The Presidency has dismissed claims by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is plotting to become Nigeria’s life president if re-elected in 2027.
El-Rufai made the allegation during a recent visit to his Kaduna residence by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, shortly after he was reportedly attacked by supporters believed to be loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai accused the Tinubu administration of centralising power, warning that Nigeria risked sliding into authoritarianism.
“This government is trying to centralise everything instead of devolving powers to the lower levels. The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of a large proportion in the history of this country. If we don’t come together to end this Tinubu administration in 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya — he would be president for life. All the signs are there. This is how Paul Biya started,” El-Rufai said.
But reacting on Monday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the allegation as “baseless, absurd, and politically desperate.”
Onanuga, in a post on his social media handle, said El-Rufai’s remarks were borne out of frustration following the massive show of support President Tinubu received during his recent visit to Kaduna, which contradicted claims that the North had abandoned the President.
“El-Rufai appears to need some help, especially given his recent unfounded claims and speculations about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their attempts to prevent the President’s likely re-election in 2027 are unattainable, a mission doomed to fail,” Onanuga stated.
He further stressed that President Tinubu remains committed to democratic principles and has no intention of staying beyond the constitutional limit.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” he clarified.
In a direct swipe at the former Kaduna governor, Onanuga advised the incumbent, Governor Uba Sani, to intervene:
“Governor Uba Sani may wish to reach out to his predecessor, as El-Rufai could benefit from some professional counselling to steer him away from hallucinations and political fabrications.”
