 2023 ballot, also declined to state whether he would support a Northern or Southern presidential candidate in 2027.
He recounted how he mobilised support for Tinubu after he picked the presidential ticket of the APC in 2023 but described Tinubu’s appointments as skewed and imbalanced in favour of his “boys” from the South West.
In his view, Tinubu has incurred the wrath of the electorate in the North over the imbalance in appointments, adding that some of his reforms have also inflicted pain and hardship on them.
He said it is left for Tinubu to correct his anomalies so as not to cost him his second-term ambition in the 2027 vote.
Ribadu denies rumours of angling for 2031 presidential run
In a related development Nuhu Ribadu has dismissed rumours of him planning to run for President in 2031, insisting that his focus is on ensuring the success of the administration of Tinubu in which he is the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Ribadu made the clarification in a statement on X following allegation by El-Rufai in the Arise TV interview that he is out to tarnish his (El-Rufai’s) reputation in collaboration with Kaduna Governor Uba Sani and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
El-Rufai accused Ribadu of spearheading a political scheme against him motivated by Ribadu’s ambition to contest for the Villa in 2031.
“This project of destroying Nasir El-Rufai is Nuhu Ribadu’s conception. He is the architect and builder of that project. He is the one working with Uba Sani to implement it. So far, it has been frustrating for them,” he alleged.
But Ribadu countered the allegation on X stressing that he remains committed to his national assignment and has no interest in political distractions.
“My attention has been drawn to the interview granted by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on Monday evening. If my silence wouldn’t be misconstrued as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment to engage in a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else,” he riposted.
“Despite the incessant baiting and attacks, I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.
“I, however, urge the public to disregard El-Rufai’s statements against me.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for President in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of President Tinubu’s administration.
“I therefore ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me to face my onerous national assignment, just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs.”
Read also:
IPMAN warns govt’s failure to pay N100b bridging debt may ground fuel supply, cause scarcity again
