Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said his principal has no plans to become ‘president for life’ as claimed by former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai made the claim in his residence while receiving a solidarity visit from his political ally and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday.
He said Tinubu has been displaying all the signs of a sit-tight president, including centralising power.
He compared the Nigerian leader to his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982.
El-Rufai said the opposition must unite to prevent Tinubu from winning a second term in 2027 to truncate the purported life presidency plot.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Sunday, Onanuga described the ex-governor’s claim as baseless and absurd.
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He said El-Rufai has been making unfounded claims about the president since realising the futility of the opposition plot to stop his re-election in 2027.
Onanuga said, “Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai appears to need some help, especially given his recent unfounded claims and speculations about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is increasingly evident that El-Rufai has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates in his new party to prevent President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027. This plot is proving to be unattainable, a mission doomed to fail.
“After reports of the grand reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was clearly surprised by the depth of support the President continues to enjoy in the North.
“This stands in stark contrast to his narrative that the region has abandoned the President.
“In response, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” after 2027—a speculation that is baseless and absurd.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.
“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 his recent hallucinations and political fabrications on Tinubu and 2027.”